Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Power of Prayer



There is some scientific proof that prayer really does work. To explain the physics of it would take too much time here, but there has been successful work done in the field of focused intention, such as prayer. Dr. William A. Tiller, of Stanford University, has pioneered work in using human intention to affect change in an array of substances. Through his work, and others like him, it is not too much of a stretch to take it a step further and consider that focused thought, such as prayer, may actually send an organizing principle and have an effect on the world. Here from Living the Field:

Crissie Blaze, co-author of Power Prayer suggests for "greatest effect say the prayer out loud, with all of your heartfelt feeling, hands raised, with palms facing outwards, and visualize energy streaming through you as a brilliant white stream of light. This is energy from "The Field" conditioned by your love and the intention of your prayer. By raising your hands, you allow spiritual energy to flow freely through your heart center and the psychic centers in the palms of each hand."

She says a secret to the success of prayer is to "give them everything that you have - your concentration, faith, love, reverence and focus - then detach and carry on with your everyday life. By detaching from the result, you hand it over to the magical power of the Absolute."

Here is her suggested prayer for peace, allowing you to pick what feels most comfortable in your worldview. Of course you may choose however you would like to direct the prayer.

Oh mighty God
I offer my heartfelt prayer in thankfulness to you
And ask that I might be a channel for your peace and love,
So that this may flow through me to all life,
To humanity, in all its diversity of race and creeds,
To plants, animals, and even rocks beneath our feet
So that we may know that we are One planetary family
Dwelling within Thy Great Heart.


Oh wondrous Parabrahma,
May your divine and infinite power flow now
At this very moment - in an everlasting stream of light
To bring peace and freedom to our world.


Oh, Eternal Creator, Provider and Sustainer of all Life
Great peace, Great peace, Great peace,
May Thy will be done.

I have a few to say today. Including a send off to Barry of An Explorers View of Life, who passed away yesterday. Rest in peace, dear Barry.

One for our dear little Lilly, who I have heard is back in the hospital. To say this breaks my heart, is an
understatement.

One for my Aunt Judy, who is very close to joining my mother, my grandmother, my grandfather, my uncles.

One to a husband of a dear blogging friend who is fighting a terrible disease and an insurance company that doesn't want to live up to its obligations.

One for a blogging friend in Amsterdam, living with MS, who just had a set back.

One for the cap to hold on the Gulf, and that health will return to the people, the water, and the animals so decimated by this disaster.

And one of the above, so that peace may come to our planet, and our young men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan can come home.

13 comments:

Trish and Rob MacGregor said...

Great post, Nancy. Larry Dossey did a lot of research in the power of prayer. After reading his book, I was convinced it works.

Unknown said...

Nice, Nancy. In 1995 when we lived in CA & I was a new Lay Speaker for the UMC I spoke on prayer. I mentioned the work of Bernie Siegel and Larry Dossey and was a study in Palo Alto at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology that used scientific techniques with 496 adult volunteers; 90 of whom were to be prayer agents for others. One group was prayed for one was not, final results were that those prayed for improved in self esteem, moods and in how they felt about their lives and attitudes. After seeing your post, I think I will resurrect that talk and post it onto my blog. This is such an interesting phenomena.

Tess Kincaid said...

I believe it, and have seen its results. Interesting post.

DJan said...

Thank you for your heartfelt post, and the prayer within it. I also believe it works, and just today I learned that an acquaintance I took for granted at the gym died when he fell off a ladder and left his wife of fifty years behind. Life is a gift, and I offer your prayer up to the heavens for him, and for us all.

Brian Miller said...

nancy i agree whole heartednly witht he power of prayer...and was sad to see barry's passing...seems to be a lot of reasons on the blogs today to pray...

Pat said...

I come from a family who truly believe in the power of prayer. My mother had a rosary that was her "miracle" rosary - any prayer she asked for she received.

My son was born with a hole in his heart, and at his baptism the priest held him up to the statue of the Blessed Virgin, said a prayer, then turned and handed the baby back to me and said, "Your son will NEVER require surgery because the Blessed Mother always answers my prayers." And do you know what? He was right!

Amanda Summer said...

i've read that pressing palms together in prayer actually activates our energy circuits. probably the deeply intuitive reason we all do it♡

wonderful prayers nancy.

Mike said...

I think that praying is positive and that there is a power to positive thought! The prayers that you gave to your friends here were very heartfelt and wonderful for you to do!

Natalie said...

Amen to all of it.♥

susan said...

In between prayers I write letters of complaint to my senators and congressmen. It also seems to help letting them know you're paying attention.

Shrinky said...

A very thought provoking post, Nancy.

The Good Cook said...

Nancy - I believe in the power of prayer. I DO believe that the Universe can provide for us, can change the hearts of man, can guide us to a better understanding of our existence.

Thank you for the beautiful prayer. I am printing it out and will recite it daily, sending out my intentions to the Universe and the powers that be.

Thanks again. And thank you for YOUR power.

Unknown said...

I believe in the power of power