How About Prayer?

HOW ABOUT PRAYER?

“When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6, RSV)

Here Yeshua advises us to practice silent meditation. This is something we do not necessarily go into a room to do, though that may be a good idea in a specific situation. Or alternately, Jesus often went outdoors in a secluded place to do so.

The goal is to experience the Infinite Presence as it lives, moves, and has Its being within us. It is an experience that is beyond all that we can ask or think, but it has tangible results. Affirmative prayers become more powerful. We experience healing for ourselves and others. Our affairs have a renewed sense of order and purpose. If conditions are temporarily in turmoil, we do not fight this but continue to realize that things are being worked out for our highest good.
The Master Teacher also assures us, “your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” The full Presence of the Infinite is already here, so we can affirm positive results with a sense of inner strength that is innate and natural to our Divine nature as the expression of God.

The Lord’s Prayer was originally a series of affirmations. When we are instructed to “pray in this manner,” or “pray like this,” it means to pray affirmatively. It is said correctly that prayer is not the overcoming of God’s reluctance. It is opening ourselves to His highest willingness.

The Lord’s Prayer, then, is not to be said mechanically. Let us realize its affirmative nature. God is our Father-Mother, and the kingdom of love and peace is being done on earth as we become, consciously, the change within that we want to see appear in the outer.
Any ministry that is truly effective is centered in silence and affirmative prayer, as we seek the Divine Plan for ourselves and our community.

--Dr. Robert Winterhalter

Our Father, which art in Heaven, Hallowed is Thy Name.

Thy Kingdom is come. Thy will is done on earth as it is in Heaven.

Thou givest us this day our daily bread.

Thou forgivest us our trespasses

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Thou leadest us not into temptation

but dost deliver us from all evil.

For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever.

Amen

The aramaic language, believed to have been used by Jesus, had no past or future tense, which is one reason for praying the Lord's Prayer in the present tense. This affirmative form of prayer is altogether consistent with the Master's teachings and with his general attitude relative to the oneness of God and man.