Prayer

MAY 21, 1981, 6:03 AM
W. WILLOW, STUDY

Prayer, o son, is one of the fundamental religious practices. Positions in prayer are many, and each one has an important symbolism. You see, because prayer is basically talking to Me, the One True God, positions are important to some people and some religions because the position displays the relationship between Me and thee.

If a religion emphasizes the Exalted Nature of God and the lowly nature of humans then prayer is properly done only in some abject position – on the knees or in a virtually prone position. In addition, some would have prayer be painful, because the living of life by imperfect humans is painful to the perfect God. So, as the supplicant suffers her prayer will be heard. Know that this is a desirable attitude and position in regard to prayer, for I am Exalted and mankind is, therefore, lowly. This is legitimate, but not the only way.

For, amazingly, there are many other kinds of relationships between Me and thee… right up to one of you standing and My taking the lowly position. As Almighty God I created all that is… went as a pillar of fire before My chosen people… and still create miracles which show My domination over all of this creation. As humble servant I lived as Jesus, suffered scorn, and death on the hated cross. (Worry not over whether I was wholly in Christ… or praying to Myself… that is all narrow thinking and inadequate for knowing Me. I was wholly in Jesus who was the Christ and yet I was also wholly Other. That is Truth.)

So prayer, in a way, represents the relationship between Me and the one praying… or ones. As Jesus I was, in effect, praying to Myself. I was in a body in the earth at a particular time and under specific circumstances. The spirit that developed in Jesus was Me, the Holy Spirit. I was in perfect at-one-ment with Me, the Almighty, through Me, the Spirit. Yet prayer was an important part of that life. And it was real… though difficult to explain in Western terms of thoughts.

You are not much of a systematic, dedicated pray-er. Interestingly, you pray well in public, aloud, and speaking for a group. Spontaneously, you usually grasp the nature of the situation quickly and accurately, and you communicate to Me, well, with a fine choice of words. As you attempt to pray silently to Me about personal matters the communication usually breaks down. That shall be so unless you do something to change it. Oh, if I want you I can get your attention, and I know you want continuing relationships, but for better experience with prayer, the initiative must be yours. So I have said.

You do pray spontaneously in the course of a day’s activity, but usually in dangerous crises… or potential ones. I like short, sincere prayers that acknowledge My presence in all manner of situations… and so I would wish that you respond more often when there is no crisis… when life is good… or just blah. Acknowledge Me as a part of that life ongoing, not just popping up like Superman to rescue you from danger.

This meditation is a form of prayer. It is usually My initiative, but you are not just a passive recipient. You are thinking of other matters as I write these lines, but these other matters are all fair subjects for later prayer. In prayer I listen to you. In this meditation you listen to Me, but when We both speak and both listen you are, potentially in conversation, and then the two become intermixed. And this is good.

The basic element of prayer is the acknowledgment of Me as active God. You can cry against My activity, you can accuse Me falsely, or you can, with love and appreciation say Thanks for blessings undeserved. And everything in between.

Prayer is important to relationship with Me. That is all I need to say, really. If you want relationship you will pray. Just don’t pass up so many opportunities. Let Me hear from you.

So be it.
7:04 AM