What is Prayer?

Many make prayer out to be a more than what it really is. Prayer is a deliberate act of spiritual communication with a deity, higher power, or object of worship. It is primarily used to offer praise and gratitude, seek guidance, make requests, or foster inner peace and connection. That's it. 
Most people pray incorrectly. Prayer is not begging or supplicating God for things, nor is it to worship our God as an idol or king. God is energy, source, not flesh. And it is this energy that is within us. So, it is the simple asking the energy source for what is already waiting and a steadfast affirmation of its existence. It is the Truth of Being confidently, even in the face of appearances to the contrary. It is the mental movement that synchronizes human consciousness with the Christ Mind. God is an omnipresent, indwelling Spirit rather than a person in the sky. Therefore, prayer is an inward journey to the "inner chamber of the soul" to recognize and claim the spiritual wholeness and life you already possess.
Prayer makes man master in the realm of creative ideas. The inner silence of prayer is a great source of spiritual power. There is no exception to this rule in all the evidence of life. "Prayer is both invocation and affirmation. Meditation, concentration, denial, and affirmation in the silence are all forms of what is loosely termed prayer."
Many theologians and spiritual teachers argue that starting your prayers by immediately listing personal problems or demanding specific outcomes is the wrong approach. Instead, effective prayer is about shifting your focus, aligning with broader spiritual principles, and opening yourself up to connection over requests. If you are trying to improve your prayer life, consider these core adjustments: Lead with praise, not problems: Instead of opening with a "laundry list" of needs, start by addressing the divine, focusing on gratitude, and acknowledging a higher purpose. Pray for others: Shift the focus from strictly personal desires to the wellbeing of others and the broader community. Seek perspective over rescue: Rather than praying for a guaranteed outcome or the elimination of a struggle, pray for the strength, boldness, and grace to handle it. Use models as outlines: The Lord's Prayer (and similar frameworks) is meant to be a syllabus for your thoughts rather than a rigid, repetitive script.

The Lord's Prayer is not what you think...

Prayer is Powerful

Prayer is a powerful, transformative tool that acts as a spiritual weapon to provide peace, strength, and communion with God. It works by aligning human hearts with divine will, shifting perspectives, and releasing heavenly resources to overcome challenges. Benefits include reduced anxiety, increased faith, and emotional comfort, often fostering deep personal change.
But what is prayer really? “Prayer is man's steady effort to know God,” says Charles Fillmore. Prayer is an exercise to change our thought habits and our living habits, that we may set up a new and better activity, in accord with the divine law rather than with the suggestions we have received from various sources.” Prayer accomplishes many things. It develops our character to its highest state. It builds a mind that is always open to Spirit. Through prayer, we attain an interpenetrating consciousness with God's perfect life and love and power. We attain a oneness with God, thus achieving the example set by Jesus when he proclaimed, “I and the Father are one.”