HEALING THROUGH PRAYER

 

By Rev. Cay Randall-May, Ph.D., the Healer Who Creates 

Prayers can be offered for many different reasons, for example, gratitude, praise, and thanksgiving.  Petition, prayers requesting something or for someone’s well-being, are common.  There are many viewpoints on the effectiveness of prayer, how it works, etc., but I would like to relate healing through prayer to the four steps to healing which I highlight my new book, “Healing and the Creative Response” (Brooks Goldmann Publ., 2010). 

Preparation for prayer, setting our intention in a prayerful manner, is an  essential first step.  Relaxing as much as possible into the moment minimizes distractions and helps us to focus as we enter into prayer.  Some religions and denominations formalize this preparation through ritual cleansing, blessing with sacred oil or water, use of prayer cloths or prayer shawls, etc. 

I have found that guided meditative relaxation is very effective.  Here are some other suggestions: 

Create a space in your garden, home, office where you can return on a regular basis to pray.  With practice, your mind will automatically become still when you enter this space.  If you travel or don’t have the extra room to set aside a permanent location, then use a prayer cloth, prayer rug, or other easily portable symbolic object which will set the emotional tone for your prayers wherever you place it. 

Establish a prayer routine.  Rigid times are not necessary, but setting aside a brief period for relaxation, spiritual reflection, and prayer at intervals throughout the day, such as dawn, noon, and evening, help to reduce anxiety and keep prayerful focus. 

When praying with others, take the time to first relax and center as a group before entering into formal prayer time. 

Please check this blog frequently, as I will be discussing prayer and healing through prayer in greater detail over the next couple of weeks.  If you are in the Phoenix, Arizona, area  please plan on attending my lecture and demo on “Higher Healing Through Prayer” on April 17, 2010.  Here are the details: 

SPONSOR:   ARE  AZ

LOCATION: Pyle Adult Center,  655 E. Southern Ave., Tempe, AZ 85252

12:30 pm,  doors open for book sales

Talk and demo:  1 to 3:30 pm 

Contact:  John Depuyde: 480-883-3822 or email johnjmjd@cox.net

Or Gina at szajda@cox.net

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