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The Miracle of Prayer; 5 Types of Prayer

6/3/2015

In A Course in Miracles it states "prayer is the medium of miracles". It also states that "miracles are shifting our perception". If we follow that Aristotelian logic, then a prayer is just a shift in our perception and it can create miracles.

I have been a teacher and a student of A Course Miracles for over 30 years and I see exactly how this has worked in my life and in my students and clients lives also.

Prayer literally changes our perceptions, and when our perceptions change that's when our life or certain aspects of our lives start to change. The problem with traditional types of prayer is that it tends to come from a place of desperation or wanting to control a given situation and their outcome. You know the kinds of prayers I'm talking about “Please God give me the job" "Please God give me a date with that guy" "Please God make this situation turn out the way that I want it to (so that I can get what I want)" You know what I'm talking about… Although these types of prayers are a first step, they really do keep us in a place of desperation and controlling. This is the type of prayer that many people use and then say that ‘my prayers are not being answered’. It is because that desperation and controlling shuts off the flow of Spirit.

Although prayer does not need to be formal, I believe that there are five types of prayers that will bring us more peace and shift our perception. Once again; when we shift our perception that's when miracles take place in our life. Here are the 5 types of prayers that I recommend you start using in your life in order to experience miracles! Once again these are guidelines. Use your intuition in applying them in your life.

1. Prayers of Allowing:

A prayer of allowing is a prayer when you allow Spirit or God to work things out for you. This is allowing the divine flow of the universe to arrange things beyond what you can do from strictly a human perspective. This type of prayer acknowledges that you are the co-creator with God and not the creator itself. An example of a prayer of allowing would be "Dear God please let everything work out for the highest good involving the situation with my job" as compared to a controlling prayer in that situation would be "Dear God please let me have this particular job at this particular time (fill in your own details)” Think of Allowing prayer as letting situations be resolved for the highest good of all.

2. Prayers of Appreciation or Gratitude

A prayer of appreciation or gratitude is a prayer that confirms all of the blessings and positive things that are happening in your life right now. As the powerful law of attraction states; we attract more to our life what we give attention, energy and focus to.

An example of a prayer of gratitude or appreciation would be "Dear God thank you for all of the love I have in my life right now." As opposed to "Dear God please bring love into my life." Now, in some of these situations it may be hard to see that you already have love (or whatever you are asking for) in your life, but if you can even find just a little bit, be thankful for that! Once you're thankful for that it opens up the energy to receive more. Also I want to say that appreciation and gratitude prayers can be said for anything and everything that you have in your life that makes you feel good right now. So start affirming through prayer what you love and you will attract more of it.

3. Prayers of Confirmation.

A prayer of confirmation is very similar to a prayer of appreciation or gratitude. The difference is that a prayer confirmation is confirming that the positive situations that you have in your life right now are worthy of attention. I like to think of a prayer of confirmation in terms of how things are working out very well for you. For example, "Dear God thank you so much for having that recruiter call me for the job." Or "Dear God thank you so much for bringing this friend into my life who has opened my eyes and opened my heart." Prayers of confirmation are basically always affirming that things are working out for you and you’re acknowledging that perfect unfoldment of your life.

4. Prayers of Inquiry.

Prayers of inquiry are very valuable in our lives. Inquiry is when we look at our inner or outer world and need some extra guidance or help in some way. These are the prayers when you feel a little lost or a little confused in your life. This is the area where most people fall into saying a prayer of control or desperation, because they want to change it instead of asking for help or insight with it. For example "Dear God please help me to understand the reason why I have lost this job. " or "Dear God please help me to see a better way of dealing with this situation with my (job , family, self, money etc. )

Prayers of inquiry are very powerful in our lives because it opens us up to new perspectives. The answers of these prayers may come in the form of situations that show up in your life, or situations where someone says something that is the exact answer to your prayer. These are some of the most powerful prayers in my opinion.

5. Prayers of Extension

Prayers of extension are prayers where it is not about you at all. It is about sending love, healing and resolution to other people in your life or situations in the world. For example "Dear God please send healing and love to the victims of the India earthquake." Or “Dear God please help my friend to see the good in this very painful breakup that she is going through."

Prayers of extension are really a call for love that you are answering. When we see pain in others or in the world we are asked to send love and healing to them. A prayer of extension does just that.

It is said in many traditions to ‘Pray without ceasing’ I think that as you can tell from these 5 types of prayer that it may be very easy to do just that! And when we are in a constant or at least more constant stream of prayer, we are open to the miracles of life.

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The Miracle of Prayer; 5 Types of Prayer

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