Prayer Life

Prayer practice daily is a concept I am rather familiar with. However, when discussed in combination with meditation, it is a little less clear.  What is it that divides the two. Both are seeking to find moments of stillness and reflection. Prayer tends to focus on particular thoughts, topics or aspects of life. Where meditation is about finding peace within, though a combination of breath works and solemn reflection. They are so similar that I find it hard to distinguish between the two. But they are, however, quite different. 

Prayer life, in my experience, is about focusing the mind on a topic or phrase/word and bringing to that item a powerful connection, seeking to source God’s loving Grace to it. For instance, we might pray for the sick. This is a concept that we wish to pray for, a focus. We submit those we know, and those we don’t, to God, asking for His intervention to heal those afflicted. This is about seeking benefit or solace for those outside of ourselves. It is possible to pray for oneself however, even this action is normally focused on a part or aspect of us which is lacking, in need or is suffering. 

Meditation is (as far as I know) about bringing stillness into the being that is practicing it. This may be for a ‘reason’ or ‘theme’, but it is most often to better the state of self. Meditation for others, must, by definition, start with the stillness of the self before its power can be directed elsewhere. 

Similarly, prayer starts with the bringing of stillness to the self, however, prayer can be achieved without such an integral part of the practice. We can be mindful of others without taking the time out to bring our body and energy into synchronisation. My understanding of Meditation is that time must be taken to centre the body and bring it in-line with the spiritual and then, once calm and peaceful, attention can be turned to specific goals or subjects, such as pain, loss, sadness, or world issues, for example.

Prayer for the most part, for me, is about finding a moment to be peaceful. However, I do snatch moments in-between activities to pray for specific people or things.  These prayers are outward focused and are about me bringing those I pray for into my mind and sending Love and Compassion to them. However, prayer is a lot more than just moments taken for a loving thought. It can take on a very meditative aspect. Extended periods can be spent in prayer. Some Religious (monastic) communities pray for extended periods, which in my view is very similar to meditation. 

I have recently come to understand that there is a considerable benefit of combining Meditation and Prayer. For (as a novice) I have found that meditating (in very simple terms) allows my prayer life to be more substantial. I start with breathing and when I am calm and reflective. I allow my mind drift to the subject of my prayer, this transition from one state to another is complimentary and significantly more satisfying than prayer alone. 

Prayer is one of the most powerful tools of faith. It is through prayer and meditation that we bring the inward and outward components of the world together. I find that with the more I pray (and meditate) the more I find peace within, which has a lasting impact on my world view and interaction. 

The healing aspect of prayer is something the world traditions have practiced for millennia. Christian Spiritualists (for example) practice the laying on of hands and the use of the power of prayer to heal those within their care. More traditional Christians also practice this form of Healing, both groups report significant success with this expression of prayer, in the relief of suffering or affliction. I hope that one day I will be sufficiently practiced in this gift that I too will be able to practice this form of devotion, as I hope to bring peace and relief to those around me, who suffer.

The power of Prayer to heal is illustrated to us by Christ. His prayer before miracles or during such miracles, was the inspiration to us to use prayer to bring about healing. He laid his hands on the sick and the needy and they found relief from their suffering. It is with this demonstration in mind that I find my imagining and manifestation within my daily life. It is through prayer and meditation that we bring ourselves closer to God, in Christ, and through the Christ energy transfer our healing power to the person we are touching. Those of us who are very experienced in this gift do not touch but hold the hands over and around the sick, sharing our loving energy in Christ, with them, in order to help them heal. This love is a gift that we can show to others through prayerfulness and healing. 

The gift of being able to lay our hands on the sick or in-need, allows us to come closer to God, in Christ, and will be our ability to use prayer for the betterment of mankind.

Prayer and meditation have the significant benefit of allowing the spiritual to be present in our lives. It provides a mechanism for the world around us to be calm, in an existence which may be busy, harsh and unkind. 

Our devotion to God, manifest in the power of prayer, through the use of meditation, is the powerful expression of faith and love within the world. If we use this prayerfulness to do ‘good’ in the world then only positive things can come of it. The nature of prayer is the exploration of Love in the world. 

May God grant us the ability to give peace to the world around us and guide us in the loving exploration of Prayer and Meditation.