Power Of Prayer

I knew someone who told me an intriguing story about a prayer that was answered. Many years ago Judy became a widow after her husband passed away, leaving her alone to raise her three daughters. She greatly missed her deceased husband, and for a number of years she struggled to take care of her family as a single parent. It was not easy. She was lonely and with all her responsibilities she despaired of ever finding another husband to share her life with. She told me that one evening years ago she was feeling especially depressed. Judy was a religious person, and she knelt in prayer asking God if she would ever remarry again or if she was destined to be forever alone.

Suddenly, a vision appeared before her. In her darkened room she was astonished to see the face of a man with a mustache and wearing glasses. This apparition lingered for a few seconds and was gone. She did not understand what she saw, but she had a feeling of peace.

A few months later a new neighbor moved into a home a few houses down from where Judy lived. He was the exact man she had seen in her vision, including glasses and mustache. To make a long story short, they got together and were eventually married, and are still married to this day.

A true story.

Some conclusions about Judy’s story.

How should we view Judy’s story? It certainly could be God answering her prayer, a blessing letting her know everything was going to be ok. Yet, perhaps there was more to her vision, and prayer in general.

For every prayer that is answered, many are not. Why was Judy’s prayer answered? I personally don’t believe God plays favorites, answering one prayer but denying others, for reasons we cannot understand. We could say God works in mysterious ways and leave it at that. Yet, I am bothered by the seemingly arbitrary nature of prayer. I think we are all equal before God. Is there a way to explain this?

Judy’s vision could be a divine answer to prayer, but it might also have been a psychic insight, a premonition, and a glimpse into the future. Her intense focused desire might have pierced the veil allowing sight into the Invisible World. It seems the theology of the individual does not matter when it comes to prayer. Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Pagans, all religions have answered prayers.

There could be a way to remove the problem of favoritism from prayer. What if instead of God directly deciding the status of every prayer, it is up to us? It fits in with the concept of free will.

The Bible has a curious approach to prayer. There has to be active participation to get results. It seems the more faith, belief, passion and determination one has with their prayer, the more likely will be a positive outcome. Curious. In a way the power of prayer seems similar to the Law of Attraction. Both require a modified state of mind combined with emotional intensity. These passages from the Bible below could apply to the law of attraction. The law of attraction suggests what/how we think is what we will attract into our lives. Positive thoughts attract positive results, negativity does likewise. Here are examples from the Bible that sound like the law of attraction to me, and if a prayer is answered depends on our choices.

Mark 9:23

“Everything is possible for him who believes”

James 1:7

But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;

Phillipians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

1 Corinthians 14:15

So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind

Mark 11:22-25

“‘Have faith in God,’ Jesus answered. ‘I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, “Go, throw yourself into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Matthew 7:7-8

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Prayer, the law of attraction, and magic may all be the same thing. There seems to be a process in the spiritual world where we all have access to spiritual powers. This process seems to work for anyone and everyone regardless of their theology. Spiritual favortism is not involved, but free will is central. We have to choose to use our spiritual gifts and to learn how to use them effectively. We have to knock on the door!