This week: On Prayer Edited by: Kit of House Lannister  
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Do you pray? There is reason to believe that prayer can be beneficial, no matter your faith - or lack thereof.
This week's Spiritual Newsletter, then, is all about the power of prayer.
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Do you pray? I pray, but I confess that I don’t do so every day. I usually pray right before I go to sleep, and there are times when my head’s busy and I forget. Other times I simply fall asleep.
My prayers aren’t completely confined to that hour – I may see a prayer request and spend a moment fulfilling it, or I thank God for protecting me from falling down the stairs or walking into something. There are plenty of random, brief communications, much like I’d send an app to my sister about small happenings, I suppose. The line’s always open, and I make full use of it.
When I tell people this, there are those who find it odd that I pray. I am not, after all, a member of a formal, organised religion. I don’t attend church. I don’t even read the Bible, nor other religious texts. Why, then, would I pray? There are multiple reasons for this.
One reason is that I was raised in a religious household. Several members of my family were active in the Salvation Army. I grew up learning about God, and Jesus, and prayer was a big part of how those around me practiced their faith. When I was old enough I attended a Christian primary school, reinforcing the message that it is important to communicate with God. As a result, I have said my bedtime prayers ever since I was a small child.
I have, since, learned about various other faiths, and I know that Christians are far from the only people who believe in the power of prayer. Indeed, there are many forms of prayer, from the formal, to the casual, to the meditative, to prayer expressed through physical acts such as dance. Some prayers are said at specific occasions, such as the blessing of a meal. Others are spontaneous. Prayer has been a part of human society for millennia – people have always sought contact with a greater power. Likewise, it is common for people to reach out to their ancestors for guidance. It can be argued, then, that it’s a part of human nature, or something close to it anyway. To be human is to realise one’s smallness in a vast universe. To understand that there’s yet much beyond our understanding. To need comfort and guidance when facing the difficulties of life and to wonder – perhaps fear – what comes after.
I am not immune to this. There are times when other people cannot help you, no matter how much they’d love to do so. In such moments there’s just you, and that bad thing that you cannot do anything about, because it’s out of your control. It does give some comfort, then, to know that a listening ear is always available. To, no matter how briefly, place your burdens on other shoulders.
But it’s not only that – prayer can bring clarity. It can help you calm down and see whether what got you upset is truly as bad as you thought, or if it was a mere minor annoyance. Talking through problems can help you find solutions, and prioritise the necessary actions. Whether or not you believe in a higher power, it is true that prayer can help the brain process life events.
Of course, if you do not believe in a higher power it may feel odd to pray, and there are other ways that you can help your brain – journaling, for example, or talking things through with a partner or a good friend. A journal is not always available, however, and there are multiple reasons why you may not feel comfortable or able to discuss what’s bothering you with another person. You may not want to burden them. You may fear upsetting them. You may know already that they will be unable to help or unwilling to listen. If there is no higher power available to you, you can still do something similar to prayer by mentally articulating problems and/or your plans, and envisioning a positive outcome. Working through what’s on your mind in such a manner can still help you figure out how to move forward.
I don’t tend to pray out loud. Even when I am all alone, I don’t speak my prayers. It’s a personal preference. The content of my prayers varies, but from my childhood onward there is a structure with set categories that I place my content in. A lot of the time I include an amended version of the Lord’s Prayer – I add in the word please here and there because otherwise it feels too demanding. This is followed by asking for love, healing, strength and protection for my family, friends and other loved ones, and whoever may be in need. I have a section where I ask for the same for myself and ask for general guidance, a section in which I express my appreciation and finally, depending on whether or not I need it, I talk through the issues of the day. That may sound long, but it generally takes just a few minutes. A few minutes that do tend to make me feel better about whatever’s going on.
So, do you pray? If you do, what does your prayer look/sound like? Do you find it beneficial?
I wish you well,
Kit of House Lannister
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Spiritual: November 22, 2023 Issue [#12290]
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