When all else fails, most people finally turn to prayer.

The final stop.

What if we turned that upside down and made prayer our first response, rather than our last resort?

Prayer is my go-to healing modality.  It centers me, fortifies me, shifts my perspective and offers me relief, solutions and new possibilities I could never have imagined.  I pray even though I am not religious. I don’t pray to something or someone. I just pray.  It’s like ‘prayer, unplugged’.

However, for many people (maybe even you?), prayer is a loaded word. The idea of prayer makes some of us angry. I heard of an attorney once who said, “I’d sue anyone who tried to pray for me.” You may not be as offended by prayer as that particular attorney but you might dismiss or disregard prayer for other reasons or think that prayer is only to be used as a last resort for desperate situations, and you miss the opportunity to employ prayer as a way of life, a 24/7 resource to help address life challenges big AND small.

When a friend shared her frustration about a co-worker, I naturally suggested prayer. She gave me that ‘prayer schmayer’ grimace, but then agreed to give it a try since she was out of time and options.

Here’s the note I received from her a few days later:

Angela,

I can’t believe I’m writing this but I have to thank you for the prayer that completely transformed my work situation. You may recall I was having a difficult time with my co-worker. For some reason, we were not communicating, we were both frustrated, and I was in desperate need of his help meet a looming deadline.

Prayer was my last resort when I reached out to you. You prayed with me about allowing for the Grace to influence the situation to create a blessed outcome for all and suggested I write down 10 things I appreciated about my co-worker.

The next day, I had a very congenial call with my co-worker where we happily collaborated on solving the problem. I met my deadline with relief and joy…and I now have a newfound awe at the power of prayer to shift perceptions and create a way where there seems to be no way.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I was pleased to hear her good news, and to see that my friend had opened up to prayer’s possibilities. Perhaps you’re like my friend – apprehensive about prayer, willing to give it a try, yet you don’t know where to begin.

Here’s a few tips:

  • To start, forget all the things you ‘think’ about prayer, and instead imagine you are praying for the very first time.
  • Don’t worry about God or the concept of God, especially if that is a difficult subject for you.
  • Instead use a word like LOVE, GOODNESS, or POSSIBILITY or some other word that feels good to you and speaks to the great mystery of your being alive.
  • Finally, speak from your heart what it is you are needing and open to receiving (anything from more patience and hope, to a parking spot or a new job.)

Here’s a sample prayer script (make it your own):

I accept POSSIBILITY is real and I am open to it.

(fill in the blank with whatever word you choose)

From this acceptance, I ask for_____________________________________.

(put whatever you are needing and wanting here)

With a grateful heart and mind, I declare that I am open to receiving.

Throughout my career as a prayer practitioner, I have seen the power of prayer in action, and its ability to transform us and our surroundings. Perhaps you might consider opening to prayer, and the endless and unexpected possibilities it can provide.

Love and prayers,
Angela

 

ABOUT ANGELA MONTANO

An international spiritual coach and prayer counselor, Angela Montano is devoted to sharing the utterly transformative power of prayer. Her work provides spiritual insights that change the way people perceive their circumstances, creating a shift that opens up a whole new world of possibilities.
Angela’s mission is to inspire a new conversation about prayer, teach ancient and new prayer technologies and encourage people to adopt a prayer practice.
A spiritual practitioner certified by the Center for Spiritual Living and the Agape International Spiritual Center, over the past 20 years Angela has facilitated over 15,000 private, one-on-one prayer sessions with clients of all faiths and belief systems from around the world. Angela’s work is inspired, and her ability to provide a spiritual perspective on the challenges of daily living is unparalleled.
A featured guest on Hay House Radio, Angela is also a sought-after keynote speaker and workshop facilitator. Angela is author of the forthcoming book, Rethink Prayer.