During those times when we feel disheartened and discouraged, we turn to those who can comfort us. When that’s not enough, we turn to prayer.
Prayer is the most common practice for connecting our hearts and mind to the Divine. This relationship between us and a higher power allows and inspires us to open up freely and ask for help or guidance when we are in need.
When we are troubled, in turmoil, broken-hearted or despairing, prayer and its power have a way to transcend our darkest hours. Prayer gives us the faith, hope, and the guidance we are seeking.
You’ve heard that prayer is powerful and can do amazing things for you. However, maybe you are skeptical, though hopeful that there is a healing benefit with the power of prayer.
Suppose you are struggling with prayer, knowing not what to say, and find yourself lost for the right words. In that case, spiritual leader and author Marianne Williamson’s book Illuminata: “A Return to Prayer” offers seekers and believers some insight into how to express what’s on your heart. She has written a beautifully composed volume for those times when we are at a loss for knowing how to say prayers for healing.
Though written over twenty-five years ago, the prayers contained within this compact but important book continue to be relevant, if not more so, during today’s times.
In her seemingly divinely and inspired writing, her prayers cover every range of emotion and the human condition. Included within the pages are prayers for yourself, others, and our troubled world.
She offers us a way to experience what she eloquently articulates. Through her unique expression, she invites us to create our healing prayers.
Marianne speaks from her heart, in a style where you feel she is speaking directly to you. Throughout the book, she demonstrates and encourages us how to ask for help, as well as write our own. She says just that: “Read my prayers, or someone else’s. By all means, create your own.”
Healing yourself through prayer is possible by reading, reciting, and also creating your personal prayers.
If it’s helpful, create a list of words that express what you need; inner peace, strength, courage; or what you wish to be free of; anxiety overwhelm, loneliness are just a very few examples.
Take a few, slow deep breaths, gently inhale and exhale as you gather yourself.
Using a journal, your keyboard, or dictation, in your own words, write straight from your soul. Try not to over-think it. Write what comes from your heart. Your prayer should be uniquely yours. Write, type or record what you are sensing for as long as you need to. Speak to God, the Divine, or a Higher Power in a conversational style.
With personal engagement, you may find that you feel more hopeful and empowered when you compose your special prayer as a means of healing. Expressing yourself openly and honestly through your written voice is an invitation for a deeper relationship between you and God, the Divine or a Higher Power.
When you are hurting, lost, needing guidance and comfort, finding prayers that speak to your heart are those written in simple, easy to relate to text. That’s why they remain popular prayers and become our favorites. The simple Serenity Prayer, known by heart and by many, is an example of a well-loved prayer.
While we may be familiar with the shorter version of the Serenity Prayer, here is the longer version from www.prayerfoundation.org. The addition of the phrases and words- living in the present moment, trusting, and surrendering, to a source greater than our own, make this prayer that much more meaningful for us.
Serenity Prayer
God, grant me the Serenity
To accept the things I cannot change…
Courage to change the things I can,
And Wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it.
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His will.
That I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with Him forever in the next.
Amen. Reinhold Niebuhr
www.prayerfoundation.org
For Christians, the Holy Bible is the ready reference to bring immediate peace into your life. While we find healing on every page of the Bible, you might consider the Book of Psalms as the first place to start when wanting to connect with scripture. The verses of beautiful, sacred poems and songs in Psalms, the prayer book of the Bible, cover every human emotion and condition that is part of our life experience.
By actively engaging with the Psalms, praying them, meditating, singing, or journaling with them, you may experience more inner peace and encouragement, especially when you need guidance and healing. When you seek inspiration, strength, comfort, or when your troubled heart needs mending, the Bible and particularly the Psalms are the relied-on source for many.
One of the most familiar passages from the Bible as a verse for healing, from the Book of Psalms and memorized by many is:
“The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, and he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23
Many verses often are referred to for encouragement and support. Those most meaningful to you will always be a personal choice.
Here, we share six verses as an example of the many you may wish to pray with and recite. Say them out loud. If there is an opportunity to replace your name, when you read “me, my, I or our,” do so. Replacing your name here may make praying the Psalms that much more personal. Also, consider using the Psalms as prompts for writing in a journal for spiritual transformation.
- “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.” Psalm 18: 2
- “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” Psalm 46:1
- “LORD my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.” Psalm 30:2
- “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:5
- “Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief.” Psalm 31:9
- “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4
- “Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish.” Psalm 25:17
The Christian mystic, St. Teresa of Avila, from Spain, lived during the 16th century. She became a Doctor of the Catholic Church because of her writings and her other works. To this day, we continue to be inspired by her beautiful prayer and poetry. Throughout time, her beautiful prayers continue to offer encouragement and support.
Here are two of her most comforting prayer/poems:
Prayer of Saint Teresa of Avila
Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices. ~ St. Teresa of Ávila
And also,
“May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.” ~ St. Teresa of Ávila
Angels, the revered messengers of God, are others to turn to when needing healing, support, and encouragement during challenging times.
Most Christians, Jews, and other faiths as well recognize angels with specific roles to carry out. According to theologians, there is an angelic hierarchy, and the numbers of angels are vast and unlimited. There are many different types of angels waiting and ready to help us when we are in need.
Angels can assist us during painful and troubling times.
Author, Lorna Byrne, www.lornabyrne.com, has been called a contemporary Irish mystic. For as long as she can recall, she has been in the presence of angels. From an early age, she has had a relationship with Archangel Michael, considered the “chief angel,” “great prince,” and protector of people. He’s a helper, a warrior, an angel to rely on. As she lived, she encountered many more angels who taught her what she continues to share with others.
As a humble ambassador of peace, she offers a message of hope to all those who need strength, courage, and healing by explaining how God’s angels work on his behalf.
The author teaches us that we all have a guardian angel regardless of our faith, religion, or belief system. And throughout her gifted storytelling and published works, we learn of and about the different types of angels available to us.
In her book, “A Message of Hope from the Angels,” she shares with us the different angels that will intercede on our behalf with our prayer requests.
While there are many different angels presented in her book, the Angels of Prayer can help you pray. Lorna makes it clear that while she talks to the angels and asks for help, she doesn’t pray to them. “I ask angels to intercede. I don’t pray to them. I pray to only God. Prayer is a direct communication with God.”
She also explains that “when you pray there is a multitude of angels of prayer there praying with you regardless of your religious faith or how you are behaving. They are enhancing your prayer- interceding on your behalf and imploring God to grant your prayer.”
Prayer makes us whole. It’s the spiritual practice, when even at our worst, we find hope. It is a simple way to consciously connect to God, the Divine, or a Higher Power as a co-creator in our lives. And it is also possibly one of the most powerful and meaningful ways to find healing your life. You are in control of your spiritual growth and development.
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