A familiar sight today is people walking by with their heads bowed down, incessantly checking their cellphones, some not even lifting their heads while crossing the road. This image reminded me of people bowing their heads in prayer, and I thought what a different world we would be in if we could establish and maintain an ongoing connection with our true source and worship the divine within us just as much as we worship the connection we have with our cellphones.
In this Digital Age of Information, communication has increased in quantity as we are constantly being bombarded by an enormous amount of information all day long. The question is whether the quality of our communications has increased as well. As most people cannot survive more than five minutes without checking their devices, imagine how neglected our spiritual connections have become.
Prayer is often associated with religion. Regardless of whether you believe in religion or whichever religion you practice, we are all in a relationship with a Higher Power, God, Spirit, or whatever you choose to call it. Like the internet, we all have a direct personal connection, 24/7, to this powerful source. Imagine having your own spiritual Google or GPS to guide you through life. Think of all the questions in life that we are constantly seeking answers to and how we can benefit from the flow of incoming information.
Communication is not only an important life skill for interacting with people, but also with our higher self and the divine energy. This form of communication is called prayer. It is an essential part of our lives, yet often neglected. Most people lack spiritual connection and meaning in their lives, a serious 21st century problem, as there are many lost souls wandering around, looking for a sense of belonging and connection in all the wrong places.
Prayer is the language of the soul, and like any communication, it is a two-way street. Prayer is often mistaken for a one-way connection, often asking for help when in desperate need or placing our order for things and favours. It’s not only on Sundays that we should pray, nor is it merely mindlessly reciting words in a prayer. It’s about developing a meaningful relationship. The more we communicate, the clearer our communication will be and the closer we will be to the source. We can feel the spirit’s presence as we connect on a regular basis.
The more quality time you spend with God in conversation, the stronger the relationship will become. Just as your body requires food, water, and air, your soul needs daily nourishment. When we don’t open up the lines of communication, we disconnect from our vital source. Many souls are literally starving.
In order to establish and maintain a healthy line of communication, we need to incorporate daily prayer rituals into our daily lives. Just like daily exercise, prayer is the spiritual exercise your soul needs to stay in shape. You are honouring and showing respect by making yourself present, an important step in deepening your relationship with Spirit. And like any good communication, it’s not only about talking (prayer), it’s also about listening (meditation).
Making space and time for prayer requires commitment and devotion.
Prayer draws you into the energy, the power, and the strength of the Spirit, which when called upon consciously and with intention, can work miracles. Tapping into the power of prayer provides us with that sense of loving and being loved. It’s almost as if we are returning home and our mother tells us, “Everything is going to be ok, I love you.”
As we get busy out there in our lives, we forget that there is another world inside that we are connected to. Most people discover prayer when they stumble from a broken heart into pain. The positive side of being hurt and suffering is that it breaks you open in order to become more accessible to receiving guidance and healing. The yearning of the heart is to seek out and be in the presence of love.
The healing powers of prayer are starting to attract the attention of scientists who are seeing inexplicable results in the medical field. The so-called “miracles” are prayers in action. As healing occurs, you are transformed by making the connection. You are at one with the source. After all, the root meaning of the word “health” comes from an old English word for wholeness; being whole, one, holy, sacred, and healing.
To truly get to know yourself is to truly know Spirit, and that’s a powerful connection. Cultivating our relationship with Spirit within us through prayer, we need to become more aware and willing to hear Spirit’s voice and trust that there is more to who we are than we know. Pray with all your heart, in times of joy as well as sorrow. Gratitude is a form of prayer in which we are thankful for all that we have received, including our learning and lessons.
In order to maintain spiritual focus in our daily lives, it is important to develop a consistent routine. Just like exercise keeps our body in good health, prayer is the spiritual exercise that keeps our soul in shape. It is also good for our emotional well-being as it provides us with a greater sense of purpose and helps us cope with life’s challenges.
Added benefits include; reducing stress and improving overall health; inviting peace and serenity into your life; developing a positive attitude; making better decisions; eliciting feelings of gratitude, compassion, forgiveness, and hope; and providing social support by getting involved and creating a sense of community with like-minded people.
This ritual requires a special time and place in order to deliberately create silence so you can make contact with your spirit. By developing your inner life, you can learn to live your life with reflection, awareness, and purpose.
When is the best time to pray? Any time that works for work. If you are an early bird, morning would work best for you, especially before everyone gets up; perhaps watch the sunrise. If you are a night owl, it could be the time before going to bed or watching the sunset in your special chair with your special shawl. Get into the regular habit of tuning in to what really matters in your life. You are able to ground yourself, tap into inspiration, and gain more clarity in life.
Create your sacred space and your own little altar at home;
- light a candle
- use a talisman, like a stone, shell or statue
- have a journal to write down your thoughts and feelings
- use colours or paint to draw/ singing/ music
- read sacred text or inspiring quotes
- talk out loud or sit in silence
- breathing exercises help relax your body and mind as you enter stillness
- use prayer beads or mantras
Ask spirit to sit with you. Allow yourself to be guided. Offer praise and gratitude. With an exhalation, press the SEND button, let go of your worries, and wait for the response as you inhale peace, thankfulness, and trust. Pay attention to signs and synchronicities that happen around you throughout the day.
All these things facilitate the way spirit can speak to us, as spirit always hears our hearts. As we sit in the presence of spirit, we become more present to ourselves and become more in tune with our intuition.
Living in the presence of Spirit is called having grace and amazing grace is what happens when we connect and align ourselves with our spiritual heart centre. Attune to the healing love and light energy as we continue to cultivate communication with Spirit (communion = becoming one). The essence of healing is love.
Stay in touch with Spirit and continue to receive messages that support us along our journey, and remember, we are never, ever alone.
Open your hearts, lift your spirits, and develop your faith. Surrender to the power within you. Start talking, start listening, open up those lines of communication, and feel the connection as you strengthen your relationship with God.
Oh, and don’t forget to call home!
AMEN
Antoinette Giacobbe
