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Enjoy another wonderful text by Rev. Phil Smedsted, minister Emeritus of Oasis Rising Center

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Phil Smedstad's texts are one of the ways Oasis Rising Center supports members.

A Positive Path for Spiritual Living

Oasis Rising Center Spiritual Center
Oasis Rising Center 8125 West Sahara Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89125
(702) 804-8189
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“How Prayer Changes Our Lives”                      By Rev. Phillip Smedstad

One of the steps in the prayer I wrote called The Prayer of Transformation  is titled “Every Prayer is Answered.”  Some people have asked me how I can make such an outrageous claim.
I always reply that I didn’t originate this statement.  In Matt. 7:7, Jesus said, “Ask and you will receive.  Seek and you will find.  Knock and the door will be opened.”  We don’t find any “maybe’s” or “might’s” in his words.

On the cover of my prayer booklet, it says, “Prayer changes our lives because it changes US.”  In Unity, our method of prayer is affirmative and grateful.  We know that Spirit is always showering us with more good than we know how to receive.

We also know that our deepest beliefs and emotions are constantly creating our reality.  So, if it looks like there is something missing in our life, it means that there is some deep belief or emotional pain in the way.

An example I sometimes use to illustrate this is to ask people to affirm out loud, “I always have as much money and love as I want.  Thank you God.”  When people say this aloud (you might try this right now), the first response which comes up might be:  “Baloney!” or “I do NOT!” or “I wish!” or even something X rated.

The above affirmation is actually a true statement.  What is important to know is that any of those “negative” responses are a product of a person’s deep beliefs and/or unhealed emotional pain.

In order to have more love and money in our life, those beliefs would need to be changed.  That emotional pain would have to be healed.

When we pray, every answer to prayer is a miracle.  The dictionary definition of a miracle is, “an event or occurrence outside the known laws of nature, or transcending our knowledge of those laws.”  This is not a bad definition, but it could seem to indicate that miracles are things which happen TO us.

In Unity, we know that nothing actually happens TO us.  Everything we experience happens THROUGH us.

A Course in Miracles tells us that a miracle is a shift in perception.  I find this definition much more applicable to prayer.  A miracle really is a shift in perception – from fear to love, from lack to abundance, from separateness to oneness. The way I like to say it is that “all miracles happen within us.”  Then, because of the Law of Mind Action, when we change on the inside, our outer life does as well.

For example, if I am praying for physical health, what might come to the surface is any dis-ease in my thoughts or emotions.  Clearing these might be the only way to heal my body.  So, the answer to a prayer for healing could begin as an inner “stirring up.

Or suppose I’m praying for the perfect relationship in my life.  I might find myself activating and processing old hurts.  This might very well be the beginning of an answer to this prayer.  (It really did happen this way for me.)  It could easily be the only way I can attract, and then recognize that perfect relationship.

The truth is, God can only do FOR us what God can do THROUGH us.  So, when you pray, start looking for inner changes, inner shifts.  Spirit is ALWAYS answering our prayers in the perfect way, and those answers always begin within our minds and hearts.

As to how to recognize answers to prayer in your life, one good way is to practice, as a way of life, something we learned as children.  As kids, when we approached a railroad crossing, we were taught to stop, look, and listen.  It would be wonderful if we made this a way of life.

1.  STOP.  This can mean to take time each day to practice slowing down your thoughts through meditation.  Every once in awhile, I like to recommend something promoted by Jack Canfield.  He calls this his “hour of power:”  20 minutes of meditation, 20 minutes of spiritual reading, and 20 minutes of physical exercise.

2.  LOOK.  This can mean to practice mindfulness, noticing what is going on in your life – both within and without, and accepting it all with as little judgment as possible.  One aspect of mindfulness meditation is to do something called “naming the dragon.”

Suppose you are meditating, focusing on your breath at the solar plexus, and you notice your mind going off in another direction.  “Naming the dragon” would be labeling what is happening, saying to yourself something like, “Ah, planning, planning,” and then bringing your attention back to the breath.

Or perhaps you find yourself judging, worrying or being angry.  Whatever the mind chatter, the process is the same.

One thing which is very important is to be willing for your prayers to be answered in ways you don’t expect.  In my experience, this is almost always what happens.

3.  LISTEN.  Spirit is constantly guiding us, and the Holy Spirit can literally speak through anyone or anything.  It can speak through the words of others, through your own thoughts or feelings, and through anything going on around you.

When you pray, get ready for change, and remember, all miracles happen within us.  God can only do FOR us what God can do THROUGH us.  So let the miracles begin in your life, and let them begin within you.