larutan.blogspot.com: The Ladder of Prayer -- Sent in by Paul Hampton

THE LADDER OF PRAYER

WHAT IS PRAYER FOR? GOD IS THE GOAL OF EVERY PRAYER.

PRAYER IS THE MEANS BY WHICH GOD'S SON LEAVES SEPARATE GOALS AND SEPARATE INTERESTS BY, AND TURNS IN HOLY GLADNESS TO THE TRUTH OF UNION IN HIS FATHER AND HIMSELF.

RUNGS DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN PRAYERS EXAMPLE OF PRAYER

Being the Prayer Now prayer is lifted from the world of things, of bodies, and of gods of every kind, and we rest in holiness at last. There is no asking, for there is no lack. We are transformed, for we recognize the Christ in ourselves. (We are that which we have prayed for.) Prayer is now the single voice Creator and creation share. I cannot go without you, for you are a part of me.
(With this prayer, we stand at the gate of Heaven.)

Praying With Others
(Continuing to rise: Now it is possible to help in prayer, and so reach up yourself)
We are enemies no more. In praying with others, we share a goal. Yet it is likely, at first, that what is asked for even by those who join in prayer is not the goal that prayer should truly seek. Even together you may ask for things, and thus set up but an illusion of a goal you share. You may ask together for specifics and not realize that you are asking for effects without the cause. Even the joining, then, is not enough, if those who prayer together do not ask, before all else, what is the Will of God. (This, then, is praying with others, asking for the Will of God.) We go together, you and I.

Praying for Others
(Beginning to rise: Until this second level at least begins, one cannot share in prayer.)
Praying for others, if rightly understood, becomes a means for lifting your projections of guilt from your brother, and enabling you to recognize it is not he who is hurting you. The poisonous thought that he is your enemy, your evil counterpart, your nemesis, must be relinquished before you can be saved from guilt (to be saved from guilt is to recognize that our brother is not our enemy). For this, the means is prayer. What I have asked for for my brother is not what I would have. Thus have I made of him my enemy.

Praying Out Of Need
(lowest rung)
There are two asking-out-of-need prayers:

The lowest of the two forms is prayer about wanting; prayer that comes out of a sense of scarcity and lack. Often, this prayer does not make an appeal to God or even involve Him.
The next to the lowest prayer is a higher form of asking out of need. The asking may be addressed to God in honest belief but without understanding. It asks for things of this world and also for such gifts as honesty and goodness, and for forgiveness. At this same level, we have prayers for one's enemies, but our belief in enemies means we have limited prayer to the laws of this world. Praying for enemies suggests "otherness" and the Course recommends we pray for ourselves.

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Wednesday, February 27, 2008

The Ladder of Prayer -- Sent in by Paul Hampton

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RUNGS	DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN PRAYERS	EXAMPLE OF PRAYER
Being the Prayer	Now prayer is lifted from the world of things, of bodies, and of gods of every kind, and we rest in holiness at last. There is no asking, for there is no lack. We are transformed, for we recognize the Christ in ourselves. (We are that which we have prayed for.) Prayer is now the single voice Creator and creation share.	I cannot go without you, for you are a part of me. (With this prayer, we stand at the gate of Heaven.)
Praying With Others (Continuing to rise: Now it is possible to help in prayer, and so reach up yourself)	We are enemies no more. In praying with others, we share a goal. Yet it is likely, at first, that what is asked for even by those who join in prayer is not the goal that prayer should truly seek. Even together you may ask for things, and thus set up but an illusion of a goal you share. You may ask together for specifics and not realize that you are asking for effects without the cause. Even the joining, then, is not enough, if those who prayer together do not ask, before all else, what is the Will of God. (This, then, is praying with others, asking for the Will of God.)	We go together, you and I.
Praying for Others (Beginning to rise: Until this second level at least begins, one cannot share in prayer.)	Praying for others, if rightly understood, becomes a means for lifting your projections of guilt from your brother, and enabling you to recognize it is not he who is hurting you. The poisonous thought that he is your enemy, your evil counterpart, your nemesis, must be relinquished before you can be saved from guilt (to be saved from guilt is to recognize that our brother is not our enemy). For this, the means is prayer.	What I have asked for for my brother is not what I would have. Thus have I made of him my enemy.
Praying Out Of Need (lowest rung)	There are two asking-out-of-need prayers: The lowest of the two forms is prayer about wanting; prayer that comes out of a sense of scarcity and lack. Often, this prayer does not make an appeal to God or even involve Him. The next to the lowest prayer is a higher form of asking out of need. The asking may be addressed to God in honest belief but without understanding. It asks for things of this world and also for such gifts as honesty and goodness, and for forgiveness. At this same level, we have prayers for one's enemies, but our belief in enemies means we have limited prayer to the laws of this world. Praying for enemies suggests "otherness" and the Course recommends we pray for ourselves.