Dear Spiritual Companions,

Last week a good friend asked me some questions about Intercessory Prayer.  How are we suppose to pray for another?  Can we ask for something specific?  What happens when our prayers are not answered?  Does this mean God doesn’t answer prayer or can’t?  I believe anyone who has prayed for themselves, another or some situation without getting the expected result tends to ask, Why?

My main prayer for myself, another or some situation is for God’s Will to be done.  But to get to that point I need to do some things first.  Initially I want to let God know the way things should really work out.  My plans are very good!  I believe it is crucial to let God know what we are thinking.  God can say well that is good, but did you ever think of this?  God may actually have a better solution than the one I have.  By expecting only what I had in mind to occur limits the power of God.  Our ego can so easily think we are the only one with the best solution.  This, of course, is not only true with God but with others.  It is a subtle trap!  Sometimes we need to give up our thinking to be able to think along with God.  Our humanness limits us in so many ways we might not be aware of in life.  When we embrace our divinity the heavens open to possibilities which are so much more life giving.  Sacrifice in this light is actually a good thing.  For Christians the best example of what I am discussing is found in the Garden of Gethesmane Story.  Jesus told God what he thought would work out best.  God listened and said that is fine but trust me on this one.  Jesus said, “Not my will but Yours be done.”  It was difficult For Jesus to believe, but it worked out for the best.

Another factor in praying for another is to remember they have the freedom to choose what they are going to do.  God can’t change that so we can’t either – no matter how hard we pray.  I believe God’s greatest risk was to give us freedom of will.  We can do whatever we choose to do.  Because we are human we sometimes choose the worst possible solution.  We know something is not good for us, but we still do it.  We also know what is the best for us and don’t do it.  This is frustrating isn’t it?  It is doubly frustrating when there is nothing we can do to stop those we love from choosing the worst alternative.  So we go to God and say, “Hey You are God right?  Do something!”  When God doesn’t change the situation we think well what good are You.  Or we think I guess I didn’t have enough faith.

Now we are to a very important point.  Think about this, “If God is All Powerful could Gad make a Rock so big God couldn’t move it?”  There is the paradox of prayer.  God has created us with the freedom to choose – the rock and so God can’t move it.  We want a fix it God.  God is more powerful than a fix it God! God is able to be with us through all things.  Nothing can utterly defeat us because life is more than this physical existence.  This life is one step in the evoluion of who we are in God.  To change something may be the worst thing God could do.  It is once again being drawn into the way God sees life.  To us humans it is a mystery and that is the way God made this life – A Mystery.  How else can you explain a God who answers our prayers, by not answering them the way we want or a God who does not change another person’s ability to choose freely?  Maybe God can move the rock away from the Tomb of our thinking so we are raised to a new way of contemplating life.

I still pray for others and have finally come to realize the best prayer is Your Will be Done!  God holds me in the resulting days and actions of others.  I beileve the same is true for you.

Peace,

Gary