As my experience of the divine has evolved, I have sometimes found myself tongue-tied before God. My familiar childhood prayers no longer fit. What if the divine art not just in heaven, but expressing through every aspect of the universe? I attempt to form words around my sense that God speaks through my own heart, creating experiences so that I can more fully connect with the flow that defines me.
"Affirmative Prayer" is based on the belief that all we seek is already present in consciousness, and that our challenge is simply to release our own self-imposed boundaries. ...Again, I question. What honorifics apply to a God who is present inside me? To whom do I address my entreaty?
The answer lies in my breath. I simply breathe in and feel the love of the divine fill my being. I breathe out, sending light to all who, like me, seek a way to connect with their own divine knowing. I corral myself in the present moment, noticing things exactly as they are—the sound of the air conditioner clicking on, the way my blouse feels against my back, the faint surf of air in and out of my nose.
I remember, again, that Spirit is inside me, all around me, and present in whatever arises. From this vantage point, I realize that my spirit has created whatever is occurring in my life as an opportunity for me to release limitations I have misunderstood as mine. It helps me to view my life as a dream, in which every person and situation mirrors an aspect of myself which awaits healing.
I am grateful for the guidance that comes through observing what has triggered fear or reluctance in me. In fact, I discern which particular divine attribute is ripe for expression through the quality of the challenge I face. If I am ill, I am called to healing. If I am in doubt, I surrender to faith. If I am self-critical, I move toward my true nature as love.
The divine and physical come together in me in a way that my soul agreed to before coming into incarnation. My uniqueness is a blessing, since I, like everyone else, evolve the divine according to my own nature. I have my own sense of knowing that is perfect for me.
All that occurs contributes to my learning. As I answer with love and acceptance, my peace is communicated to those around me. We respond as one, ever devolving back to the divinity from which we draw life.
This knowing finds its face in my drawing. When I used blind contour sketching (drawing without looking at the paper) to map out the young girl pictured here, I was surprised at her huge hands. It’s as if an adult is reaching around her, offering further power to her plea.
That is the truth of each of our prayers. We have only to be present with what is, acknowledging Spirit as the orchestrator of our experiences, and our healing is magnified.
Now, as I lay me down to sleep, my tongue is loosened, and I find that I know how to pray:
Precious Spirit,
thank you for your presence in all that is.
I look past my doubts and take courage,
knowing that challenges in my life
are the bread crumbs you leave
to guide me forward.
I rest in you,
knowing that I am eternal.
I am peace.
I am love.
I am one with all that is.
Amen.
