144:4.4 (1621.3) Prayer led Jesus up to the supercommunion of his soul with the Supreme Rulers of the universe of universes. Prayer will lead the mortals of earth up to the communion of true worship. The soul’s spiritual capacity for receptivity determines the quantity of heavenly blessings which can be personally appropriated and consciously realized as an answer to prayer.
144:4.5 (1621.4) Prayer and its associated worship is a technique of detachment from the daily routine of life, from the monotonous grind of material existence. It is an avenue of approach to spiritualized self-realization and individuality of intellectual and religious attainment.
144:4.6 (1621.5) Prayer is an antidote for harmful introspection. At least, prayer as the Master taught it is such a beneficent ministry to the soul. Jesus consistently employed the beneficial influence of praying for one’s fellows. The Master usually prayed in the plural, not in the singular. Only in the great crises of his earth life did Jesus ever pray for himself.
144:4.7 (1621.6) Prayer is the breath of the spirit life in the midst of the material civilization of the races of mankind. Worship is salvation for the pleasure-seeking generations of mortals.
144:4.8 (1621.7) As prayer may be likened to recharging the spiritual batteries of the soul, so worship may be compared to the act of tuning in the soul to catch the universe broadcasts of the infinite spirit of the Universal Father.
144:4.9 (1621.8) Prayer is the sincere and longing look of the child to its spirit Father; it is a psychologic process of exchanging the human will for the divine will. Prayer is a part of the divine plan for making over that which is into that which ought to be.
144:4.10 (1621.9) One of the reasons why Peter, James, and John, who so often accompanied Jesus on his long night vigils, never heard Jesus pray, was because their Master so rarely uttered his prayers as spoken words. Practically all of Jesus’ praying was done in the spirit and in the heart—silently.
144:4.11 (1621.10) Of all the apostles, Peter and James came the nearest to comprehending the Master’s teaching about prayer and worship. 5. Other Forms of Prayer
144:5.1 (1621.11) From time to time, during the remainder of Jesus’ sojourn on earth, he brought to the notice of the apostles several additional forms of prayer, but he did this only in illustration of other matters, and he enjoined that these “parable prayers” should not be taught to the multitudes. Many of them were from other inhabited planets, but this fact Jesus did not reveal to the twelve. Among these prayers were the following:
144:5.2 (1622.1) Our Father in whom consist the universe realms,
144:5.3 (1622.2) Uplifted be your name and all-glorious your character.
144:5.4 (1622.3) Your presence encompasses us, and your glory is manifested
144:5.5 (1622.4) Imperfectly through us as it is in perfection shown on high.
144:5.6 (1622.5) Give us this day the vivifying forces of light,
144:5.7 (1622.6) And let us not stray into the evil bypaths of our imagination,
144:5.8 (1622.7) For yours is the glorious indwelling, the everlasting power,
144:5.9 (1622.8) And to us, the eternal gift of the infinite love of your Son.
144:5.10 (1622.9) Even so, and everlastingly true.
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144:5.12 (1622.10) Our creative Parent, who is in the center of the universe,
144:5.13 (1622.11) Bestow upon us your nature and give to us your character.
144:5.14 (1622.12) Make us sons and daughters of yours by grace
144:5.15 (1622.13) And glorify your name through our eternal achievement.
144:5.16 (1622.14) Your adjusting and controlling spirit give to live and dwell within us
144:5.17 (1622.15) That we may do your will on this sphere as angels do your bidding in light.
144:5.18 (1622.16) Sustain us this day in our progress along the path of truth.
144:5.19 (1622.17) Deliver us from inertia, evil, and all sinful transgression.
144:5.20 (1622.18) Be patient with us as we show loving-kindness to our fellows.
144:5.21 (1622.19) Shed abroad the spirit of your mercy in our creature hearts.
144:5.22 (1622.20) Lead us by your own hand, step by step, through the uncertain maze of life,
144:5.23 (1622.21) And when our end shall come, receive into your own bosom our faithful spirits.
144:5.24 (1622.22) Even so, not our desires but your will be done.
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144:5.26 (1622.23) Our perfect and righteous heavenly Father,
144:5.27 (1622.24) This day guide and direct our journey.
144:5.28 (1622.25) Sanctify our steps and co-ordinate our thoughts.
144:5.29 (1622.26) Ever lead us in the ways of eternal progress.
144:5.30 (1622.27) Fill us with wisdom to the fullness of power
144:5.31 (1622.28) And vitalize us with your infinite energy.
144:5.32 (1622.29) Inspire us with the divine consciousness of
144:5.33 (1622.30) The presence and guidance of the seraphic hosts.
144:5.34 (1622.31) Guide us ever upward in the pathway of light;
144:5.35 (1622.32) Justify us fully in the day of the great judgment.
144:5.36 (1622.33) Make us like yourself in eternal glory
144:5.37 (1622.34) And receive us into your endless service on high.
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144:5.39 (1622.35) Our Father who is in the mystery,
144:5.40 (1622.36) Reveal to us your holy character.
144:5.41 (1622.37) Give your children on earth this day
144:5.42 (1622.38) To see the way, the light, and the truth.
144:5.43 (1622.39) Show us the pathway of eternal progress
144:5.44 (1622.40) And give us the will to walk therein.
144:5.45 (1622.41) Establish within us your divine kingship
144:5.46 (1622.42) And thereby bestow upon us the full mastery of self.
144:5.47 (1622.43) Let us not stray into paths of darkness and death;
144:5.48 (1622.44) Lead us everlastingly beside the waters of life.
144:5.49 (1622.45) Hear these our prayers for your own sake;
144:5.50 (1622.46) Be pleased to make us more and more like yourself.
144:5.51 (1623.1) At the end, for the sake of the divine Son,
144:5.52 (1623.2) Receive us into the eternal arms.
144:5.53 (1623.3) Even so, not our will but yours be done.
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144:5.55 (1623.4) Glorious Father and Mother, in one parent combined,
144:5.56 (1623.5) Loyal would we be to your divine nature.
144:5.57 (1623.6) Your own self to live again in and through us
144:5.58 (1623.7) By the gift and bestowal of your divine spirit,
144:5.59 (1623.8) Thus reproducing you imperfectly in this sphere
144:5.60 (1623.9) As you are perfectly and majestically shown on high.
144:5.61 (1623.10) Give us day by day your sweet ministry of brotherhood
144:5.62 (1623.11) And lead us moment by moment in the pathway of loving service.
144:5.63 (1623.12) Be you ever and unfailingly patient with us
144:5.64 (1623.13) Even as we show forth your patience to our children.
144:5.65 (1623.14) Give us the divine wisdom that does all things well
144:5.66 (1623.15) And the infinite love that is gracious to every creature.
144:5.67 (1623.16) Bestow upon us your patience and loving-kindness
144:5.68 (1623.17) That our charity may enfold the weak of the realm.
144:5.69 (1623.18) And when our career is finished, make it an honor to your name,
144:5.70 (1623.19) A pleasure to your good spirit, and a satisfaction to our soul helpers.