December 13, 2001

• Prayer is affirmation

• Why guides pray

God and we continue to surround you with the warm and loving presence that we share with one another. It is a presence filled with love that is unimaginable by so many whose lives are touched by the interactions of others. It is, in a sense, you, all of you, we pray for. We, of course, are blessed when you pray for us but you must know that it is for you that we pray. Perhaps it seems strange to think of our praying when we already exist in a purely spiritual form, but prayer is the great strength, it is the unifier that crosses the boundaries between human life and spiritual life. It is also what unites us to one another. We who have fought the good fight, we who have lived the joy, the pain, the struggles, the achievements of human life, we continue to pray.

Considering that prayer is an openness to God, we are constantly in prayer. We are surrounded by a Light that we feel and see. We are surrounded by a Spiritual Presence far more intense, more rewarding, more challenging, more supportive, more affirming than any experience you might imagine,

and yet we pray.

We are filled with love, we are surrounded by love, we affirm the value and presence of all spirits,

yet we pray.

We see God’s presence. We do not see God, for God is not to be seen but to be known, to be felt. The brilliance that is a part of God is visible to us. The warmth of God’s love is visible to us. The strength of God’s presence is visible to us. We feel totally in communication with God,

yet we pray.

We have no fears, we have no discomfort, we experience no pain, we are surrounded by a joyful presence, we see no pain among others who are among us,

yet we pray.

What, you may ask, can we possibly pray for, particularly when we are in union with God spiritually?

The answer is that prayer is a vision.

Prayer is an affirmation of the goodness of God’s presence.

Prayer is a kind of rejoicing—not a rejoicing of how good things are, but rejoicing in the recognition that God Is.

Prayer is an acknowledgment of all being sacred—that which we see and feel, that which we know, that which you see and feel and know—all is sacred. All is created by God. There is nothing that exists that is beyond that creation.

Our prayer is therefore a joyful affirmation of that Divine Presence that is contained in all that exists.

We pray because that is the best, most effective means of communicating with another. You hear us speak, but what we are doing is praying. You, therefore, hear our prayers as we hear yours. You receive these prayers in your understanding of what is communicated. Prayers are not merely supplications. Prayers go beyond asking. The ultimate form of prayer is Being, Being with a capital B. It means existing wholly, existing as a complete entity. When you live your lives acknowledging the wholeness of life, you are living prayerfully.

Often we have mentioned how important it is for you to recognize that prayer is not merely asking; it is listening. Both of these are essential to prayer. When we experienced human life, we thought of prayer as being a request of God for something —health, comfort, patience, compassion. We felt that brought us closer to God. But here we are, next to God, yet we pray. If we are praying, then the act of prayer takes on a broader meaning, and for you, prayer increases in its significance for your lives.

When you are peacefully aware of the presence of your guides, you are praying, even when you are not purposely directing prayer to God. Awareness is a byproduct, an objective of prayer. It is not receiving. You do not pray for blessings; you pray to be aware of the blessings you have. You do not pray for your own health; you pray to be aware of the health that you have. The human body is a complex system which at times is balanced and at other times, out of balance. But there is always a condition that can be described as whole and good, full of potential, a source of comfort.

All of you, then, experience constantly the condition of health. When you become aware of something that is out of balance, it is essential to recognize what is in balance. Being ill does not mean the absence of health, but being ill provides an opportunity for recognizing what in you is healthy. If you pray for comfort, you must also be aware that there are some aspects of your life that are already comfortable, be they relationships with others, physical comfort, bodily comfort, emotional comfort, a sense that God is present. There is no human being that exists in a total absence of comfort, just as there is no human being that is totally ill, but it is natural to bring your attention primarily to what is uncomfortable, to what is unhealthy. Such awareness clouds your view of what is good in your own lives.

Prayer, then, is a means of directing yourselves toward what is good in your lives, what is strong, what is just, what is loving, what is healthy, what is patient. No individual lives a life devoid of patience, devoid of compassion, devoid of forgiveness, but it is for you to become more aware of that which is good and strong and able and healthy and positive. We, therefore, have much to pray about, for there is much on our spiritual side that is good and healthy and strong and able and loving and compassionate. The natural response to us is thankfulness. It is an acknowledgment of what is there that is reflective of God’s light. Our prayers, then, are a celebration of what is good.

Your prayers can also be a celebration. When you are in pain, celebrate that which is not in pain. When you are ill, celebrate that which is healthy. When you are sad, celebrate that part of your life that brings joy. When you are alone, celebrate what brings you to others. That is what prayer does. That gives balance to life. You do often concentrate on what is negative, what is difficult, what is frustrating, what indicates failure as you may describe it, but you seldom turn your attention to that which affirms, that which strengthens, that gives meaning, comfort, value. Prayer is opening to God’s presence that is already with you. As you know, God does not respond to requests to be present, but God does help open another to the existing presence as a result of your prayers.

The pain and agony and anger that permeate the world as we speak to you is contagious. It can spread, it can become more intense, it can be as a powerful tide that can sweep you away. But it is not God’s destiny for you to be swept away completely, for there is much that is good and secure and positive. You must be open to that. You must have a vision of what is indeed God inspired. It is that vision that empowers you to withstand the tide. You cannot change the tide immediately, but you can eliminate its effects on you and others through that vision.

It is important indeed to stand for what you believe, but your position must be one of vision, it must be one of openness. It is by example that you instruct and influence and change. It is not just by words. Words may be the beginning, but words must be followed by the action that results from your commitment. Living in prayer, living in thanksgiving, living as an acknowledgment of what is godly, of all that affirms is more important than simply decrying what is evil. You must live your lives in the prayer that affirms. We live our lives in that affirmation, and we communicate to you through affirmation. We affirm your lives. We affirm what is beautiful. We affirm all that is positive, all that is reflective of God. That is why we are your guides—for that affirmation, for that prayer as we employ it.

Bring prayer into your lives as an affirmation. It will speak louder than words. Such affirmation moves mountains, touches the soul, and leads to a greater awareness of God’s presence. A life of affirmation is a life of prayer. It is a life reflecting God. There is nothing about God that is negative. God will not punish. There is no anger, there is no retribution. All that God is is positive. There is no negative to love. There is nothing negative about being truly loving. The love of which we speak that is God is a love that is positive and supportive, is affirming, is just, is patient and giving and forgiving. That is the kind of life you’re asked to pursue. It is a long process, but it is that life of affirmation that gives your lives real purpose and that gives voice to God’s presence.

You are the voice, you are the arms and hands and eyes and ears of God. Take hold of that recognition, affirm it, build with it, stand with it, be strengthened by it all of your days.

Amen.