Higher-Self Realities

Today, I would like to talk to you about, “Prayer is a State of Mind.” The reflection is inspired by a passage in Isaiah that says, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you . . .” (26:3, ESV). There are as many styles of prayer as there are people who pray. Nevertheless, the ultimate goal of prayer is for the one praying to connect with God – the One.

My purpose today is to stimulate our interest in prayer by pointing us toward a higher dimension of prayer. This higher dimension has to do with our state of mind.

Let us begin by briefly examining the aforementioned passage. It talks about staying your mind on God. This means letting go of distractions and tuning in completely to God’s presence – and remaining tuned. It means locking eyes with God, resting your attention on Him, and resisting the temptation to focus on anything else. This is difficult to achieve – as you can imagine.

Even so, it is the only way to truly know God and ‘become’ God (based on the principle that if you focus intently enough on something, you will soon resonate with the thing and begin to take on its characteristics). The one who does this – according to the Bible – will be kept in a state of perfect peace, i.e., a state of harmony and bliss.

We suffer because we are distracted. If our mind is fixed on God – the One True Mind – it would be impossible for us to succumb to the dictates of carnality: sickness, death, depression, and confusion. The inability of our mind to stay on God is the root of all our problems. The typical person cannot focus their mind on God – in mediation – for more than a few seconds.

Yet, staying your mind on God is the highest expression of prayer. Talking to God is a valid way to pray but it is a lower form of prayer, nonetheless. As you evolve, prayer should naturally progress into silence and contemplation. This progression will occur because you will be able to tune in to divine presence. And when you are truly tuned in and come ‘face-to-face’ with God, His presence will overwhelm you.

As a result, you will become awestruck and speechless. The role of words (speech) will gradually diminish until prayer becomes a state of awareness – an awareness that you are in God, and God is in you.

Those who talk a lot when they pray are still at the infant stage of prayer. When you are truly in the presence of God, and you know it, you will have little or nothing to say. When you truly connect with God, your hunger will cease; so will your thirst. If you are still hungry or thirsty, it means one of two things: either the connection is weak, or the connection has not been made at all.

Stay on God, stay at peace.

With love and blessings

Stevve