I am there

Day 21 of 21 Days of Prayer Outside the Box Closing

I am There by James Dillet Freeman

Do you need me?

I am there.

You cannot see me, yet I am the light you see by.

You cannot hear Me, yet I speak through your voice.

You cannot feel Me, yet I am the power at work in your hands.

I am at work, though you do not understand My ways.

I am at work, though you do not recognize My works.

I am not strange visions.  I am not mysteries.

Only in absolute stillness, beyond self, can you know Me as I am, and then but as a feeling and a faith.

Yet I am there.  Yet I hear. Yet I answer.

When you need Me. I am there.

Even if you deny Me. I am there.

Even when you feel most alone. I am there.

Even in your fears. I am there.

Even in your pain, I am there.

I am there when you pray and when you do not pray.

I am in you, and you are in Me.

Only in your mind can you feel separate from Me, for only in your mind are the mists of "yours" and mine."

Yet only with your mind can you know Me and experience Me.

Empty your heart of empty fears.

When you get yourself out of the way, I am there.

You can of yourself do nothing, but I can do all.

And I am in all.

Though you may not see the good, good is there, for I am there.

I am there because I have to be, because I am.

Only in Me does the world have meaning, only out of Me does the world take form; only because of Me does the world go forward.

I am the law on which the movement of the stars and the growth of living cells are founded.

I am the love that is the law's fulfilling.  I am assurance.  I am peace. I am oneness. I am the law that you can live by.  I am the love that you can cling to.  I am your assurance. I am your peace.  I am one with you. I am.

Though you fail to find Me, I do not fail you. 

Though your faith in Me is unsure, My faith in you never wavers, because I know you, because I love you.

Beloved, I am there.

P.S. What I found out:

Even if you find yourself on the floor in the closet believing that I am not there, I am and you can pray and I will answer even if you have no idea what to say.

Powerful Forgiveness

Day 21 of 21 Days of Prayer Outside the Box

I may have repeated this forgiveness prayer more than any other.  It seems when I ask for God to teach me true perspective it is about a relationship with another person that could use forgiveness more than 90 percent of the time.  When I first started learning about forgiveness I thought I only had a couple people I needed to forgive.  I thought I didn't hold many grudges.  I thought I was very forgiving and only had difficulty forgiving a very few.

My first really big aha was when someone told me I wouldn't reach forgiveness with those few people if I didn't allow myself to release the anger I harbored in a healthy way. I had no idea how angry I was.
 I didn't even know anger could be released in a healthy way.  So I started down a journey for many years learning about that.

On the journey I found that actually I spent a lot more time than I wanted to admit in anger.  I found that I needed to forgive.  I learned that forgiveness was not something I did for the other person.  I found ultimately that the person I most needed to forgive was myself.

So here is the prayer my mentor gave me.  I use it a lot like affirmative prayer from Day 5.

I love you.
I bless you.
I release you.
I fully and freely forgive you.
Now be on you way.

I have used it in this way for years.  The last line reminds me of a gentler version of the Day 19 prayer. (Sometimes Day 19 may need to proceed this prayer). Recently I have begun to change the last line to "May your life be filled with joy."  Forgiveness has been a journey and a process for me, a freeing journey and process.

Happy New Year

Thank You

Day 20 of 21 Days of Prayer Outside the Box

This bears repeating. "If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough." Try this today.  Use it as you would an affirmative prayer from Day 5.  Try seeing how many times you can find a time to pray the "Thank you" prayer.  

Take it one step further.  My dad (who was more out of the box than anyone I knew, but liked to figure out what made the in the box stuff tick) introduced me to Merlin Carothers book "Prison to Praise" before I could even listen to anything that came from the Bible without crawling out of my skin.  His book is all about the verse from I Thessalonians "In every thing give thanks."  This may sound like a tall order.  Really?  Everything?  It is incredibly effective prayer.  If the Bible is difficult for you, as it was for me for some time, this book may challenge you, but if you are ready for a big challenge this may be just the thing.

If nothing else, just try it.  You can find thousands of things written on gratitude, but when it comes right down to it truly trying it will give you something no amount of reading can.

Bless that Bleep

Day 19 of 21 Days of Prayer Outside the Box

When I first learned the concept of praying for someone I was really upset with I struggled with the concept and the prayer.  I trusted that it worked because I heard from trusted friends that it had worked for them, so I tried praying.  Mostly I told God I was willing to pray for them, but I had no idea how.

One day one of those friends shared with me the words she used that had been passed to her from another. She said, "Oh, I just pray, 'God, Bless that  son of a Bleep right out of my life'" (Fill in the Bleep with what works for you).  I laughed so hard.  She was serious.  She said it works.  Praying for  the person's joy is very effective, but if you can't get that our of your mouth you go with the process of getting there.  Again, God can handle it.  Again, an authentic prayer.

I don't remember if I have ever actually prayed those words.  I think I probably did, at least once or twice.  The most powerful part for me was laughing so hard, getting over myself, and getting over trying to do it "right."

Today my favorite prayer for someone who upsets me is from Day 15, but if I can't bring myself to that prayer I know this one will work.

Use Me

Day 18 of 21 Days of Prayer Outside the Box

Here is another song that is an awesome prayer. It is Use Me by Rickie Byars Beckwith from the Agape Church which may look like it is traditional but if you ever get the chance to experience it you will definitely see that it is Outside the Box in an incredibly amazing way.

This prayer reminds me of the prayer from Day 10 but in a musical form.  I love singing along with this song.

Use me, oh God
I stand for you and here I'll abide
As you show me all that I must do
I used to think God was the sun
God is the sun, but God's so much more
Than the Earth, or the stars
or all of Creation
God is Creator, all in all
Needing us to shine It's light
As me, as you, so
Use me, oh God
I stand for you and here I'll abide
As you show me all that I must do
(All that I'm saying is)
Command my hands, what must they do
Command my life, it's here for you
God is the love that heals all Creation
God is Creator, makes all things new
And God needs us
To shine It's light
As me, as you
Use me, oh God
I stand for you and here I'll abide
As you show me all that I must do

To listen to the song on Utube go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqsxSXDCJDw

To download a copy go to http://www.amazon.com/Use-Me/dp/B0014BVUSK

God Can Take It

Day 17 of 21 Days of Prayer Outside the Box

Years ago I learned that God can take it when I get angry.  In fact, I found that this is one of the best ways to express my anger in a safe and effective manner.  A friend once told me, "God can take it when you are angry.  Just talk to him.  It is okay to express your anger authentically."  At the time, this felt like news to me. It seemed wrong.  I wasn't necessarily ever told I couldn't be angry with God, but somehow I ended up with that belief.

The first time I actually tried it, I remember sort of looking around, afraid I might get caught.  It makes me kind of laugh now, and it also seems a little sad how afraid I was to be authentic with my Higher Power. Today, this is a comfortable and comforting type of prayer for me.

Day 16 of 21 Days of Prayer Outside the Box

Here is a nice one from Marianne Williamson.

"Dear God, my desire, my priority is inner peace.  I want the experience of love.  I don't know what would bring that to me.  I leave the results of this situation in your hands.  I trust your will.  May your will be done.  Amen."

I Behold The Christ In You

Day 15 of 21 Days of Prayer Outside the Box

Today I am reminded of the Christ Consciousness born in each of us.  What better way to acknowledge that than with this beautiful poem/prayer by Frank Whitney

I behold the Christ in You,

Here the life of God I see;

I can see a great peace too,

I can see you whole and free.

I behold the Christ in you,

I can see this as you walk;

I see this in all you do,

I can see this as you talk.

I behold God's love expressed,

I can see you filled with power;

I can see you ever blessed,

See Christ in you hour by hour.

I behold the Christ in you,

I can see that perfect one;

Led by God in all you do,

I can see God's work is done.

Prayer of Faith

Day 14 of 21 Days of Prayer Outside the Box

Prayer of Faith
By Hannah More Kohaus

God is my help in every need;
God does my every hunger feed;
God walks beside me, guides my way
Through every moment of this day.

I now am wise, I now am true,
Patient and kind, and loving, too,
All things I am, can do, and be,
Through Christ the Truth, that is in me.

God is my health, I can't be sick;
God is my strength, unfailing, quick;
God is my all I know no fear,
Since God and Love and Truth are here.

Disbelief

Day 13 of 21 Days of Prayer Outside the Box

During a particularly dark parts of my journey, I was so down, I literally took the phone into the closet and sat  in the corner on the floor dialing a long, trusted friend.  After spilling out my story, in between sobs, I ended by confiding in her that I no longer believed in God.  I was seriously desolate and at an all time low.  I called this friend because I knew that sharing this with her would not shake her.  I was hopeful that she would know how to help, but absolutely unprepared for her response.

Without skipping a beat she said, "Have you prayed about that?"

With a look of further disbelief, I held the phone away from my face looking at it as though something must be wrong.  Surely she hadn't heard me correctly.  So I said, "Did you hear me?  I said, I don't believe in God anymore!"

Her quick and even response, "I heard you.  I think you should pray about that."

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? I call you and tell you I don't believe in God anymore, and you think I should pray about that?  Who would I pray to??"

Still absolutely unmoved she said, "Pray about it and call me back."

This friend had never steered me wrong before and I was just desperate enough to get on my knees and start praying.  My prayer started with "Susie thinks I should pray, so here I am."

Thinking back on it now gives me Truth bumps.  The amazing thing to me is that I recently asked her if she remembered that time I called her from the floor in the closet.  She laughed jovially recalling that I had called her from the floor more than once, but she doesn't remember saying that.  I remember it like it was yesterday.  I am quite sure she was an inspired messenger that day.

I share this story hoping that if ever you find yourself in such a dark place, if ever you should be absolutely sure beyond doubt that prayer won't help, I hope you will remember me on the floor praying to God, who I didn't believe in.

More Affirmative Prayer

Day 12 of 21 Days of Prayer Outside of the Box

Here is one I just started using recently.  My mentor challenged me, "What if you said this 200 times a day?" Thinking back to what I wrote on Affirmative Prayer on December 15th, "Instead of saying these prayers over and over in an almost frantic fashion as I used to, now I say them much more slowly, really allowing them to sink in to my awareness," I set about repeating this prayer 200 times as a re-minder and a way to seek the truth in the prayer that is seeking me.  Wow.  Powerful experience.

The simple prayer is this:

I am healthy, wealthy, wise and free.  What I seek is seeking me.


What if you said this to yourself instead of the self defeating thoughts you say to yourself?

Talking to a Friend

Day 11 of 21 Days of Prayer Outside the Box

It wouldn't be 21 days of any kind of prayer without what I call "talking to a friend" prayer.  As much as my prayer time is nothing like it was years ago, this particular type of prayer from the very beginnings of my life is still one of my favorites, and one I turn to particularly in difficult times.

For me I imagine God/Spirit/Love as my friend or sibling, someone very close to me who I can turn to actually a lot like an older, wiser, sibling.  I speak to them as if they were there sitting with me or we might be taking a walk together.  During this time I feel at ease to say anything that is on my mind to an unconditionally loving listener.

I find this prayer very soothing and comforting. I hope you to do, too.

Prayer for Protection

Day 9 of 21 Days of Prayer Outside the Box

I recently had an aha moment that builds on an aha moment I had a few months ago about letting go of the need to protect others and being totally present instead.  Don't you love it when that happens?!!

In the lesson 68 of A Course in Miracles it states, "Love holds no grievances.  When I let all my grievances go I will know I am perfectly safe."  My first thought was I think it is the other way around.  If I felt safe I could let go of my grievances.  I opened a space to be willing to see it as it was written in the lesson.  After letting it simmer in my awareness for 24 hours I had a deeper understanding of the fact that I hold on to my grievances thinking that will keep me safe.  Immediately, I was aware that is insane.   Somehow from that deeper awareness I could begin to let go.  Something about being aware that my grievances aren't going to make me safe reminded me of the Truth that I AM safe.  Getting present to that, I could feel the need to hold on to the grievances slipping away.  I could feel strength and courage welling up in its place.

Immediately I remembered this prayer that I have repeated often.  This prayer has been paving the way for this aha moment, this moment of re-alignment with Truth.

Prayer for Proctection
by James Dillet Freeman

The Light of God surrounds me;
The Love of God enfolds me:
The Power of God protects me;
And the Presence of God watches over me.
Wherever I am, God is!

This is one of my all time prayers.  Of course you can change "me" to "us" or a specific person's name, etc. I often take just the last line as a mantra.  To me that last line explains why being present is so powerful.
 I hope this prayer brings you as much peace and aha as it has me.

Similar Prayers from Two Different Religions

Day 8 of 21 Days of Prayer Outside the Box

The Prayer of St. Francis has been one of my favorite for years.  Recently I found a Buddist prayer that reminds me of it.  I have a strong belief that at the core of all teachings is one truth.  These two prayers illustrate unity in these religions.

Prayer of St. Francis (Christian Prayer)

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is error, truth;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.


Metta Karuna Prayer (Buddist Prayer)

Oneness of Life and Light,
Entrusting in your Great Compassion,
May you shed the foolishness in myself,
Transforming me into a conduit of Love.
May I be a medicine for the sick and weary,
Nursing their afflictions until they are cured;
May I become food and drink,

During time of famine,
May I protect the helpless and the poor,
May I be a lamp,

For those who need your Light,
May I be a bed for those who need rest,
and guide all seekers to the Other Shore.
May all find happiness through my actions,
and let no one suffer because of me.
Whether they love or hate me,
Whether they hurt or wrong me,
May they all realize true entrusting,
Through Other Power,
and realize Supreme Nirvana.
Namo Amida Buddham (I trust in the Buddha of Immeasurable Light)

The Lord's Prayer

Day 7 of 21 Days of Prayer Outside the Box

Many prayers from my childhood made no sense to me.  Sometimes I just didn't get it.  Other times there were things said in the prayer that seemed contrary to the Love of God as all encompassing.  The Lord's Prayer is one that just seemed like a chant of things that didn't apply to me or my life until I began to look at it from a metaphysical standpoint and then further allowing the interpretation to come to my heart.  The interpretation I share with you today is personal to me. I share it because I invite you to find what resonates with your heart. I encourage you to take what you like and leave the rest.


Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.

I am reminded that as a child of a loving father who is all Good, I am made in his image and likeness of all Goodness.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.

May I be happy, joyous and free in my physical world as I am at my center.

Give us this day our daily bread,

Now is How

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who have trespassed against us.

And grant me relief when I take action that is misaligned with Truth as I cease to resent those who take action that is misaligned with Truth.

Leave us not in temptation but deliver us from error.

Leave me not in the allure of error and deliver me from error thoughts.

For Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory, forever. Amen.

For my Higher Power is Bigger than anything I fear, ever.  Amen


I have been asked, if you translate it why not just use the translation?"  I can say that, for me, there is a sense of serenity that comes from making peace with the traditional form.  It hasn't always been that way for me.  I think it is kind of like being able to translate something into another language, but it still has a certain beauty in its original language.  Also, this is another one I sing to myself, and I think the music (although at one time I rejected it) is soothing to my soul. 

Affirmative Prayer Continued

Day 6 of 21 Days of Prayer Outside the Box

Yesterday I shared some of my experience with affirmative prayer.  Here is another example of affirmative prayer that I use very often.

God leads, guides and directs me.  I know what to do and I do it.

or

God leads, guides and directs me. I know what to say and I say it.

As I wrote yesterday, knowing that this is already truth, serves to remind me that I don't need to spin circles in my head trying to figure things out.  I ease into remembering that I can let go and trust the process.

Affirmative Prayer

Day 5 of 21 Days of Prayer Outside the Box

Affirmative prayer has been a huge part of my spiritual life.  I didn't expect it to change much from the time I first encountered it through all the years I have practiced it, but to my surprise it has changed quite a bit.  In the beginning, I thought if I affirmed enough in just the right way that I could bring about whatever change I thought I wanted.  There was an element of self shame involved, that it was my fault something was "wrong" and that by affirming often enough I could right the wrong.  There was so much baggage even in the process that I was completely unaware of until I let it go and the process became much more light.

When I realized that whatever I was affirming was already True and that I wasn't bringing it into being I was so relieved.  I became aware that instead of making it happen I was simply remembering that it was already True.  I was simply reminding myself of Truth. ( bringing my mind/thoughts back to Truth)  In fact, this was how I chose the name for this blog.

One affirmative prayer that has been very helpful for me is:

God's Law of Divine Love is working in me and through me now.

If I have a more specific thing to remember I will sometimes use this prayer:

God's Law of Divine Love and Justice are working in me and through me now.

Instead of saying these prayers over and over in an almost frantic fashion as I used to, now I say them much more slowly, really allowing them to sink in to my awareness. I still often repeat them throughout the day, I just do so more as a reminder (which brings me a lot of peace) than a desperate attempt to change anything.  I become very mindful of the prayer and the process.

Every Word Uttered

Day 4 of 21 Days of Prayer

Years ago I heard Caroline Myss say every word we utter is a prayer (on a cassette tape I had of her speaking, which tells you how long ago :)

That really made me think about what I was saying.  Although I quickly realized it is daunting and actually next to impossible to monitor our every word, it did make me much more aware.  What ended up being the most helpful for me was to start consciously making the choice to add more positive words rather than try to change every word all at once.

For today, begin to notice what things you are saying that may not be the prayer you would want to be putting out.  Become aware.

Become intentional.  Perhaps you will take one of the prayer ideas from the first three days or one of your own favorites and say it several times throughout your day.  Be gentle and loving with yourself in this process.

Day 3 of 21 Days of Prayer Outside the Box

Now I Walk In Beauty

This beautiful Navajo (Dineh) Prayer is a song.  I often sing it to myself almost like a soothing lullaby.

Now I walk in beauty
Beauty is before me
Beauty is behind me
Above and below me

These words gently remind me that God is with me and all around me.

For a link to a utube version to get the tune go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0hZujNbYg8

There are several more and some are quite beautiful.  The one I've listed is the closest to how I know the song.

Day 2 of 21 Days of Prayer Outside the Box

The Power of One Word

There are times when things are so difficult and my mind is so scattered that I literally can't think of any prayer at all, not even making it up off the top of my head.  My head is spinning so fast that I feel paralyzed.  These are the times when the "one word prayer" has become so helpful for me.

I learned a long time ago the power that is in the name of God, whatever name works best for you.  For me it changes.  Today just the word God works well for me, but there was a time that word held such a negative connotation it didn't help.  That's when I applied the wisdom from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." I heard once that it doesn't matter what you call God as long as you call Him.

I have found in those really difficult times repeating the one word that best names God for me is very helpful.

Here are a few that have worked for me or others who I have coached:

God
Spirit
Higher Power
Christ
Love
One
Great Creator
Father
Jehovah
Almighty
All Powerful
Lord
Allah

These are just a few.  If you Google names for God you will literally find hundreds and hundreds of names.  Find what resonates with you and try it throughout your day.

More thoughts on Day 1 of 21 Days of Prayer Outside the Box

Sometimes I interpret the Serenity Prayer as I apply it to my life.  I find this very helpful, especially in times when I am struggling in relationships.

God Grant me the Serenity
to accept others exactly as they are;
the Courage to change my focus to my own thoughts, behaviors and actions;
and the Wisdom to remember the most powerful thing I can do
is be present with the other person and myself.

This prayer has truly been outside the box for me.  I hope it inspires you.

Day 1 of 21 Days of Prayer Outside the Box

The idea for the 21 Days of Prayer Outside the Box came to me in a recent meditation.  Prayer is an important part of my spiritual journey even though there was a time that I really struggled with the whole concept. As a coach with a body, mind, spirit approach, I am sensitive to individual philosophies, beliefs and approaches and want to respect each one.  The thought is to share 21 prayers that are diverse in origin and create a space where those who choose to can join together as "two or more gathered" each day (on our own and in our own time) even though we are not physically together.

The First Prayer

As I was looking for prayers to include in the 21 Days of Prayer Outside the Box I did a little googling and decided to start with The Serenity Prayer.  This seems a little funny since it is really pretty "inside the box" (made popular by 12 step groups, one site calls it the most popular prayer in the world), but sometimes the best way out of the box is to start somewhere familiar.  Just stick your big toe out before you jump out with both feet.

So, if this prayer is new to you, I am grateful to have the opportunity to be the one to introduce you.  If it is one you already know I invite you to approach it as though you are experiencing it for the first time. Take it a little slower.  Stop with each word and really soak it up. This is a powerful prayer with a powerful message.  I know how easy it is to get going with these prayers without really being present to the prayer.  I invite you to become very present with this prayer at least once today and just be the observer from there.

God grant me the Serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
The Courage to change the things I can;
and the Wisdom to know the difference.

Note:

If you are interested, there is more to this prayer.  You can Google the full version.

21 Days of Prayer Outside the Box

Please join me here for 21 days of Prayer Outside the Box beginning December 11th. This will not be your ordinary prayer experience.

We will approach prayer as a powerful body, mind, spirit tool that honors the unique and personal paths of each of us. Some prayers in this series will be old (but maybe seen in a new light), some may be new to you. My hope is there will be at least one that inspires a joyful spiritual practice in your life.  Let's spend the last 21 days of this year in mindfulness, together.