Prayer2
Tree
of Life Lessons
Level 1
PRAYER 2
Our prayer work is scientific. Our definition of
prayer is the scientific lifting up of our hearts and minds to God, our Creator.
We pray in three forms: vocally,
mentally, and positively.
VOCAL PRAYER
We pray vocally because it is necessary to voice the
WORD. As we speak, the words produce
a certain rate of vibration, which sets up a certain rhythm, which can be
measured scientifically.
Our scripture text supporting this is taken from both
the Gospel of St. Matthew and the Gospel of St. Luke.
Jesus says in St. Luke 11:2, “...when
ye pray, SAY...” In St.
Matthew 7:7, “ASK, and it will be given unto you; seek, and you will find...”
In St. Matthew 6:9, “Pray then like this: Our Father which art in heaven...”
This will show the importance of voiced prayer.
MENTAL PRAYER
We teach prayer mentally because Mind is the realm of
the Father. It is the place of
creation. Our prayer, in order to be
scientifically powerful, should be creative.
Read St. Matthew 7, St. Luke 11, and
In the twentieth verse [of St. John], Jesus goes on
to say that He prayed not only for the Elect, but also for those that became
chosen through the acceptance of God, knowing that the Father was in them, as
they were in the Father, thus becoming one with the Father.
Here again, this was a voiced prayer by Jesus.
SCIENTIFIC
PRAYER
The use of Scientific Prayer brings into out life the
manifestation of the
Contemplation is the process of revelation of our prayer.
Meditation is the formula through which it works.
Contemplation is the laboratory where the science of prayer and
meditation are analyzed and proven scientifically correct.
That which is not scientifically correct is not spiritually correct.
That which is not scientifically or spiritually correct is not
metaphysically correct. That which
violates basic metaphysical laws, such as the Law of Cause and Effect, etc.,
also violates spiritual law.
The perfect prayer should contain praise and glory
and worship to the Creator as is shown us in St. Matthew 6 (King James version)
where Jesus says, “For Thine is the
kingdom, and the power, and the glory...”
The perfect prayer also contains thanksgiving to God for His many
benefits.
The perfect prayer contains supplication to God for
those things which we require, desire, wish, and want.
The scriptures which back up these statements of praise
and worship are:
Psalms
69:34, 9:2, 102:18, 104:35, 138:4, 95:6
St. Matthew 21:16,
2:2, 4:10
St. Luke
2:13
I Samuel
1:27
Acts
13:2
Deuteronomy 10:21
Romans
12:1
Acts
3:8
Revelations
5:14
Read the scriptures above and while reading, read
three verses before and three verses after the quote.
This is so that we may know the truth ourselves.
Thus, we become familiar with the Bible.
Later in the lessons, we will become closer to great men of other times
and faiths.
The scriptures which back up the statements of
thanksgiving are:
Psalms
50:14, 95:2, 106:1, 145:10
St. Matthew 15:36,
26:27
Revelations
11:17
Read these the same as the first group.
The scriptures which back up the statements of supplication
are:
Psalms
28:2, 130:2
Zaccharias
12:10
The scriptures which back up the statements of glory
are:
Psalms
104:31, 149:9
St. Matthew 6:13
Exodus
24:16, 35:18, 40:34, 16:7, 16:10
From your first observations of these studies, you
may have some questions. Do voice
them. Let us say here that there
will be more work on prayer from the scientific standpoint in the Level 2 work
in Communication.
All of these scriptural references support our stand
on prayer.
Paul told Timothy, “to study, to show himself approved a workman, not needing to be
ashamed, but rightly dividing the word of truth.” (R.V.)
This is good advice for the students of the HOLY
ORDER OF MANS to follow. In fact, it
is good advice for any Christian. Search
these scriptures and study them. You
will find the power of prayer.
Remember Paul’s advice! “prayer without ceasing.” It
is a good example of conclusive supplicating prayer.
It is the prayer that was prayed by Jesus (found in
PRAYER AND THE
LAW
The Law is the most important facet of prayer.
For the Law can become the nature of one’s own Spirit, and is the
spiritual essence of this Law. King
David said, “I delight in Thy Law day and night.”
This is prayer without ceasing.
The first portion of the Law is discussed in this
lesson from Biblical references. The
ever-active part of the Law and its place in creation is discussed in the
Light--Life--Love lessons. The
remainder of the study of Law will be in that portion of our studies under the
tools of man in the Level 2 studies.
The portion of the Law which we will now study is
covered primarily in St. Matthew 7:21, “Not
every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
So, the first portion of the Law of Prayer is the
secret of using the WILL power after you have praised and worshipped and
glorified God--after you have thanked Him and made your supplications known to
Him. Use your power to bring into
spiritual or mental manifestation, the pattern or word form of the thing or
relationship you want to manifest. Then,
the Will of God will be manifest--”Because
He wants to give you the kingdom.”
Setting the Law of Prayer into action consists of
demanding, affirming its presence, and doing.
By this, you move out on the physical plane as if you could already put
it in your pocket--making yourself accessible to receiving it.
After you have done this, you must go about acting as
if you really knew your prayer was already answered affirmatively.
You will be, therefore, demonstrating to the unseen Creator you ability
to use the power of prayer--to bring about the material manifestation of His
unseen reality.
St. Matthew 7:7 says, “Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek and you shall find; knock,
and it shall be opened unto you.” Analyze
this statement. Look at the changes
it can bring about in your life. Put
it to the test! See the effect of
the Law.
When the Law of asking is out into effect, the result
is that it will be given.
The Law says, “Knock!”
When you have done this, the result is that it will be opened.
The Law says, “Seek!”
And when you have sought, you will find.
Because there is no such thing as a negative prayer.
There is not, and cannot be, a negative answer to prayer.
Remember! You shall reap what
you have sown.
The effect of a fervent, righteous prayer shall be:
everyone who asks, receives; he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks,
it will be opened.
We are sure that after studying this lesson, you will
find irony of the Word spoken by the Apostle James, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
We shall conclude this lesson with another statement
from the Apostle James, “Be doers of the
Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man
who observes a natural face in a mirror, for he observes himself and goes away,
and at once forgets what he is like. But
he who looks into the perfect Law, the Law of
PRAYER FULFILLS THE LAW OF DOING.
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From the book, Thus I Have Heard:
The following prayer, quoted from [the periodical]
“The Aquarian Age” May/June 1924, is given here as an unfailing means of
finding the Master in the heart. It
should be meditated upon phrase by phrase with deepening realization until the
full beauty and truth of the final words become matters of experience.
Bishop [C. W.] Leadbeater gave this prayer to his
class in
O Gracious
Lord, I enter Thy radiance, and approach Thy Presence, bearing with me the
service done in Thy Name, and for Thee. I
seek to become a more efficient server, and I open my heart and mind to the
power of Thy Love, and Thy Joy, and Thy Peace.
In Thy
Presence, Thy Peace enfolds me, and fills me with contentment, certainty, rest,
stillness, Thy Peace which passeth understanding.
I must, therefore, be a center of love, joy, and peace in the world.
I place my hand
in Thine with all love and trust and confidence, for Thou art indeed my Lord.
From the unreal lead me to the Real, from darkness to Light, from death
to Life Eternal. At Thy feet, and in
the Light of Thy Holy Presence, I strive to realize what I am.
I am not this body which belongs to the world of shadows; I am not the
desire which affects it; I am not the thoughts which fill my mind; I am not the
mind itself. I am the Divine Flame
within my heart, eternal, immortal, ancient, without beginning, without end.
More radiant than the sun in all His noon day glory, purer than the snow,
untouched, unsullied by the hand of matter; more subtle than the ether is the
Spirit within my heart. I and my
Father are One.
I worship Thee.
I adore Thee; Thou my Life, my Breath, my Being, my All.
I am in Thee and Thou art in me. Lead
me, O Gracious Lord, through Thy illimitable Love, to union with Thee, and the
Heart of Eternal Love.
In Thy Love I
rest for evermore.
Amen.
