What Constitutes Effective Prayer?

This week we continue our study from Paper 91 of The Urantia Book:The Evolution of Prayer.

It's amazing how much something as simple as a prayer has the power to change our perceptions. The Urantia Book says the prayer can be a sincere expression of spiritual attitude, a declaration of soul loyalty, a recital of personal devotion, an expression of thanksgiving, an avoidance of emotional tension, a prevention of conflict, an exaltation of intellection, an ennoblement of desire, a vindication of moral decision, an enrichment of thought, an invigoration of higher inclinations, a consecration of impulse, a clarification of viewpoint, a declaration of faith, a transcendental surrender of will, a sublime assertion of confidence, a revelation of courage, the proclamation of discovery, a confession of supreme devotion, the validation of consecration, a technique for the adjustment of difficulties, and the mighty mobilization of the combined soul powers to withstand all human tendencies toward selfishness, evil, and sin.

The book further states that even though prayer does not change the changeless and infinite Creator, "it very often effects great and lasting changes in the one who prays in faith and confident expectation. Prayer has been the ancestor of much peace of mind, cheerfulness, calmness, courage, self-mastery, and fair-mindedness in the men and women of the evolving races."

This week we'll cover at least section 3. Prayer and the Alter Ego, Section 4. Ethical Praying and Section 5. Social Repercussions of Prayer.

Jesus often referred to prayer as, "just a little talk with my Father in heaven."  The Urantia Book teaches that, "The doing of the will of God is nothing more or less than an exhibition of creature willingness to share the inner life with God—with the very God who has made such a creature life of inner meaning-value possible."

Please join us!