We believe that the essence of prayer is revealed in Jn.26:23 when Jesus says, “Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it to you,” Any word spoken in this way is a prayer of supreme faith and sees us in partnership with the Living god. To the extent that we know, love, and trust Jesus Christ, we pray “in his name” and not a single word is returned to us void.
Because we are Divine Beings having a human experience here on earth, it is always a temptation to pray in our own name, so to speak, and expect God to conform to our petitions. Asking what we will “in his name” conforms our will to that of the Father and fulfills the Promise that “it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdome.” (Lk.12:32)
God hears the substance in our words, not the words themselves. Prayer need not be highly structured but rather spoken from a genuine and authentic heart. Effective prayer flows from a unitive consciousness, free as much as possible from the duality that inhabits most of our human affairs. Prayer not only builds faith, but it is faith itself. When we live in the high, unitive consciousness that is the Presence of Christ in us all, a simple prayer of gratitude or asking “Thy Will be done” could be all we would ever need.