Question: I am having a struggle with prayers for myself! I can pray just fine for my family and friends but when it comes to myself, I don’t feel like my prayers are working for me at all! I don’t understand what seems to be the problem, but my prayers for myself have no results. 

What can I do to change that? ~ Frustrated

Dear Frustrated,

Have you ever heard that phrase, “You can’t see the forest for the trees?” meaning when you are in the middle of a situation, you can’t see or think clearly about a solution. It’s the same thing about praying for yourself. When you are in the middle of a situation, you are just in the middle of it. So you can’t think clearly, objectively, prayerfully about a solution. You don’t consider, “Hey, I could turn this over to God to handle.” Instead we, as humans with an ego, feel we have to control it or solve it or handle it. It’s exhausting living and acting like a human being.

The truth is we are spiritual beings having a human experience. And sometimes, most times in fact, our human self takes over and forgets our spiritual self. The real power comes from stepping into our spiritual self and connecting to God, sometimes through meditation, through prayer, through just being still and letting go – connecting with our faith. Faith is the power of prayer. Faith is a mental attitude that is so convinced of its own idea … which so completely accepts it … that any contradiction is unthinkable and impossible. And we cannot enter into peace and faith when we are in a state of confusion.

So I suggest two options: One is to go to your minister or a practitioner who can pray with and for you. Both are trained to see and feel objectively, detached and compassionate about your situation. They know the truth and the faith of God and the power of God who can handle and turn around the situation. Put your trust in their prayers for you. And ultimately feel your own trust, faith and power in your own prayers as you release the situation to God and surround all in love, which is the most powerful healing agent of all.

Option two is to step back, breathe until you feel detached from the situation and then see the spiritual truth of the situation … that God is there handling it, that there is divine right action in choices being made and there is divine order as all falls into perfect place. Know and feel that the power and the love of God prevails. All is well. Trust your words of prayer. Have faith. Let go and let God, as the saying goes.   

Many blessings to you on your journey to clearly “seeing the forest.”

Laney Clevenger White, RScP Emeritus
CSL La Crescenta

Dear Frustrated,

There’s a saying that the way we do anything is the way we do everything. The fact that your prayers are effective for others is a sign that your consciousness is in the right place. Sometimes when we are praying for ourselves we are too close to the issue and have difficulty releasing the request so that spirit can do its work. 

First, it’s important to remind ourselves that whatever obstacle we are facing it is no match for the power of God. Turn your focus away from the challenge and keep your thoughts on your spiritual truth only. A wonderful metaphysician, Dr. Emmett Foxe, coined a phase: “Take your mind off the problem and put your mind on God.” Acknowledge the power and presence of good that is operating in your life with the understanding that that you are not doing the work, the spirit-mind within you is bringing the answer to your prayer. Build a picture in your mind of exactly what you want to create, declare the good is rightfully yours and that you have the determination to begin action towards its success. Most importantly, release your prayer to God and know that your request is being moved upon by the spirit to create the ideal solution for you. Gratefully accept it as already done with the understanding that God does the work and that our responsibility is to keep our thoughts, words and actions in a positive and loving demeanor. Trust in the power of spirit that you have initiated, and your prayers will always be answered.

In Light,

Rev. Mary Morgan
Sr. Minister, La Crescenta Center for Spiritual Living