Prayer of the Heart Part III

Last week I mentioned the Prayer of the Heart booklet that Rev Toni Boehme wrote. It is no longer being printed. Her website is here to check out and see her other books: Toniboehme.com and you can put Toni Boehme books in google search and they all appear on the page.

To conclude this series, I am sharing the poem by James Dillet Freeman, Unity minister and poetry Nobel laureate. It remains very powerful for me. I didn’t realize that this poem was taken to the moon by James Irwin on Apollo 15. It is stored there in a microfilm file for future space explorations.

I had the privilege of hearing James read it out loud at Unity Village in Missouri in 1994. After he read it, we had a break in the class and as I walked outside, I could hear it echoing as it continued to resonate in my heart. At that time, I had gone through some significant events in my life, wherein it provided a healing lifeline for me.

This might be considered his prayer of the heart because of the circumstances taking place in his life when it came through. For the whole story you can go here: https://www.unity.org/article/story-i-am-there-james-dillet-freeman   In 1947, he was at the bedside of his wife, Katherine, who had just had surgery for cancer. He prayed out loud asking God if he was there. He remembered hearing a voice speaking to him and naturally, looked around and there was no one else in the room with him. The words he heard were: “Do you need me? I am there.”

I AM THERE

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 understand 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 here. 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.

— James Dillet Freeman

Until we connect again on this blog,

Rev Airin

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Prayer of the Heart

Part II

In part one last week I gave you one of the ways that Carol Knox connected with God. There are other ways, too, with the primary one being meditation. Spending time in the silence and listening for a message from God, Spirit, or your higher self. One of my mentors said to have a particular chair in the house, that is the only place you commune with your higher power. Whenever you sit in that chair, you and your body know, almost like muscle memory, that it is time to meditate. Some people don’t sit still well, so walking in nature as a meditation works for those individuals.

You might have a question that you need an answer to, so say it at the beginning of meditating after you have centered. If you don’t receive it at that time, know that it could happen anywhere, anytime. You will know that it is from God because it will resonate deep in your soul. It will also be the highest and best for all concerned. Often, I will receive 3-to-6-word answers, with clear and distinct words.

When I was just beginning to develop a relationship with God, I would sometimes use the needle drop method with the Bible. I would have a question and ask it. I would randomly open the Bible and put my finger on the page where it opened. Then I would read the verse that it landed on as well as the verses before and after it to give it context. Sometimes this was helpful. Since Unity teaches the metaphysical interpretation of the Bible, using this method makes it fun, too. Metaphysical interpretation is looking at the meaning beyond the words as opposed to reading the Bible literally.

There is another fun way to connect with God. A mentor taught me about saying “Good morning Holy Spirit” and good night daily. She told me that eventually it would answer back, and it did happen. It was a neat experience.

The ultimate goal is to pray without ceasing and these methods bring us back to the Prayer of the Heart that another mentor, Rev Toni Boehm, wrote as a published booklet. I am in the process of getting a link and will add it in Part III.

“The Prayer of the Heart is an ongoing prayer held in the heart, directing your life towards God. Are you ready for a shift in your life experience? Are you ready to move higher and deeper?”

This booklet contains a ‘How To’ process on creating a prayer of the heart that you repeat over and over. It is a short prayer or affirmation that will come to your lips when you need it the most. This continues to be a powerful experience in my life. The one I chose is “Christ Heals and Reveals, I am Silently Trusting.” It is an acronym for Christ that was written by an instructor from Unity.

Last night the prayer came right into my mind and was comforting when I was thinking about a situation in my life. If I am unsure of the outcome and need to trust it will come to me. Do any of you have a prayer or affirmation that you use that may bring you peace and comfort during turmoil? I also will use the Prayer for Protection, by Unity minister James Dillet Freeman. It doesn’t come to me as fast as the prayer of my heart does, however.

Stay tuned for Part III.

Rev Airin

Prayer of the Heart

by Rev Dr Carol Ruth Knox, Unity Minister

Part I

In order to get beyond the mind, one absolutely must move to the heart. You must move to your heart. I am going to ask you to do it right now. Keep your eyes open, keep reading, but at the same time, send your attention down into your heart. Notice that almost immediately you must become very quiet. As you are in your heart, say within, only two words: I AM. Notice that the mind still goes on, but a different energy begins to be created. Are you aware of that? Can you feel it? It is a different energy. This activity, the Prayer of the Heart, not only elevates consciousness, calms one’s being, but it is also a grounding device. Physiologically it is a centering device. It affects the body. Can you feel it? This is called the Prayer of the Heart. This is deeper than affirmation. If, when you are down inside yourself, you keep your thoughts contained and don’t allow yourself to run away into your mental spaces – don’t allow yourself to run away into your emotional spaces, although they are a whole lot more powerful – something wonderful begins to happen. The language, the new language, begins to move from being just a mind trip to becoming a heart trip. It becomes so much deeper than this I AM space, whatever it is and no one knows, it begins to talk to you, through you, as if you heard yourself on a channel for the Living Spirit within. Your thought now is no longer of the world – it has transformed into another level – the language of Spirit begins to move in you automatically. Your thought becomes the Christ Spirit speaking through you.

Every morning when I awake now, I go and sit somewhere. I go into this place within me, this I AM, this Kingdom of Heaven within – it has been in the process of being trained now for nearly four years, and I listen and I ask it to speak through me. It has a very pure statement. It says things like, “I am here with you always – trust me – I love you – I care for you – I am protecting you – I will lead you on (and incidentally, I am listening to it now) – I will guide you – I will tell you what to say next – I am the healer – that is all.” It takes tremendous trust to live from this place. A whole new energy is born, and it is not dynamic, exciting, emotional, exquisite, dancing energy. It does not especially care to talk to people. It does not really care about organizations anymore. It does not want to be hassled by the head. It only wants to pray with others through the heart. It would rather be with a flower than a textbook. It would rather be with an animal than a business letter. It would rather listen to the creative voice of Spirit than write it in a book. It would rather heal than chatter.

Courtesy of TruthUnity.net

This is one way to develop a relationship with God or Spirit or your higher Self. Stay tuned for part II next week.

Rev Airin

Magic and Miracles II

Part II

“Miracles have occurred, and will occur again, ‘out of the blue, ‘when seemingly one has done nothing to attract them. But an analysis will reveal that right conditions invariably were present, including a corresponding consciousness, self-image, and faith. p 143, Thank God for Prayer, Russell W. Lake, Unity School author

This is part II of a two-part series. I ended the first article with a story that was to be continued. I will print it again here:

There was one particular case with a woman who had Covid 19. This was in the first year of Covid. She was in the intensive care unit for over a month on a ventilator and wasn’t regaining consciousness as being in a coma. She had also chosen not to take vaccines. The outcome was not looking good. The medical team had a family meeting, but they said no to turning off life support. I had given her nurses ¹Unity’s, Prayer for Protection. The nurses who felt comfortable, would read it to her when they came in to give her medications. I had briefly spoken with this woman when she first came in and had brought her a Bible that she requested. -To be Continued in Part II

There was a unity minister who taught Unity seminarians how to approach visits at a hospital. If they couldn’t see the patient as whole and complete despite what they might see, they were not to enter the room. Metaphysically, to know the truth about any person is to recognize that we are all whole and perfect children of God, worthy and deserving of our good.

Continuing the story: This patient was a woman of faith, and her family and friends were praying for and with her. The doctors had said she wouldn’t survive. She also had other health challenges she was healing before covid. The family had released her belongings and were picking out her gravestone. Then, after 60 days of being in a coma, she woke up! It was a miracle to the family. She was asked if she remembered anyone talking to her when they visited. She said yes and that she just couldn’t respond. Her son told her that her visitors would tell her to keep fighting covid.

She knew that she wasn’t out of danger, but she was beginning to breathe on her own. Her plan was to get a Covid vaccination as soon as it was appropriate. Her son hadn’t gotten vaccinated either and from that happy day forward, he had begun to advocate for getting vaccinated.

Have any of you been in a hospital room of a person in a coma or any room in the intensive care unit? Except for the hum of the lifesaving machines, it can be ominously quiet. Unity author Clara Palmer on p154, in You can be Healed, said this about the silence: “The silence is the holy peace of God active at the heart of all creation. It is the holy peace of God enfolding you in the quietness and the security of His presence.”

I learned from one of the nurses that bad things happen fast, and good things happen slowly. Saying this will bring comfort to the families when it doesn’t seem like the patient is progressing. In the process of it all, healing is happening in the silence of their being. Our timing tends to be different from God’s timing.

Then there are different forms of healing. In the process of healing, death is also a form of it. Not what any of us usually prefer it to be the outcome. There are many deaths that I have been called to where the family is relieved for the patient because it is an end to their suffering on the earth plane.

And…to the twelve-year-old child within me, Miracles can seem Magical!

Rev Airin

¹ Prayer for Protection

The light of God surrounds me

The love of God enfolds me

The power of God protects me

The presence of God watches over me,

Wherever I am, God is; and all is well.

                                        Amen

Prescription for Courage

Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it. Ezra 10:4

When you are facing something that seems difficult, turning it over to God and then letting go of it can give you great support. Acknowledging our human ego efforts and choosing to trust God to take over knowing that only good can come from the challenge. Sometimes the ego needs training wheels to keep it on track so using an affirmation of what you would like to be experiencing can help focus it. We give thanks in advance for an outcome of the highest and best without attachment to a specific result. Amen.
This is a prescription that I have created and use to the best of my ability.
Feel free to share what supports you through a challenge in the comments

A Valentine’s Hope

Embed from Getty Images

Hearing the Pulse
launched from within
thoughts that were grim
dissolved once again

Despite stark conditions
the World’s steady vigil
as wholly committed
to a Valentine’s hope

Rev Airin

 

 

A Heart filled with Gratitude

We give thanks for the unearned grace of God that flows like an infinite fountain immersing our lives. It keeps the flame of hope within us burning 24/7. The infinite blessings that are bestowed upon us when all we need do is have that awareness. This wealth is beyond comparison, stretching through the universe. Remembering it is ours, say yes to accept, we come as a child to the kingdom here and now in gratitude. Amen.

Advent Prayers

This Advent season I will be submitting prayers that I write that go with the theme of each week. I will be posting it again after I add the new prayer. Please fee free to add one of your own and it will be a rich sharing.

This week we light the candle of Hope.

12/2/12

We give thanks for the hope in each of us that is like an eternal flame that burns within. It is fueled by the ever flowing grace of God. Hope expands to a fire when it fuels our faith in things hoped for, known and unknown in the mystery of life. As messengers of hope, we go forth as angels into the world enfolding all the beloved of God in each that we encounter during our day. We give thanks in the name and in the loving nature of Jesus the Christ, our Way Shower. Amen.

12/9/12

This week we light the candle of Peace.

The peace of God within moves in and through our lives gently and sweetly. As we let go of stress we can feel the peace. We ask daily for wisdom and divine order in our life knowing it will restore peace and harmony which then births renewed health of mind and body. We give thanks in the name and in the loving nature of Jesus the Christ, our Way Shower. Amen.

12/16/12

This week we light the candle of Love.

In the light of the recent events at the elementary school, we surround and immerse them and our beloved in love. We send them strength and courage for this heroic journey they are now on. We give thanks in advance that they may feel the outpouring of compassion as they are enfolded by the loving wings of the universe. We know this in the name and in the loving nature of Jesus the Christ our Way Shower, Amen.

12/23/12

This week we light the candle of Joy.

We give thanks for the natural ability to express joy. Since it can’t be contained,  it wells up from within like a fountain and flows out into expression when we are feeling on top of the world. Often when we are doing an activity that we love, or with a loved one, or seeing a beautiful sunset it can be triggered. We give thanks for this innate expression of the Christ within, in the name and in the loving nature of Jesus the Christ our Way Shower, Amen.

GOP Convention

I felt called to share a prayer through this blog that would reach those that I have yet to meet and come to love as well as all that I hold dearly in my heart. As things heat up on the political scene, each of us can be a force for good, instead of getting caught up in the fear and anger statements fueling the drama. Whenever you find yourself wanting to take sides, go with in and seek the peace and divine order, put Spirit in charge and come from love and clarity to hold the high watch for the country.

My heartfelt prayer is for you to go with in and listen to Spirit’s guidance in regard to the affairs of the political situation of this country. As we first enfold ourselves with the peace and divine order for ourselves. Then enfold the politicians and the entire country with a blanket of love. That we may know the truth beyond the anger and rebuttals. That we come from love in all we think, say and do, that is the true prayer as we hold the high watch for ourselves and our beloveds on our prayer list. It is done. Amen

Thanks in advance to those who feel called to join me in this. Feel free to add your prayers in the discussion section.

A Simple Act of Forgiveness

Is this another one of ‘those’ forgiveness processes? I don’t think so. I will let you decide. Yes, there appear to be a gazillion of them and… that is because there are gazillions of us! Each of us gets to discover what works best. As one of my mentors said once, “As long as you have skin on, you have forgiveness work to do.

I was at a bowling alley recently and learned how to adjust the scoreboard if someone bowls an extra ball by mistake. You press the button that says ‘Remove Frame’ and then press the red one which resets the score board. Unity’s co-founder, Charles Fillmore, defines forgiveness as giving up something.” When you forgive yourself, you cease doing the things you should not do….It is through forgiveness that true spiritual healing is accomplished.” We give up old thoughts of error and refresh our minds with words of Truth which is all that is good and the highest and best out come for all concerned. Thus resetting the scoreboard.

Remember that we are not condoning our behavior or that of another. The behavior that occurred is not who we truly are: We are whole and perfect children of God, worthy and deserving of our good. Sometimes we put a frame around our errors and mistakes, even creating a gold frame which creates guilt from being hard on ourselves.

In the Unity teachings we use the phrase, ‘release and let go’, often. Now, let’s apply the metaphysics of adjusting the scoreboard in bowling. This is as simple as sending a text. When you want to forgive yourself or another, press the ‘Remove Frame’ button to let go of the framed picture you have created. Press the red button which we can see in the shape of a heart. Infuse the situation with love and the highest and best outcome for all. Check in with your breathing, counting in 3 seconds and out from your diaphragm.

The wings represent the freedom we can experience when we release the weight of a situation from our lives. Is there a scoreboard with God? Of course, not! Our egos are what keep score. We begin the bowling game of life anew with a clean slate anytime we choose to ‘release the frame’ and press the red love button!

The forgiveness definition was excerpted from Unity’s ‘The Revealing Word’ metaphysical definitions.