Spiritual prayer has the power to release people from their suffering, to blanket them in compassion, and create miracles in their lives. Praying takes many forms. For some it involves reciting scriptures or taking part in religious rituals, for others it is a communion with nature, and for many it is a heartfelt conversation with the God of their heart. No matter what form it takes, there are many research studies, testimonials and witnesses to the healing effects of prayer.

Philip James Bailey wrote that “Prayer is the spirit speaking truth to truth.” My Spiritual Seekers blog partner, Laurie, recently wrote about how spirituality and prayer can positively affect illness in the article, Doctors Praying for Patients Helps Fight Disease. Below, I offer insights into what prayer is and why it is so healing. For those of you interested in reading about how to use prayer in your daily life, read the book, Prayer, Faith, and Healing: Cure Your Body, Heal Your Mind, and Restore Your Soul.

What is Prayer?

When a person prays they are reaching out beyond their individual self to a bigger, higher, more expansive power. They are touching into the source of all life. I’ve come to experience prayer in broader ways over the years. When I was young, my prayers were a ritual at the end of the evening. Before going to sleep I would pray for my family and friend’s health and happiness. As I grew into adulthood, experiencing the trials of life, I would pray for answers and solutions to life’s difficulties – prayer was more of a plea. Then as my spiritual awareness deepened I realized at my core I was a spiritual being, filled with the essence of God, Source, Presence, or whatever you want to call the essence of life. My prayers became a surrender to who I really am.

Why People Pray

People pray for miracles to troubling situations, as thanksgiving and gratitude for blessings, and for guidance in daily life. From my soul perspective, I view prayer as a bridge between the human form and the spiritual self. When people encounter challenging situations they can’t solve with their intellect they finally surrender to their spiritual self and a Divine power. Peace may wash over them, emotions may release, but soon a resolution occurs, often one they hadn’t even considered. Unfortunately, it often takes pain and suffering to surrender to a higher power.

Our intellectual mind wants to control things thinking it has all the answers. Our mind is great for analyzing situations, planning events and doing such things as taxes, but it is limited when it comes to the bigger aspects of life. And our body is like a child that needs nourishment, nurturing, exercise, emotional expression, and fun. If we let our mind and body run the show exclusively, we run into trouble. But when we allow our spiritual self to take the lead, we step into synchronicity and serendipity. Prayer is what takes us there.

How Praying Heals

Praying opens us to spiritual energy. This energy flows naturally throughout our body, but it often gets blocked by stuffed emotions, unhealed pain, and negative thinking patterns. When we pray, we surrender to this healing energy and it restores balance to our mind and body. Through prayer we align with our spiritual self, which is always connected to Source. I have personally experienced many miracles to financial problems, relationship difficulties and health issues when I connect to spiritual energy through prayer. I have also witnessed many wonders with clients, friends and family as they surrender to their divine self or higher power.

As a dear friend of mine lay in bed with a life threatening illness, his wife downstairs contemplating what to write in his obit, he finally let go to God as he put it, and surrendered by praying, “God, it’s up to you – if you want me to go I’m ready, if you want me to stay that’s fine.” He recovered in a few short weeks.

When my Mom was dying of cancer, she had a spiritual awakening when she put her life in the Divine’s hands. She didn’t survive the cancer, but she had an amazing transformation. Her walls of fear and isolation came tumbling down opening her heart to a tremendous amount of love she shared with those around her for her remaining months.

How a person prays doesn’t matter, it’s the intention of connecting to a higher, deeper, broader source of divine, loving energy that does. From this place, all forms of healing take place.

How do you pray, and what forms of healing have you experienced as a result? Please share with us in the comments section below.