Seven Basic Steps of Prayer
May 16, 2002
by Bettie Barta, Founder-Minister, Unity North Truth Center

When things get real tough, when new troubles come at you that you feel trapped, that’s the time when you turn desperately to God for help. And that is also the time when many people feel so hopelessly confused as to how to turn to God.

To many people religion is something to belong to, rather than something you study and practice. You may belong to an awesome huge church with choirs and Sunday School, but if at somewhere in your church activities you did not learn the principles and techniques of prayer, when you have a need to turn to God, you are bewildered and confused.

Mostly we take prayer lightly. We teach our children to pray before meals and at bedtime, but many of us never advance beyond the prayer we were taught as a child.

Prayer is an art. Prayer is a science. Prayer is a skill. We easily admit that it takes study and practice to learn the laws and principles of electricity. Electricity is a powerful energy-source. God, the universal Source of life and wisdom, is also a powerful energy source. We need study and practice to become more efficient in prayer techniques.

Here are seven basic steps to work with in becoming more effective in prayer.

Elevation of Thought.
This means taking your mind away from the many chores and duties, from the usual future planning and past-remembering that occupy our thought from morning until bedtime. The best way to accomplish this is to read something inspirational, the Bible or a poem, or the words of a song you love. Sometimes we begin with the words to the 23 Psalm. “The Lord is my shepherd....” Sometimes I remember Mark 11.23 “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” This scripture clears my mind of present clutter. It is telling me to believe in God.

Relaxation
Clearing your mind may not always relax you completely. So it is kinna’ good to “sigh” and let the thought of relaxation into your mind. Scan your body with the spotlight of your loving attention to see that there are no tense muscles, clenched fists, or wrinkled brow. Relax. Let go.

Verbalization
Talk to God. Verbalize briefly the challenging situation that you need help with. Then empty your mind of fear, anxiousness so that it can be filled with faith, light, understanding. You don’t know what to do, so tell God, “I don’t know what to do and I am willing to listen for directions.” This may be difficult at first because our ego is slow to admit it doesn’t know what to do. We often feel it is our responsibility to know what is best for all concerned. But we don’t, God does. After you get past that invisible mental block, you experience a sweet sense of freedom, soaring freedom. You don’t have to have all the answers yourself.

Concentration
This means focusing on God’s presence and power by formulating an affirmation of the truth of the matter. What do I mean by the truth of the matter? Well, there are the facts of the matter and the truth of the matter. Facts change, they will be different tomorrow from what they are today and some new facts will be added changing the whole picture.

But the truth of the matter never changes. Truth is the same always. It is changeless. Example: The facts of the matter may be that you have a really big bill due and you have no money nor can you see any possible way of getting it. Now, the truth of the matter is God is the Source of all supply, and that you are God’s child, and have access to God’s inexhaustible supply. Or, as Jesus put this unchanging Truth, “All that the Father hath is yours.” This is the reason we learn the principles of prayer, so that we can tap into all that God is. Supply is here, we have to learn how to access it.

Realization
Realization is sort of a state of spiritual suspension. It is usually brief, although sometimes it carries you through time with its momentum. It is a sense of knowing that what you have just started in your prayer time is in process. There is no reason to doubt, so you just rest in the realization that your perfect answer is in process. This is the vortex through which your special miracle passes from the invisible kingdom of God to the real of form.

Gratitude
Your quiet time is drawing to a close now. And your cup overflows. The very cells of your body tingle with gratitude, praise and thanksgiving.

Action
You leave your prayer time and do the next task at hand. But you do it with a new inner awareness, a conviction that you are one with divine operation and all of the cosmic forces of good are working with you.

Yes, prayer is a science to be practiced. Work with the seven basic steps and realize that God and you can accomplish anything, cure any ill or lack in your life.

Dare to be what you already are!

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