POWER PRAYER : Part I

Theme 125 : Prayer - a Bridge

'Prayer' is a 'Bridge'. My prayer bridges the gap between 'me and myself', 'me and my Creator', 'me and Nature' and 'me and another person'. 'Prayer' is a 'connection'. Without prayer, one feels unconnected. The one who prays daily does not feel lonely. Absence of prayer makes one feel empty within even when in the midst of a crowd. One's prayer is the conversation with one's own Creator who knows exactly what he/she is composed of and what is the best for him/her at every moment. How can one ever help oneself without consulting one's own Maker? Being disconnected from God, no one can ever be truly happy in life. From today,  do make use of the secure and uplifting bridge, PRAYER.

Prayer :
Creator God, I need You. Without You, I have no existence or identity of my own. I want to converse with You. How do I begin ? Teach me and lead me on. Help me see and know myself and You. Let us have a strong connection. Help me set a time in my daily schedule where I can be alone with You...just You and me... Amen.

Theme 124 : Levels of Fasting

We need nourishment for our body, mind, heart and soul. To fast is to restrict one’s personal consumption in order to bring oneself in line with God.
The four levels of Fasting are :
1. Physical fasting - to restrict one's physical consumption (seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, touching) in order to bring the body in line with God.
2. Mental fasting - to restrict one's mental consumption (rationalizing, comparing,  judging, etc.) in order to bring the mind in line with God.
3. Emotional fasting - to restrict one's emotional consumption (being loved, cared for, supported, attended, etc.) in order to bring the heart in line with God.
4. Spiritual fasting - to restrict one's spiritual consumption (being ritualistic, hoarding knowledge, lip service, etc.) in order to bring the soul in line with God.

Prayer : Help me, Lord, to fast whenever I go through the experience of YOUR absence or when I know someone else needs the experience of YOUR Presence. May I imbibe YOUR style of functioning and be ever in line with YOU.