I simply want you to empty me of self and fill me with your Holy Spirit. 2022 . Even if such prayer is possible, it may be less powerful than heartfelt prayer for a known person. Now that you know what is a meditative prayer, try it out. Even when I feel alone or distant from you, you draw me back into your presence when I purposely slow down and draw close to you. The Church's evening prayer, one of the two main hours of the daily Office. Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style.
(June 21, 2022). Al, Prayer
The key, Dr. Hokemeyer finds, is largely one of balance. Whisper or shout into my spirit, whichever you want, and whatever I need the most. We come to know what he would say if he were physically there. It may be preferable to look first for some not-yet-understood naturalistic explanation of bio-psychokinesis, rather than assume that a wholly non-naturalistic explanation is required. "empirical explorations of prayer, distant healing, and remote mental influence." Many devote some pages to the benefits of meditation of some sort. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. It would be hard to conduct a controlled study in which an experimental group prayed regularly over a sustained period, and a control group never prayed. The unusual sensations of vividness experienced were interpreted as arising from a suspension of the normal "automatization" of perception. There is research backing the idea that meditation and prayer can trigger the release of feel-good chemicals in the brain. in perspectives on prayer, ed.
Is there more for me to understand about your character? Therefore, its best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publications requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. For example, by contemplating Jesus words, such as, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me (John 14,6), or by sitting with him on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, it becomes the experience itself. Facebook Pinterest, Relaxing Sounds Tarot Cards Angel Numbers Archangels. You can help the show in 3 very important ways. God 'determined to call together in the holy Church those who believe in Christ'. In other words, prayer is the fuel that lights the fire of action., Dr. Anna Yusim, a psychiatrist and the author of "Fulfilled: How the Science of Spirituality Can Help You Live a Happier, More Meaningful Life," strongly recommends prayer and meditation, deeming them wonderful and powerful tools, but ones that are made all the more wonderful and powerful when coupled with concerted action.. I remember your great faithfulness in the past and am so grateful that you shower fresh mercy and grace on me each morning. During times of stress, our limbic system, more commonly known as our central nervous system, becomes hyper-activated, which does two things: it thrusts us in to survival mode where we freeze, fight or flee the situation, [such that] we move away from the present state of being into a future state. To learn more, I talked to several doctors including Dr. David Spiegel, associate chair of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and medical director of the center for integrative medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, who discussed what the brain looks like on prayer. It involves concentrating our thoughts, imaginations, emotions, desires, and will on the words, stories, and events that fill the Scriptures and the holy writings and faith-filled lives of Gods saints. "They are powerful because they focus our thoughts on something outside ourselves.
In other words, we cant react. london: spck, 2001. watts, fraser. These are books containing the texts of daily and festival prayers. While theres certainly a sound argument to be made for the psychological benefits of prayer and meditation, one discussion that comes up often (especially among those who are agnostic or atheist), is around what prayer can actually do in the world.
I celebrate the strength and wisdom you will give me as I learn to honor and glorify you more. I ask for your wisdom to apply these truths to my life morning, noon, and nightliterally all through the day. One of the best ways to draw closer to God and to know Him better is to spend intentional moments with Him in quiet meditation. There is also the theological question of how God might respond to testing the effectiveness of prayer scientifically. Just remember, Our Lord would not ask something of us that was not possible with Gods help. Rebecca Barlow Jordanis an inspirational author and passionate follower of Jesus who loves to help others find joy and purposeful living through deeper intimacy with God. southern medical journal 81 (1988): 826829. It is a basic belief of many faith traditions that God can bring blessing out of adversity, and prayer facilities the application of that belief to particular events. You can find out more about Rebecca atwww.rebeccabarlowjordan.com.
And these meditative acts may be a way of being real with yourself of locating where you are right now, what youre feeling and identifying your needs. I recognize you as a holy and majestic Godone who deserves great praise and glory.
The trick to balancing prayer with results is to recognize when is the time to pray/meditate and when is the time to go out and do something, says Hokemeyer. Ill paraphrase it here for convenience. In Jesus name, Amen. Here we are concerned not just with intercessory prayer but with the full range of prayer, including thanksgiving, adoration, confession, and petition. The Compendium of the Catholic Church states: Meditation is a prayerful reflection that begins above all in the Word of God in the Bible. She has authored, coauthored, or contributed to over 20 books and has written over 2000 other articles, devotions, greeting cards, and other inspirational pieces. In one recent study conducted by NYU Langone Medical Center, members of Alcoholics Anonymous were placed in an MRI scanner and then shown drinking-related images to stimulate cravings (it worked, which sounds pretty cruel). The cognitive aspects of meditation are more interesting from a theological point of view. Do you enjoy listening to The Catholic Man Show? The Church teaches us there are three major expressions (or forms) of prayer Vocal, Meditation, and Contemplation. Write down any good thoughts and meanings you encountered. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. What god is as great as our God?(Psalm 77:12-13), - I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.(Psalm 143:5), - Your majesty and glorious splendorhave captivated me; I will meditate on Your wonders,sing songs of Your worth. (Psalm 145:5 VOICE), - May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.(Psalm 19:14), - From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.(Psalm 113:3), - Come close to God, and God will come close to you(James 4:8), - Finally, brothers and sisters, fill your minds withbeauty andtruth.
Theres also research backing the idea that meditation and prayer can trigger the release of feel-good chemicals in the brain. explaining the unexplained: mysteries of the paranormal. The Compendium of the Catholic Church teaches us: Contemplative prayer is a simple gaze upon God in silence and love. The busy and cluttered life that we live in society, at work, and in our homes is sometimes a reflection of the chaos and confusion in our souls.
It seems to serve as a cognitive method of coping with stress in which events are conceptualized in a broad framework of meaning. When this experiment was concluded, the patients who had been prayed for had a better outcome. Is there a promise here for me to remember? Sometimes I take the pantheistic approach of praying to the universe, focusing on sending healing thoughts out to the world, particularly others who are suffering. 
A series of well-designed experiments have been conducted on "bio-psychokinesis" that indicate that it is possible to influence a range of specific biological functions in others without any immediate contact. Thats what we are to do when we meditate on God and His Word.
All too often, we rush through our day and overlook our deeper impulses, says Breuning. Saint Teresa of Avila defines contemplative prayer as the intimate sharing of friendship, in which time is frequently taken to be along with God who we know loves us.. However, there is certainly more evidence for the effectiveness of prayer than would be expected by chance. What Is the Mezuzah Prayer and Is it Biblical? chibnall, john t.; jeral, joseph m.; and cerullo, michael a. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. For these next few moments, its just you and me, God. Article Images Copyright , A Beautiful Meditation Prayer to Focus Your Thoughts on God. We Discovered the Calming Power of Meditation, What Happens in Your Brain While You Sleep, What mental health experts say to their kids about school shootings.
In general, explanations are divided between those who invoke God and those who do not. archives of general psychiatry 39 (1982): 13861391. The term "lauds" is derived from its nature as praise (laud) and from the Laudes or the three Psalms (14, Prausnitz, Frederik (actually, Frederick William), Prayer in Public Schools Is Held to Be Unconstitutional, https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/prayer-and-meditation. In a hospital setting, the medical staff also should not know the identifies of those being prayed for to ensure that they do not influence clinical outcomes by treating the prayed-for people differently. With the Our Father Jesus has taught us a perfect form of vocal prayer., Meditation is a higher form of prayer than vocal prayer as it utilizes the power of your imagination with focus on holy truths. A glance at any bookstore reveals this; the number of self-help books is staggering. ." Encyclopedia.com.
When we do that, Gods Word nourishes and strengthens our soul and draws us even closer to Him. I like to imagine you literally sitting here beside me, because of your promise that you are Emmanuelalways with us. Layers of meaning may be uncovered that are felt to be "ineffable."
journal of religion and psychical research 17 (1994): 6273. IE 11 is not supported. It is hard to be sure that it is prayer that helps, rather than those other aspects of religion. Prayer like anything else is something that is a sanctifying skill a holy practice that which feeds you grace from God and praise, honor, and glory back to God. A pointer to the distinctive mode of cognition induced by meditation comes from the classic laboratory studies of Arthur Deikman during the 1960s in which college students gazed at a blue vase while refraining from thinking discursively about the vase in any way. While the reflective regions of the brain are activated, parts of the brain associated with taking action are inactivated. Most people would not be willing to allow whether or not they prayed to be dictated by the requirements of an experimental design, certainly not for long enough to show a broad range of effects. To paraphrase: God speaks to us through Scripture, we speak to God through prayer, and meditation helps us to be more receptive to the former and better prepared for the latter.
"deautomisation and the mystic experience." For example, it may be analogous to a nuclear resonance, or some kind of attunement. We think deeply on a specific passage or Word of God as a means of prayer. How might such a ritual, regardless of personal faith or intention, affect our behavior? "experiments on distant intercessory prayer: god, science, and the lesson of massah." Science provides a source of analogies for how that could come about. I am not trying to clear out my mind. Brown (1982), who found that prayer was one of the coping strategies that apparently helped to protect against depression. Meditation, as used in the Bible, is like chewing on the truths in Gods Word: much like a cow chewing on its cud. Encyclopedia.com. oxford: clarendon, 2002. "These parts of the brain are involved in self-reflection and self-soothing.". As you begin to read and reflect about God and His Word, here is a meditation prayer you might offer to Him: Lord, quiet my heart and still my soul as I wait on you during these moments alone. It is theologically objectionable to suppose that God is unaware of human needs or not motivated to respond unless prayer occurs. The most common form of prayer is what the Church calls Vocal Prayer. Meditation, Spirituality and Conscious Living. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates.
Meditation is above all a quest (CCC 2705). Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Writing the verse from memory will help to focus you on the words themselves and their meaning. Im doing all that (which really doesnt feel at all like enough) and then something I don't quite understand: I'm praying. This word from Our Lord may sound shocking as we normally write off our failures and shortcomings by saying, well, Im not perfect! but spiritually thats exactly what He wants us to be. As an agnostic who does not identify with any organized religion, my version of prayer isn't rooted in any tradition or theology. Meditation has been widely studied scientifically, especially transcendental meditation. There is indeed a good range of studies showing that people who pray tend to be better adjusted. Find the emphasis of different words and how they make you feel. What parts of our brains are activated or deactivated? But prayer and meditation, while closely related, arent the same so what is a meditative prayer?
Indeed, it is often considered desirable during such a study that the people who pray do not know the full identities of those for whom they are praying.
The essential difference is Jesus Christ, who is both the path and goal of Christian life and prayer. I rehearse your goodness through answered prayer and personal reminders to me daily of your love for me. Alternatively, the effect of prayer can be seen as a special case of divine action, but one in which divine action is triggered or facilitated by prayer. Meditation has been referred to as one of the more difficult forms of prayer as many have not yet mastered their imagination and distraction becomes common-place. Meditation is quiet time spent in the conscious presence of God, as well as the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the saints. 1. Dr. Loretta G. Breuning, founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and the author of "The Science of Positivity" and "Habits of a Happy Brain, explains that when we pray, we can activate neural pathways we developed when young to release hormones such as oxytocin. The Compendium of the Catholic Church describes vocal prayer: Vocal prayer associates the body with the interior prayer of the heart. Through meditation, we can talk to God more effectively and at a deeper level than we ever thought possible. Meditating on Gods Word, His character, and His actions involves spending time with Him. All of creation testifies to your awesome and unique works. However, a constant state of prayer is not necessarily sitting in a monastery all day long chanting holy scriptures and hymns (although that is an option!) theology and psychology. . We get caught up in the world and lose sight of the meaning of life and the purpose that God had in creating us. But most of all, just receive my praise as I focus my thoughts only on you. Read it several times at least three so that the words truly sink in. Next, there is the question of whether prayer benefits the person who prays. Is there a way of explaining the efficacy of prayer that is consistent with the scientific worldview?
(June 21, 2022). Al, Prayer
The key, Dr. Hokemeyer finds, is largely one of balance. Whisper or shout into my spirit, whichever you want, and whatever I need the most. We come to know what he would say if he were physically there. It may be preferable to look first for some not-yet-understood naturalistic explanation of bio-psychokinesis, rather than assume that a wholly non-naturalistic explanation is required. "empirical explorations of prayer, distant healing, and remote mental influence." Many devote some pages to the benefits of meditation of some sort. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. It would be hard to conduct a controlled study in which an experimental group prayed regularly over a sustained period, and a control group never prayed. The unusual sensations of vividness experienced were interpreted as arising from a suspension of the normal "automatization" of perception. There is research backing the idea that meditation and prayer can trigger the release of feel-good chemicals in the brain. in perspectives on prayer, ed.
Is there more for me to understand about your character? Therefore, its best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publications requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. For example, by contemplating Jesus words, such as, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me (John 14,6), or by sitting with him on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, it becomes the experience itself. Facebook Pinterest, Relaxing Sounds Tarot Cards Angel Numbers Archangels. You can help the show in 3 very important ways. God 'determined to call together in the holy Church those who believe in Christ'. In other words, prayer is the fuel that lights the fire of action., Dr. Anna Yusim, a psychiatrist and the author of "Fulfilled: How the Science of Spirituality Can Help You Live a Happier, More Meaningful Life," strongly recommends prayer and meditation, deeming them wonderful and powerful tools, but ones that are made all the more wonderful and powerful when coupled with concerted action.. I remember your great faithfulness in the past and am so grateful that you shower fresh mercy and grace on me each morning. During times of stress, our limbic system, more commonly known as our central nervous system, becomes hyper-activated, which does two things: it thrusts us in to survival mode where we freeze, fight or flee the situation, [such that] we move away from the present state of being into a future state. To learn more, I talked to several doctors including Dr. David Spiegel, associate chair of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and medical director of the center for integrative medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, who discussed what the brain looks like on prayer. It involves concentrating our thoughts, imaginations, emotions, desires, and will on the words, stories, and events that fill the Scriptures and the holy writings and faith-filled lives of Gods saints. "They are powerful because they focus our thoughts on something outside ourselves.
In other words, we cant react. london: spck, 2001. watts, fraser. These are books containing the texts of daily and festival prayers. While theres certainly a sound argument to be made for the psychological benefits of prayer and meditation, one discussion that comes up often (especially among those who are agnostic or atheist), is around what prayer can actually do in the world.
I celebrate the strength and wisdom you will give me as I learn to honor and glorify you more. I ask for your wisdom to apply these truths to my life morning, noon, and nightliterally all through the day. One of the best ways to draw closer to God and to know Him better is to spend intentional moments with Him in quiet meditation. There is also the theological question of how God might respond to testing the effectiveness of prayer scientifically. Just remember, Our Lord would not ask something of us that was not possible with Gods help. Rebecca Barlow Jordanis an inspirational author and passionate follower of Jesus who loves to help others find joy and purposeful living through deeper intimacy with God. southern medical journal 81 (1988): 826829. It is a basic belief of many faith traditions that God can bring blessing out of adversity, and prayer facilities the application of that belief to particular events. You can find out more about Rebecca atwww.rebeccabarlowjordan.com.
And these meditative acts may be a way of being real with yourself of locating where you are right now, what youre feeling and identifying your needs. I recognize you as a holy and majestic Godone who deserves great praise and glory.
The trick to balancing prayer with results is to recognize when is the time to pray/meditate and when is the time to go out and do something, says Hokemeyer. Ill paraphrase it here for convenience. In Jesus name, Amen. Here we are concerned not just with intercessory prayer but with the full range of prayer, including thanksgiving, adoration, confession, and petition. The Compendium of the Catholic Church states: Meditation is a prayerful reflection that begins above all in the Word of God in the Bible. She has authored, coauthored, or contributed to over 20 books and has written over 2000 other articles, devotions, greeting cards, and other inspirational pieces. In one recent study conducted by NYU Langone Medical Center, members of Alcoholics Anonymous were placed in an MRI scanner and then shown drinking-related images to stimulate cravings (it worked, which sounds pretty cruel). The cognitive aspects of meditation are more interesting from a theological point of view. Do you enjoy listening to The Catholic Man Show? The Church teaches us there are three major expressions (or forms) of prayer Vocal, Meditation, and Contemplation. Write down any good thoughts and meanings you encountered. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. What god is as great as our God?(Psalm 77:12-13), - I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.(Psalm 143:5), - Your majesty and glorious splendorhave captivated me; I will meditate on Your wonders,sing songs of Your worth. (Psalm 145:5 VOICE), - May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.(Psalm 19:14), - From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.(Psalm 113:3), - Come close to God, and God will come close to you(James 4:8), - Finally, brothers and sisters, fill your minds withbeauty andtruth.
Theres also research backing the idea that meditation and prayer can trigger the release of feel-good chemicals in the brain. explaining the unexplained: mysteries of the paranormal. The Compendium of the Catholic Church teaches us: Contemplative prayer is a simple gaze upon God in silence and love. The busy and cluttered life that we live in society, at work, and in our homes is sometimes a reflection of the chaos and confusion in our souls.
It seems to serve as a cognitive method of coping with stress in which events are conceptualized in a broad framework of meaning. When this experiment was concluded, the patients who had been prayed for had a better outcome. Is there a promise here for me to remember? Sometimes I take the pantheistic approach of praying to the universe, focusing on sending healing thoughts out to the world, particularly others who are suffering. A series of well-designed experiments have been conducted on "bio-psychokinesis" that indicate that it is possible to influence a range of specific biological functions in others without any immediate contact. Thats what we are to do when we meditate on God and His Word. All too often, we rush through our day and overlook our deeper impulses, says Breuning. Saint Teresa of Avila defines contemplative prayer as the intimate sharing of friendship, in which time is frequently taken to be along with God who we know loves us.. However, there is certainly more evidence for the effectiveness of prayer than would be expected by chance. What Is the Mezuzah Prayer and Is it Biblical? chibnall, john t.; jeral, joseph m.; and cerullo, michael a. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. For these next few moments, its just you and me, God. Article Images Copyright , A Beautiful Meditation Prayer to Focus Your Thoughts on God. We Discovered the Calming Power of Meditation, What Happens in Your Brain While You Sleep, What mental health experts say to their kids about school shootings.
In general, explanations are divided between those who invoke God and those who do not. archives of general psychiatry 39 (1982): 13861391. The term "lauds" is derived from its nature as praise (laud) and from the Laudes or the three Psalms (14, Prausnitz, Frederik (actually, Frederick William), Prayer in Public Schools Is Held to Be Unconstitutional, https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/prayer-and-meditation. In a hospital setting, the medical staff also should not know the identifies of those being prayed for to ensure that they do not influence clinical outcomes by treating the prayed-for people differently. With the Our Father Jesus has taught us a perfect form of vocal prayer., Meditation is a higher form of prayer than vocal prayer as it utilizes the power of your imagination with focus on holy truths. A glance at any bookstore reveals this; the number of self-help books is staggering. ." Encyclopedia.com.
When we do that, Gods Word nourishes and strengthens our soul and draws us even closer to Him. I like to imagine you literally sitting here beside me, because of your promise that you are Emmanuelalways with us. Layers of meaning may be uncovered that are felt to be "ineffable."
journal of religion and psychical research 17 (1994): 6273. IE 11 is not supported. It is hard to be sure that it is prayer that helps, rather than those other aspects of religion. Prayer like anything else is something that is a sanctifying skill a holy practice that which feeds you grace from God and praise, honor, and glory back to God. A pointer to the distinctive mode of cognition induced by meditation comes from the classic laboratory studies of Arthur Deikman during the 1960s in which college students gazed at a blue vase while refraining from thinking discursively about the vase in any way. While the reflective regions of the brain are activated, parts of the brain associated with taking action are inactivated. Most people would not be willing to allow whether or not they prayed to be dictated by the requirements of an experimental design, certainly not for long enough to show a broad range of effects. To paraphrase: God speaks to us through Scripture, we speak to God through prayer, and meditation helps us to be more receptive to the former and better prepared for the latter.
"deautomisation and the mystic experience." For example, it may be analogous to a nuclear resonance, or some kind of attunement. We think deeply on a specific passage or Word of God as a means of prayer. How might such a ritual, regardless of personal faith or intention, affect our behavior? "experiments on distant intercessory prayer: god, science, and the lesson of massah." Science provides a source of analogies for how that could come about. I am not trying to clear out my mind. Brown (1982), who found that prayer was one of the coping strategies that apparently helped to protect against depression. Meditation, as used in the Bible, is like chewing on the truths in Gods Word: much like a cow chewing on its cud. Encyclopedia.com. oxford: clarendon, 2002. "These parts of the brain are involved in self-reflection and self-soothing.". As you begin to read and reflect about God and His Word, here is a meditation prayer you might offer to Him: Lord, quiet my heart and still my soul as I wait on you during these moments alone. It is theologically objectionable to suppose that God is unaware of human needs or not motivated to respond unless prayer occurs. The most common form of prayer is what the Church calls Vocal Prayer. Meditation, Spirituality and Conscious Living. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. Meditation is above all a quest (CCC 2705). Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Writing the verse from memory will help to focus you on the words themselves and their meaning. Im doing all that (which really doesnt feel at all like enough) and then something I don't quite understand: I'm praying. This word from Our Lord may sound shocking as we normally write off our failures and shortcomings by saying, well, Im not perfect! but spiritually thats exactly what He wants us to be. As an agnostic who does not identify with any organized religion, my version of prayer isn't rooted in any tradition or theology. Meditation has been widely studied scientifically, especially transcendental meditation. There is indeed a good range of studies showing that people who pray tend to be better adjusted. Find the emphasis of different words and how they make you feel. What parts of our brains are activated or deactivated? But prayer and meditation, while closely related, arent the same so what is a meditative prayer?
Indeed, it is often considered desirable during such a study that the people who pray do not know the full identities of those for whom they are praying.
The essential difference is Jesus Christ, who is both the path and goal of Christian life and prayer. I rehearse your goodness through answered prayer and personal reminders to me daily of your love for me. Alternatively, the effect of prayer can be seen as a special case of divine action, but one in which divine action is triggered or facilitated by prayer. Meditation has been referred to as one of the more difficult forms of prayer as many have not yet mastered their imagination and distraction becomes common-place. Meditation is quiet time spent in the conscious presence of God, as well as the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the saints. 1. Dr. Loretta G. Breuning, founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and the author of "The Science of Positivity" and "Habits of a Happy Brain, explains that when we pray, we can activate neural pathways we developed when young to release hormones such as oxytocin. The Compendium of the Catholic Church describes vocal prayer: Vocal prayer associates the body with the interior prayer of the heart. Through meditation, we can talk to God more effectively and at a deeper level than we ever thought possible. Meditating on Gods Word, His character, and His actions involves spending time with Him. All of creation testifies to your awesome and unique works. However, a constant state of prayer is not necessarily sitting in a monastery all day long chanting holy scriptures and hymns (although that is an option!) theology and psychology. . We get caught up in the world and lose sight of the meaning of life and the purpose that God had in creating us. But most of all, just receive my praise as I focus my thoughts only on you. Read it several times at least three so that the words truly sink in. Next, there is the question of whether prayer benefits the person who prays. Is there a way of explaining the efficacy of prayer that is consistent with the scientific worldview?