Does prayer work?  Or is it luck and personal diligence?
Channel: George Kao
Date: 01/03/2016

Does prayer work?  

Or is it luck?  

Or just personal effort?

A few days ago I was walking buddy the pup​, at the reservoir/park.  It's quite large, with many paths to take.  This particular day I took almost all the paths.

It was also a warm day, so I didn't wear my usual jacket, which is where I typically put my keys.  

Instead, I (foolishly) held my keys in my hand.

After I had walked the many paths in the park, and even sometimes off-path (following Buddy), I suddenly noticed that I no longer had my keys.  Uh oh... this is a small ring with 3 important keys: house key, PO box key (expensive to replace), and home mailbox key.  It's a small object, my hand can fit completely around it, and losing it at this large park is like a needle in the haystack, if it's not on an obvious path.

I circled the park, re-walking all the paths, carefully looking left, forward and right, but no keys.

I started thinking what a pain and expense it would be to change all three locks.

So I started praying.  "God, it's time to show up.  Spirit guides, please, if it's God's will, direct my attention toward where the keys are.  You know where they are.   Please help my head turn in the right direction and my eyes see them."

I walked the whole park again, all the paths, praying like this.  

Still, no keys.  I was going to give up.  I was resigned to God's will, gratefully having the thought that "everything works out for the greater good, and for my ultimate good."

Within a minute, I see a neighborhood dog named Lucky, and his owner.  I mentioned that I was looking for my keys, but have already looked everywhere.  She expressed concern for me, then walked on.  

For the final time I turn the corner, going home, and my head happened to look at a rock ledge and there were my keys.  I had looked several times before but didn't see it.

How interesting that just after I saw "Lucky" the dog, that I would suddenly, "luckily" find my keys.

Was it my good luck?   

Did the prayer work?   

Or simply my own diligence in circling the park several times?

In my life I've never experienced anything paranormal or otherworldly.  Everything I've experienced can be explained by science.

*And yet, I've always felt called, pulled in my heart, toward a spiritual worldview.*

Although I've had sessions with several well-respected psychics, I still didn't experience anything I could call "spiritual".  Those sessions didn't help me believe.

It seems like part of my life path is to believe without needing to personally experience the "evidence" to... in other words, to have faith. 

Several years ago, I came across a couple of books that greatly strengthened by faith.  They purport to give "scientific" evidence to believe.

(I put "scientific" in quotes, because mainstream science automatically disavows any spiritual occurrence, so they aren't willing to conduct experiments, for example with psychics and mediums.  But there's a surprising amount of evidence that gives confidence to a spiritual worldview, if one is willing to look honestly at the evidence.)

The books that changed my life:
https://plus.google.com/+GeorgeKaoCommunity/posts/b39egjhYpqE

**

Back to my thoughts about prayer: I think it "works" but often not in the way we expect.  

Prayer gets us back in touch with a higher perspective, which brings more wisdom to our actions, and peace to our hearts. 

I do believe that sometimes, God grants certain prayers and things seem miraculous as a result.  But it's not really for the sake of that stuff happening.  Those things are granted to happen so that our faith can grow.  So that we can have a stronger connection to a higher perspective and wisdom.

This may be the best attitude for Prayer:

"God, please let [this good thing I want] become reality, if it is Your will... but if not, please give me the wisdom to use what *does* happen, to the greatest good of all."  

(The "greatest good of all", of course, includes you and me.)

I hope -- and pray -- that this post will strengthen your faith and as a result, bring you more true happiness in each day, even in the face of challenges.  

You are cared for and protected, more than you know.

**

To receive George Kao's best articles via email, visit:
http://georgekao.com/email