This is http://www.essayz.com/a9812062.htm Previous-Essay <== This-Essay ==> Following-Essay Click HERE on this line to find essays via Your-Key-Words. {Most frequent wordstarts of each essay will be put here.} ========================================================== %FRUITS PRAYER MEDITATION CONSIDERATION RITUAL LOVE+981206 %TECHNIQUE GOAL ACHIEVE MANIPULATE CONTROL COERCION 981206 The fruits of prayer depend upon the attitudes, assumptions, desires, convictions, beliefs, manners of approach, intentions, and integrity of the persons who are participants (directly and/or indirectly) in prayer. Prayer is essentially relational; i.e., having to do with personal relationships. There are always two or more persons who are participants (directly and/or indirectly involved) in prayer. Isolated, meditation and thinking are not prayer in any meaningful sense. Prayer is at least indirectly communal because of the role that the members of the community have played in laying the foundations for prayer. The following considerations often play important roles in engendering the fruits of prayer: 1. Regarding prayer as a technique/technology via which to achieve a chosen goal in keeping with personal and/or communal desires, wants, mandates, etc. 2. Regarding prayer as a tradition/ritual which is to be engaged in on appropriate and/or specified occasions because it is traditional, mandated, and/or feels good. 3. Using prayer as an occasion for communicating thoughts, ideas and points of view to those members of the community who hear or read the prayer with the one "leading" the prayer. 4. The degree to which the person(s) involved in the prayer are "in charge" or "in desperation" when participating in the occasion of prayer. 5. The kinds of expectation which are present on the part of those who are participants in the occasion of prayer. 6. Approaching the time of prayer as an occasion for conforming to some recommended, required, or prescribed pattern of behavior. 7. Being concerned about whether or not the time of prayer will be successful. 8. Positively anticipating the possibility that in prayer participants may discern paths into new and integrative relationships which entail the transcendence of respect for and support of traditional: addictions, codependence, collusions, dishonesty, coercion and conflicts. Often how we approach a time of prayer plays a major role in what kinds of fruits flow from such a time. (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy) ==========================================================