Changes

First of all, for me as a mortal, [[prayer]] was a [[conversation]] that I had with [[the Father|My Father]], Who is also your Father. It was not a [[magic]] [[ritual]] performed with [[ritual|ceremonial]] austerity. It did not require bells, holy water, or [[music]]. It did not require a [[mystical]] setting. It was not perceived as a sense of [[duty]]. My prayer life was as [[natural]] to me as [[breathing]].

First of all, for me as a mortal, [[prayer]] was a [[conversation]] that I had with [[the Father|My Father]], Who is also your Father. It was not a [[magic]] [[ritual]] performed with [[ritual|ceremonial]] austerity. It did not require bells, holy water, or [[music]]. It did not require a [[mystical]] setting. It was not perceived as a sense of [[duty]]. My prayer life was as [[natural]] to me as [[breathing]].

Seldom did I think of myself during my prayers except when I was in extreme anguish, as in [Paper 182 - In Gethsemane|[the Garden]] when I faced the agony of [[crucifixion]]. Rather, were my conversations with [[God]] mostly about [[Paper 139 - The Twelve Apostles|my apostles]], my [[friends]]. For even with my [[human]] [[mind]] I could see where their weaknesses lay, as well as understand their [[unique]] strengths. I knew I did my best effort to teach them, and not just with [[words]], but by my example as well. But, beyond those efforts I felt the need to pray, not because my Father was grudging in His [[mercy]], but because prayer actually does produce an effect for the other [[person]].

Seldom did I think of myself during my prayers except when I was in extreme anguish, as in [[Paper 182 - In Gethsemane|the Garden]] when I faced the agony of [[crucifixion]]. Rather, were my conversations with [[God]] mostly about [[Paper 139 - The Twelve Apostles|my apostles]], my [[friends]]. For even with my [[human]] [[mind]] I could see where their weaknesses lay, as well as understand their [[unique]] strengths. I knew I did my best effort to teach them, and not just with [[words]], but by my example as well. But, beyond those efforts I felt the need to pray, not because my Father was grudging in His [[mercy]], but because prayer actually does produce an effect for the other [[person]].

As I prayed for my different companions I would ask the Father to keep someone from collapsing in despair and listening to the whisperings of the [[animal]] nature, of the [[spirit]] [[poison]]s. I would ask for [[wisdom]] for my friends, that their minds could be expanded. My human [[nature]] yearned to influence them strongly, but my [[Divine]] nature instructed my human nature that I could not take their place and make their [[decisions]] for them. I, too, as a [[human being]], had to learn the lesson that I did not possess the magic wand that would abrogate their dignity status as [[free will]] [[creatures]]. I had to learn to leave them in the capable hands of my Father and my [http://www.urantia.org/cgi-bin/webglimpse/mfs/usr/local/www/data/papers?link=http://mercy.urantia.org/papers/paper7.html&file=/usr/local/www/data/papers/paper7.html&line=109#mfsMother/Son] on [[Paradise]].

As I prayed for my different companions I would ask the Father to keep someone from collapsing in despair and listening to the whisperings of the [[animal]] nature, of the [[spirit]] [[poison]]s. I would ask for [[wisdom]] for my friends, that their minds could be expanded. My human [[nature]] yearned to influence them strongly, but my [[Divine]] nature instructed my human nature that I could not take their place and make their [[decisions]] for them. I, too, as a [[human being]], had to learn the lesson that I did not possess the magic wand that would abrogate their dignity status as [[free will]] [[creatures]]. I had to learn to leave them in the capable hands of my Father and my [http://www.urantia.org/cgi-bin/webglimpse/mfs/usr/local/www/data/papers?link=http://mercy.urantia.org/papers/paper7.html&file=/usr/local/www/data/papers/paper7.html&line=109#mfsMother/Son] on [[Paradise]].