12.9.10

Prayer for Peace: Saint Francis of Assisi's Way

“Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one's weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart.” Mahatma Gandhi

From a very young age, I had always enjoyed prayer and biblical stories... Actually, I enjoyed all stories that had a moral teaching of sorts and I understood, somewhere deep inside of myself, that there was one universal God who embraced all of us regardless of the path we chose to follow. 

Whenever I am exposed to something that disturbs my soul, I find myself turning to prayer and it has sustained me. I know that there are those who don't believe in prayer, I can respect that, but because it has always come alive for me and helped me find a calm in any storm, I turn to it again and again.

The Prayer of Peace from Saint Francis of Assisi is an example of such a prayer and the fact that we live in shaky times makes it even more necessary and relevant.  What do you turn to when your spirit has been touched by harshness or mean words? How do you cleanse yourself from such exposure? I have added  the Prayer for Peace below. I would love to hear your take on prayer and how it has affected you or not...
I was raised Catholic and grew up surrounded by nuns and others who prayed without ceasing... At one point in my young life; during the equivalent of middle school, I asked my parents if I could become a nun. The nuns were excited but my Dad was against it for a variety of reasons including the fact that I would be unable to give him grandchildren. I never became a nun although learning and exploring paths of spirituality have remained a big part of my life. I am a student of life not an expert and I continue to learn from my explorations.

Over the years, I have explored other faiths and opened my heart and eyes to both Eastern and Western religions.  I found beauty in the prayers that originated from Buddhist and the Sanskrit teachings. I love chants and mantra repetition as much as I love hymnals and prayers.  I find prayer has a melody that stays with us... it lingers even after we have repeated it.  All inspired prayers have a resonance that inevitably comforts the soul and gives us something to still our hearts and minds from the chaos and rigors of daily living.

                   “Prayer is the key to Heaven, but faith unlocks the door.” Anon

Prayer for Peace
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith,
Where there is despair, hope,
Where there is darkness, light,
Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much
seek to be consoled as to console,

Not so much to be understood as to understand,
Not so much to be loved, as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
It is in dying that we awake to eternal life. 
Saint Francis of Assisi (Feast Day is October 4th)

How do you stay calm in a storm? What impact has prayer had on your life?
 I would love to hear from you: Please leave me a comment on any of my recent blog posts below. Thank You!

PHOTO CREDITS:
Photos of Saint Francis of Assisi via Wikipedia 



Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank


14 comments:

  1. Thanks for stopping by my blog!

    I don't pray in the traditional sense... I go out on my deck or porch and just sit, breathe deep and enjoy the gifts that God has given me in the birds, the plants, the blue skies and the sun shining down. A silent nod in gratitude, a smile of pure pleasure... I know he sees and I know he knows the joy and thankfullness in my heart for his blessings... and then there's no room for negativity of any kind.
    Cleanses my soul and recharges my batteries... makes me happy to be alive and keep doing the right things in life.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi there,
    I'm your new follower from Follow Me Back Tuesday!

    http://cheeriosandtricycles.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi I'm your newest follower- please follow me back :)

    http://thejacksonfivefamily.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. It is so nice to find such a positive blog. Thank you for joining my blog hop! I'm your newest follower. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi- Very nice blog- lots of things to think about here. I found you on Tuesday Tag Along. Hoping you come by and follow me too.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you so much for being part of my blog hop. I am already following but glad to come by and visit. Hope you are having a wonderful Tuesday.
    www.jamarahcraftycreations.blogspot.com
    Sarah

    ReplyDelete
  7. When I was first married I made a point of talking to God about how I felt when my husband spoke harshly to me. I wouldn't get off my knees until I could honestly say I didn't hold a grudge and I was over it. After I had kids I didn't have time to do that anymore so I just stopped without realizing it. I'll have to think about that a little more!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love St. Francis's prayer. Thanks for sharing. Glad to have found your blog through the FF!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks for stopping by our blog!! We are glad that the Microsoft Download will help with your kids!!! We are now following you too!!!

    Thanks again
    Julie and Adele
    The Coupon Cents Sisters

    ReplyDelete
  10. Stopping by from Welcome Wednesday;
    hope to see you stop back by!


    Kerin :)
    hergoodintentions.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hello:

    Stopping by from Wed. Hop. Great Blog!

    http://wifrugalliving.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. This is really good :)
    Following you back.
    Xo
    Frenchy

    ReplyDelete
  13. I sometimes pray or meditate. But truly, spending time in the company of my children cleanses my soul from anything harsh in ways that nothing else can. :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Good post and this mail helped me alot in my college assignement. Thanks you seeking your information.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking a moment to comment ... It is appreciated!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...