My Prayer for the World...and especially for the citizens of Iraq (Updated)

Article Title: My Prayer for the World...and especially for the citizens of Iraq (Updated)
Author: Craig Lock
Line Space: 65 characters
Key Words: Inspiration, Spirituality, Peace, World Peace, Spiritual
Other Articles by Craig Lock are available at: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles.html
(Personal growth, self help, writing, internet marketing, words of inspiration and money management)

Publishing Guidelines: These "rather heavy" thoughts and writings
(originally written in December 2004 and slightly updated) may be
freely published, electronically or in print. This prayer was inspired by and adapted from Marianne Williamson's Prayer for Kosovo (1999) http://marianne.com.

May you all experience health in body and mind, a sense of fulfillment, self expression in your work, prosperity, peace and especially joy this year and in the years to come.
craig
*
My Prayer for the World

As a "quite spiritual", but not "religious type of person"*, I wrote this piece quickly some years back, which was inspired by and adapted from Marianne Williamson's Prayer for Kosovo (1999) http://marianne.com. So sharing a few thoughts, which may be of interest and freely published, electronically or in print. Enjoy...

*
"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience.
We are spiritual beings having a human experience."
- Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

"Religion is for those who fear going to hell;
spirituality is for those who've been there!"
- anon

*
SHARING MY PRAYER FOR THE WORLD

Dear God, Creator of the Universe

As YOU know, so many people are going through extreme hardship and suffering . Also in our hearts, many of us are very troubled by the world today being in such a mess, because of natural disasters, man's inhumanity to man, lack of understanding and intolerance of others, desire for power, "pure evil" and so on. At this time of Celebration in so many privileged countries (like mine, the paradise that is tranquil New Zealand), I feel so helpless, so am asking for divine intervention through the power of concentrated prayer world-wide...

Please bring a miracle especially to the people of Iraq, Chechnya, DRC (Congo), Nigeria, Sudan, Kenya and Zimbabwe and all the victims of the recent tsunami in South-East Asia, but to ALL the world; so that every person on this planet has some food to eat. Bring forth some goodness out of the ravages of the many wars (some decades-old) and natural disasters throughout this world. As we are all connected (no matter where in the world we may live), please touch ALL hearts, especially in the 'trouble-spots' of the globe...through changing people's hearts and inner spirits amidst the strife, violence and war. We send forth positive thoughts for Good: ones of comfort, forgiveness, thoughts of peace and especially love to every 'child of God' in this drama of pain. Still through YOU, we can see in our hearts one day the seemingly impossible - a world one day surrounded by peace and love. 'A world at peace with itself'. One lit within by YOUR indistinguishable and ever-present light, that shines through the Goodness of so many people in countless diverse countries on 'mother earth'.

Lord, please do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Only YOU can make a transition in the world, in the hearts and minds of our leaders, a change of mind-set - a shift of human consciousness: from one 'power centred in brute force to the power centred in soul force', the 'generosity and nobility of spirit'. Awaken our spirits with the immeasurable power of LOVE, a force more powerful than bullets. Show the world leaders a different way of thinking, a new way of viewing seemingly insurmountable problems as challenges... to take the 'high-road of our shared humanity' as citizens of this world. Shift our leaders' mindsets to the higher consciousness of POSSIBILITIES. So that out of much chaos and misery, the powerful decision-makers of this world may even see great opportunities for taking action not out of vested self interest, but doing good - simply doing what is RIGHT through being led by Your Infinite Spirit.

We are all connected, no matter where we may live. And isn't what connects us all far stronger than what divides us? There is neither east nor west, tribe nor ethnicity, male or female, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Christian nor Jew. There is only a God-filled humanity, the divine spark that lies within us all and unites our distinctive spirits. So God, help each one of us to build bridges, rather than barriers; let us project a spirit of openness rather than walls. Uplift our consciousness, our individual spirits to be all that You want them to be. Let us look at the 'possibility' of distant horizons together in a spirit of tolerance, acceptance, helpfulness, co-operation, co-existence and peace. So they have the CHOICE to think and live at that highest level. Lord, let our leaders look at the future with a 'grand vision of possibility' - to see things not as they are, but what they could one day become ...and so leave a wonderful legacy on this amazing planet of ours for the 'Greatest Good' of ALL humanity.

Each one of us has in our hearts the most powerful force in the world. But only YOU have the power to change man's hearts and spirits. Raise our levels of consciousness through igniting the embers of our souls with the power, the divine spark of YOUR infinite LOVE. Every torch that You light in even the darkest heart ignites the immeasurable,
the highest and brightest spirit of the shared humanity, that lies within each one of us.

Like a candle in a darkened window at midnight, bring forth that bright light, your truth, dear God, especially in Iraq; but throughout this very troubled world. Fuel a vision of hope for the world with Your Unlimited Love. May love and peace one day prevail on Planet Earth, in the soul of every man, every woman and every child.
God, as all that is Good and the embodiment of Unlimited Love, please bless ALL the citizens of this amazing, sad-happy world of ours.

God, as the ultimate Source of all Life, the Essence of Existence, the Ground of all Being, use me, according to Your Will. Broaden our horizons for all the rich promises You have in store for each one of us, Your children.

Thank you

Amen

Craig Lock
24th December 2004
Inspired by and adapted from Marianne Williamson's Prayer for Kosovo (1999)
http://marianne.com

"Our Greatest Good is perhaps not to achieve wealth and share our material possessions, our money and 'riches' with others, but through encouragement and faith in other people, to lay the firm foundation of revealing the rich treasure that lies within themselves."

"God creates us with different gifts. Each one of us comes into the world with a different collection of life circumstances that often severely challenge us, things that give us joy and in expressing our talents allow us to bless the people, the world around us."
- craig

http://www.craiglockbooks.com
http://www2.webng.com/writernz/

"Together, one mind, one soul at a time, let's encourage, impact, uplift and perhaps even inspire the world."

THESE THOUGHTS MAY BE FREELY USED, PUBLISHED (and especially PRAYED, as never underestmate the incredible power of prayer to change anything in one's life).