Are your prayers answered? Many would answer this question with a resounding “no.” Which is why a large number of people seem to have given up on prayer altogether.

My experience is that prayer is always answered. It’s just that the answer to our prayers might not look at all like what we expected.

Last week, I sat on my bed one afternoon and made a very specific prayer request for my business. Within one hour, two things showed up in my email in-box. The first was some money (which is always nice). The second was an email from a friend, telling me about a unique advertising opportunity she had just come across. And wouldn’t you know it – the amount of money I had just received was exactly how much it would cost for me to do this advertising!

To me, this was a perfect example of an answered prayer. In fact, I think my Guides were showing off a bit with the speedy delivery! However, the issue I had prayed about had nothing at all to do with looking for a place to advertise my business. It didn’t even have anything to do with increasing my business! At least, not that I could tell at that time. In hindsight, the prayer and the advertising opportunity were absolutely related … which only became apparent recently.

There are two things we must recognize about how our prayers are answered:

The first is that our active participation is required. I could have simply spent the money I received on a new pair of shoes, and never advertised my business at all. My prayer would have been answered, and I would have completely missed it!

Many of us expect our prayers to be answered in a neatly wrapped, fully recognizable package. Preferably that package is delivered directly to our doorstep, no assembly required, with detailed instructions included. Some of us would even like the Universe to offer full installation, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. How many of us, after all, have said: “Be careful what you wish for?”

In reality, our prayers are often delivered in a way that requires actual effort. The package is at the post office, and we need to go and pick it up. Assembly is definitely required. We may even have to run out and buy some new tools in order to complete installation properly. And often, the instruction manual only reveals itself as we unwrap the package and get to work.

The second is that the answers to our prayers rarely look the way we expect them to. You may have prayed for physical healing, and instead received help for your relationship. You may have prayed for money, and immediately received the opportunity to go on vacation. You may have prayed for inspiration for your writing, but have been invited to attend a class, instead.

Our minds and imaginations are limited by our experience. More often than not, the creativity of the Universe confounds us completely. We miss out on answered prayers because we have created certain expectations of what those answers “should” look like.

How can you recognize the answers to your prayers? Pay close attention to every door of opportunity that crosses your path. A phone call, an email, a book recommendation, a story your friend is telling, an idea or inspiration, a sudden desire to take a nap or go shopping or paint … these can all be the answers to your prayers. You will only find out for sure if you take action and walk through the door of opportunity that the Universe has provided. You will always have the opportunity to walk right past that door, and the next, and the next. After all, the Divine will never interfere with our free will.

At the same time, new doors will always appear! The Universe aligns with infinite abundance. If we miss out on one opportunity, one answer to our prayer request, then another will appear. The second may look nothing like the first. However, the two doors may eventually, magically, lead to exactly the same place. Again, we won’t find out until we take action.

A friend of mine once told me: “Everywhere I go, I keep hearing about blogging. It just keeps showing up, I noticed a book about blogging in a co-worker’s cubicle, someone was talking about starting a blog at the table next to me in a coffee shop, and a friend of mine just forwarded me a blog article. This has been going on for a few months now. What do you think?” As it turns out, she had prayed for the next step in her professional life to be revealed.

My answer was: “What are you waiting for? A written invitation from the Universe?”

Lots of us would love that written invitation! Wouldn’t that be nice?

“Dear beautiful Soul, you are invited to your next step in your professional life: blogging. Please start a blog at your earliest convenience – or not. It’s up to you. Love, Universe.”

Are your prayers already being answered? Are you waiting for your own written invitation from the Universe? Leave a comment and share!

Blessings,
Andrea

Filed under: Embrace Your Highest Path and Purpose

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