Prayer and Problem Solving
Greetings and good morning brothers and sisters. This is Dr. James Perry continuing with our series
where we seek to explore the deeper meanings of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Over the years,
the heavenly Father has revealed many revelations of spiritual truth to me, and I want to share them
with you. This morning we seek to understand the relationship between prayer and problem solving.
And now, sit back and listen to today's message.
Prayer and Problem Solving
Jesus said, "... men ought always to pray and not faint." Luke, Chapter 18, Verse 1.
Brothers and sister, in today's broadcast, we shall explore the relationship between prayer and
problem solving. We know that prayer is a spiritual function of the spiritual kingdom, and refers to
those petitions and communications that have to do with the kingdom of heaven which are spiritual.
Therefore prayer functions to solve the spiritual problems having to do with becoming perfect as the
heavenly Father is perfect. We have found out by various sundry methods, sometimes shockingly,
sometimes reluctantly, that there is no escape from the problems of life. We have discovered that we
can not run away from our selves and the heavenly Father. "Whither shall I go from thy spirit or
whither shall I flee from thy presence." But we have been given minds and spirit to assist us in the
solving of our manifold problems of living. In fact, it is the solution to these problems of life, that
constitute growth, and ultimately divine perfection.
It is only natural that we should pray to God for help in the solutions of our many difficulties, which
we often find that we cannot find any acceptable solution. And we pray and we pray all of our lives,
and though we never quite receive an answer from God for our material difficulties, we do thrive
spiritually. We must adjust our attitude. God is the source of spirit as well as the source of fact, the
source of love as well as the source of law. There are differing ways in which to acquire different
aspects of God. The laws of God, for example, are discerned by the mind of any human being who
takes the time to study the material world in which he lives. Man has a material mind, and is capable
of comprehending the material world in which he lives in. But the acquirement of the love of God
is dependent upon faith-acceptance of the status of divine sonship. Now both of these aspects are to
be unified by our experiences. As we move through this life, we acquire or can acquire knowledge
of both of these aspects of God. We can experience divine love, and we can acquire factual
knowledge. What is the relationship between these two aspects of God as they are applied to problem
solving?
When we have problems with our relationships, we are really dealing with problems of truth.
Disharmony or dysfunctional relationships are disorders of truth. In all cases problems involving
relationships are due to the failure to relate ourselves to each other correctly. This incorrect
relationship, this error, is what causes the disharmony or dysfunction and can only be corrected by
our adjustment to the true relationship, which has become distorted either due to selfishness,
ignorance, or just frank willful rebellion. This problem become the province of prayer. We must seek
the correct value to be employed in adjusting the relationship to the correct balance. All moral
individuals are subject to a spiritual appeal. This spiritual appeal is designed to appeal to the spirit
of the individual and stimulate his recognition of truth. As might be imagined by all of those who
have been in or continue to be in dysfunctional or disharmonious relationships, no amount of psychic
force, physical force, reasoning, or compulsion can cause the individual to adjust himself to the truth
of a relationship. Only the appeal to the spiritual nature of the individual can melt the frozen
disharmonious relationship. Only the spiritual appeal to an individual with a moral nature can cause
him to realize that he/she is not living up to his responsibilities as a son or daughter of the heavenly
Father. Only a spiritual appeal can cause the individual to recognize and realize that in making those
adjustments of truth, he/she is not losing anything of spiritual value, but is in fact gaining those
spiritual values that he/she seeks as they tarry in the valley of disappointment and sorrow.
Which spiritual value should be applied to the problem of maladjustment to truth? The greatest of
all spiritual realities is love, which contains all of the other divine values, such as patience,
forbearance, and tolerance. It also contains mercy and forgiveness, and unconditional acceptance.
The persistent display of those qualities gradually brings about spiritual adjustments when the
individual is true of heart but simply maladjusted. "There is no adventure in the course of mortal
existence more enthralling than to enjoy the exhilaration of becoming the material life partner with
spiritual energy and divine truth in one of their triumphant struggles with error and evil. It is a
marvelous and transforming experience to become the living channel of spiritual light to the mortal
who sits in spiritual darkness. If you are more blessed with truth than is this man, his need should
challenge you. Surely you are not the coward who could stand by on the seashore and watch a fellow
man who could not swim perish! How much more of value is this man's soul floundering in darkness
compared to his body drowning in water!"
Remember that personal reality is spiritual, not intellectual, emotional, or material. So we must
always remember this even though we may be dealing with a material problem. We must always
enshroud our material actions with the overcoat of love. But even so, we should understand that the
solutions of purely material problems are the province of the laws of God. We must discover the
particular law governing the problem we wish to solve. "Do not be so slothful as to ask God to solve
your difficulties, but never hesitate to ask him for wisdom and spiritual strength to guide and sustain
you while you yourself resolutely and courageously attack the problems at hand."
When we solve material problems, we experience the laws of God, which are impersonal. When we
solve spiritual problems, those centered around relationships, we experience the love of God. These
values are personal. When we pray, we should remember that "prayer is not a technique of escape
from conflict but rather a stimulus to growth in the very face of conflict. Pray only for values, not
things; for growth, not for gratification." And there is a more practical reason for such praying. Since
the heavenly Father is the source of spiritual values, and since he delights in giving these values to
his children (remember, ask and you shall receive), this is an excellent way to get to know him. In
fact it is the only way to get to know him: What he shares with those with whom he relates is
spiritual value itself. As we pray (commune) with the Father, we recognize the answer to our prayers
in the form of values that we need in any given relationship. And as we use these values, and see the
result of them in our lives and the lives of others, we recognize the goodness of God. As we solve
material problems by discovering and applying the laws governing them, we begin to unify the love
of God and the law of God within ourselves.
This concludes today's message on understanding the relationship between prayer and problem
solving. We hope you find something in this message to ponder and pray about as you go about your
day.
Until next time, this is Dr. James Perry.
Inspirational Messages
By Dr. James Perry
Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done!
Prayer and Problem Solving
