In my youth, after a separation of all-things-church, prayer looked to be little more than words. And words are cheep. After a few years in and out of several Zen centers, observing the chattering mind while meditating went a long way to confirming this belief. Later experience tempered this belief with the idea that action is perhaps the most powerful manifestation of prayer.
Praying for someone's well-being "in the silence of my heart" doesn't compare to getting off my ass and helping them repair a vandalized home or shopping for their groceries while their busted ankle heals or mowing their lawn while they sit with a loved one in the hospital. With action, we quickly find out if we've been paying attention. Am I blundering into a situation clouded by what I assume someone needs and end up making it worse? Or do I see their struggle and a way - however simple - to unobtrusively make a difference? It's risky and not as easy as it seams. This is probably what frightens a lot of people back into the "silence of their heart." As you say, intent matters.
Perhaps prayer is different depending on mankind's perspective versus God's. Perhaps using God's name in vain is like a prayer prayed in which it is lacking God's intent. Rather than considering it as horrible to say God damn' we could consider it as lacking truth, therefore, in vain. God is the saver, the source of all that is good (James 1:17). God is not the damned or the damner. He is the blesser. If we believe that God made mankind in His image we can see that God is a speaking spirit. Light be! Thus, we can understand we are speaking spirits. God called out those things that are His will. Through His Son, we are the temple of His spirit. The Kingdom of God is within us, so teaches the Bible (Luke 17:20-21). We are co-laboring with Him who lives on the inside of this clay temple in order to proclaim His will on the earth (1 Corinthians 3:9). Like Him declaring light be' and darkness fled, we can find ways to proclaim peace and agitation will flee. We can find ways to bless and the curse must cease. We find ways to harmonize and discord changes into agreement. God proclaimed peace on earth, goodwill toward men (Luke 2:14). We can do likewise (Romans 12:18, Hebrews 12:14). Imagine, we can pray answers rather than only asking for answered prayers; prayed answers ... Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done ...
In my youth, after a separation of all-things-church, prayer looked to be little more than words. And words are cheep. After a few years in and out of several Zen centers, observing the chattering mind while meditating went a long way to confirming this belief. Later experience tempered this belief with the idea that action is perhaps the most powerful manifestation of prayer.
Praying for someone's well-being "in the silence of my heart" doesn't compare to getting off my ass and helping them repair a vandalized home or shopping for their groceries while their busted ankle heals or mowing their lawn while they sit with a loved one in the hospital. With action, we quickly find out if we've been paying attention. Am I blundering into a situation clouded by what I assume someone needs and end up making it worse? Or do I see their struggle and a way - however simple - to unobtrusively make a difference? It's risky and not as easy as it seams. This is probably what frightens a lot of people back into the "silence of their heart." As you say, intent matters.
Perhaps prayer is different depending on mankind's perspective versus God's. Perhaps using God's name in vain is like a prayer prayed in which it is lacking God's intent. Rather than considering it as horrible to say God damn' we could consider it as lacking truth, therefore, in vain. God is the saver, the source of all that is good (James 1:17). God is not the damned or the damner. He is the blesser. If we believe that God made mankind in His image we can see that God is a speaking spirit. Light be! Thus, we can understand we are speaking spirits. God called out those things that are His will. Through His Son, we are the temple of His spirit. The Kingdom of God is within us, so teaches the Bible (Luke 17:20-21). We are co-laboring with Him who lives on the inside of this clay temple in order to proclaim His will on the earth (1 Corinthians 3:9). Like Him declaring light be' and darkness fled, we can find ways to proclaim peace and agitation will flee. We can find ways to bless and the curse must cease. We find ways to harmonize and discord changes into agreement. God proclaimed peace on earth, goodwill toward men (Luke 2:14). We can do likewise (Romans 12:18, Hebrews 12:14). Imagine, we can pray answers rather than only asking for answered prayers; prayed answers ... Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done ...