We have discussed prayer and its benefits several times. In 2021, we noted that our petitions to whatever Force we choose – God, Divine Love, Guardian Angels, Allah, Vishnu, etc. – direct our energies not only toward calming ourselves but also toward calling to mind the need for solidarity with like-minded souls. When praying or seeking the help of other beings, we are directing energy and positive, loving intent into the universe.
Today we find ourselves in another Trump Administration and a well-planned and -executed operation to interfere with the workings of a sovereign nation, capture its leader (even though that leader can realistically be considered an autocrat and criminal), and bring him and his wife to our country to be arraigned. At this writing, events are unfolding rapidly and we do not know what will happen going forward; we only know that we are in yet another extremely challenging time in our nation.
Many of us resort to prayer in such situations where there are not only many unknowns but also when we can do very little else but pray. Here we will explore three ways in which we can use prayer to productively channel our energy in these and other uncertain times: by praying individually to strengthen and balance ourselves; by praying with others to muster collective energy for positive purposes; and by using prayer to move us toward concrete, righteous action for the common good.
Individuals can try to find quiet time and space, perhaps with candle light, to pray. Families, friends and small groups can gather together in homes or other spaces to raise up collective prayers; some faith communities set aside regular times in their facilities (and/or virtually) to offer collective prayers, and forming small communities of like-minded people to pray can help mitigate our national crisis of loneliness. Individuals and groups can use prayers, intercessions and petitions to courageously gird themselves for bold action.
Let us consider prayers from the Book of Common Prayer (BCP) to address specific situations in one or more of the three methods we’ve suggested. (The prayers are lightly edited.) There are, of course, other collections of prayers and petitions from which one can draw.
For peace
The BCP has three prayers for peace, including one for peace among the nations.
Divine Love, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of peace, as citizens of one world.
Kindle, we pray, in every heart the true love of peace, and guide with your wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth, that in tranquility your dominion may increase until the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love.
Guide the nations of the world into the way of justice and truth, and establish among them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness.
Note the outcomes for which we are praying, in addition to peace: a realm where the sword that is drawn is that of righteousness; wisdom; tranquility; justice; truth; and love. 
The BCP may be a Christian document, but the results for which we are pleading also appear in most mainstream religions and are revered by most Americans.
For our country
As citizens of a democratic republic, we are all responsible for its governance (whether we want that responsibility or not). The BCP in the American version is geared specifically toward the US context (as opposed to the original version that has its roots in England).
We humbly beseech you [your Divine Force of choice] that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of your favor and glad to do your will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in you to fail.
Note the elements that we lift up – privately and in community – that can inspire, bolster and move us to bold action:
- “Will.” What is the will of the Divine Force? We can assume that it is not unjustified violence against our own citizens or other sovereign nations, although we know that the US is seen by many around the world as an Empire (and not only a benign one).
- “Honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners.” Most of us want dignified work (or retirement) that does not exploit ourselves or others and that contributes to the common good. We want education for all of us that is not hampered by inequitable government interference or diminishment of resources. We want all of us to behave toward each other as we would have others behave toward us.
- Very few of us want violence, discord, confusion, pride, arrogance, and evil behavior.
When our leaders (and/or fellow citizens) foment or demonstrate these negatives, we must find constructive ways to combat them. - Liberty is a primary desire in our national psyche; our founding 250 years ago has liberty front and center. Are our current leaders preserving Americans’ liberty/freedom or trying to take it away from us?
- Many of us acknowledge the grievous national “sin” of the invasion of this continent, stealing land that had long been tended by Indigenous peoples, and causing the deaths and suppression of those peoples over many centuries. We also acknowledge the sin of the slave trade. When we pray that our “multitudes” from nationalities all over the world be made into one united people, we are not advocating – as many on the far-right protest – the annihilation or suppression of the “white race” but rather that these “multitudes” have equal seats at the table and have the ability to reach their very highest potential.
- We ask that our elected officials be granted wisdom so that they may know how to govern to lead us to a place of true justice and peace. When those in authority are judged by the governed to not be acting with wisdom or on our behalf, some of the consequences are actions such as massive No Kings marches in all corners of our land.
- This prayer admonishes us to be grateful. The stance of gratitude is an extremely healthy and helpful one, both individually and collectively.
For the nation
The BCP contains a second prayer for our country.
You have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will.
Again we lift our thoughts and voices, with hope and an abiding love for the human race, for justice, the strength of forbearance (that is, the ability to be patient and tolerant in the face of difficulty without seeking retaliation), and the virtuous use of the liberty we have been given.
For the right use of God’s gifts
As a nation, even if we individually are struggling, we have been given so much!
Divine Love, whose hand has given us all that we possess: Grant us grace that we may honor you with our substance, and, remembering the account which we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your bounty.
This is another petition that acknowledges that there are other forces in our lives besides ourselves that sustain us; none of us is a self-sufficient island to whom we owe nothing. When we give back to others, even if we do not pray to any specific God, Force or divinity, we are doing the right thing, including being faithful stewards of all that we have been given. The idea behind the BCP about “remembering the account which we must one day give” may be interpreted in some circles as avoiding a hellish afterlife. However, in paranormal terms, it can be seen as referring to our personal karma, the law of cause and effect, and how we ultimately account for all of our deeds, both good and bad (Abrahamsen, Paranormal, passim, especially 195-98).
For those who influence public opinion
We have become painfully aware of the very concerning trend in our country (if not the world) of the ravages of disinformation – that is, deliberate and dangerous lies that spread like an epidemic through social media and other means in order to serve some nefarious purpose. 
There is a prayer for this!
Divine Force, you proclaim your truth in every age by many voices: Direct, in our time, we pray, those who speak where many listen and write what many read; that they may do their part in making the heart of this people wise, its mind sound, and its will righteous.
A society cannot long survive without truth and facts at its base. Battling lies, disinformation, and unfounded, destructive conspiracy theories that harm millions is an act of righteous courage.
For social justice
Many of us strive routinely, from the depths of our being, for social justice for ourselves and others. The BCP includes two prayers that can bolster this striving.
Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our communities and among the nations.
Grant that your holy and life-giving spirit may so move every human heart, and especially the hearts of the people of this land, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace.
Final thoughts
Prayer is not just something we do in our heads; it is indeed a form of action. But it also balances outward action – often toward works of kindness, or bold strivings for social justice – with a way to recharge our batteries and live in solidarity with others. Prayer is an excellent daily (or at least regular) practice in good times but, one can argue, absolutely essential when life is (or lives are) difficult and close to unbearable.
The universe looks forward to “talking” to us all!
Resources
Abrahamsen, Valerie A. Paranormal: A New Testament Scholar Looks at the Afterlife. Self-published, 2015. Printed by Shires Press, Manchester Center, Vermont.
Bourgeault, Cynthia. Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening. Lanham, MD: Cowley Publications, 2004.
Bourgeault, Cynthia. The Wisdom Jesus: Transforming Heart and Mind – a New Perspective on Christ and His Message. Boston and London: Shambhala Publications, Inc., 2008.
Guenther, Margaret. The Practice of Prayer. Cambridge and Boston, Mass.: Cowley Publications, 1998.
Martin, James, SJ. The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2010.
Norris, Kathleen. Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith. New York: Penguin Putnam Inc., 1998.
Norris, Kathleen. The Cloister Walk. New York: Riverhead Books, 1987.
Norris, Kathleen. The Quotidian Mysteries: Laundry, Liturgy and “Women’s Work.” 1998 Madeleva Lecture in Spirituality. New York and Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1998.
Zaleski, Philip and Carol Zaleski. Prayer: A History. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin and Company, 2005.