Posted by Nick Stone (210.14.209.159) on December 19, 2002 at 09:01:18:

In Reply to: Re: Rejecting an active, promiscuous Gay Man from our home posted by Mike on December 16, 2002 at 02:15:10:

Hi Mike,

I know the passage you talking about. It is also in my Indian Baha'i prayer book which I can show you when you visit me.

It's in the category of pilgrims' notes.

Dynamics of Prayer.

While in Haifa, the beloved Guardian of the Cause gave to the writer (Mrs Ruth Moffat), the most concise, complete, and effective formula she has ever seen, for the Dynamics of Prayer. After saying to stress the need of more prayers and meditation among the friends, he said to use these five steps if we had a problem of any kind for which we desired a solution or wished help.

First Step. - Pray and meditate about it. Use the prayers of the
Manifestations as they have the greatest power. Then remain in the silence of contemplation for a few minutes.

Second Step. - Arrive at a decision and hold this. This decision
is usually born during the contemplation. It may seem almost
impossible of accomplishment but if it seems to be as answer to a prayer or a way of solving the problem, then immediately take the next step.

Third Step. - Have determination to carry the decision through.
Many fail here. The decision, budding into determination, is blighted
and instead becomes a wish or a vague longing. When determination is
born, immediately take the next step. Ê91Ê

Fourth Step. - Have faith and confidence that the power will
flow through you, the right way will appear, the door will open, the
right thought, the right message, the right principle or the right
book will be given you. Have confidence, and the right thing will
come to your need. Then, as you rise from prayer, take at once the
fifth step.

Fifth Step. - Then, he said, lastly, ACT; Act as though it had
all been answered. Then act with tireless, ceaseless energy. And as
you act, you, yourself, will become a magnet, which will attract
more power to your being, until you become an unobstructed channel
for the Divine power to flow through you. Many pray but do not
remain for the last half of the first step. Some who meditate arrive at a decision, but fail to hold it. Few have the determination to
carry the decision through, still fewer have the confidence that the
right thing will come to their need. But how many remember to act as
though it had all been answered? How true are those words - ãGreater
than the prayer is the spirit in which it is utteredä and greater
than the way it is uttered is the spirit in which it is carried out.

The above statement belongs properly to the class of statement known as ãpilgrimâs notesä and as such as no authority but, since it seems to be particularly helpful and clear, it was felt that believers should not be deprived of it.

(b) Selected Statements and Special Documents Prepared by the National Spiritual Assembly

(Compilations, Principles of Bahai Administration, p. 90)

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