How to Use the Power of Prayer by Joseph Murphy book pdf | Published by General Press | Buy from Amazon Books | Paperback Book 9789354994395, 9354994393
Joseph Murphy’s How to Use the Power of Prayer is a spiritual and practical guide that bridges the gap between traditional religious faith and the principles of New Thought philosophy. Building upon the core tenets of his more famous work, The Power of Your Subconscious Mind, Murphy presents prayer not as a mere plea to an external deity, but as a scientific and psychological process for transforming one’s life. The book’s central argument is that every individual possesses a "divine presence" or "Infinite Intelligence" within them, and that effective prayer is the act of aligning one's conscious thoughts and desires with this inner power.
Murphy’s teachings are a departure from conventional notions of prayer as a last resort or an act of begging. Instead, he frames it as a constructive, systematic method for achieving harmony, health, prosperity, and peace. He outlines a series of mental laws that, when understood and applied, can produce tangible results in the material world. The book’s tone is consistently encouraging and empowering, urging readers to take an active role in shaping their reality. It’s a self-help manual disguised as a spiritual text, and its appeal lies in its promise of personal agency and control over one’s circumstances.
The book is structured to lead the reader through a practical journey of spiritual transformation. It begins by establishing the fundamental concept of the subconscious mind as the "garden" where thoughts—both positive and negative—are planted. The conscious mind acts as the "gardener," responsible for selecting the seeds (thoughts and affirmations) that will take root and manifest in one’s life. Murphy emphasizes the importance of a positive mindset and a deep, unwavering conviction in the power of one’s own mind. He provides specific, step-by-step techniques for "scientific prayer," which often involves a relaxed, meditative state, followed by vivid visualization and confident affirmation of the desired outcome. He teaches that doubt and fear are the primary obstacles to successful prayer and that they must be systematically replaced with faith and gratitude.
A key element of Murphy’s philosophy is the idea that the subconscious mind is non-discriminatory; it will accept and manifest any thought or belief, whether it is for good or for ill. This places the onus on the individual to guard their thoughts and emotions vigilantly. He provides practical applications for his prayer methods across various aspects of life, including healing from physical ailments, resolving financial problems, improving relationships, and overcoming worry and fear. For example, he offers a three-step process for healing: acknowledging the divine presence within, practicing sincere forgiveness towards others, and then confidently claiming and accepting the desired healing.
Murphy's writing style is simple, direct, and persuasive, peppered with biblical references and anecdotes of people who have used his methods to achieve remarkable results. He presents his ideas as universal principles that transcend religious dogma, drawing on wisdom from various spiritual traditions. He refers to God as "Infinite Intelligence," "the life principle," or "the living spirit," making his message accessible to a wide audience, regardless of their religious background.
In essence, How to Use the Power of Prayer is a manifesto for a life of intentional creation. It empowers the reader by shifting the focus from a remote, intervening deity to the incredible, untapped potential of their own inner being. Murphy argues that prayer is not about changing God’s will, but about changing one’s own mind to align with the cosmic laws of abundance and harmony. The book serves as a testament to the idea that the human mind, when properly directed and understood, is the most powerful tool for shaping one's destiny and living a life of peace, prosperity, and purpose.
Joseph Murphy was born in Ireland, the son of a private boy's school headmaster and raised a Roman Catholic. He studied for the priesthood and joined the Jesuits. In his twenties, an experience with healing prayer led him to leave the Jesuits and move to the United States, where he became a pharmacist in New York (having a degree in chemistry by that time). Here he attended the Church of the Healing Christ (part of the Church of Divine Science), where Emmet Fox had become minister in 1931. In the mid 1940s, he moved to Los Angeles, where he met Religious Science founder Ernest Holmes, and was ordained into Religious Science by Holmes in 1946, thereafter teaching at the Institute of Religious Science. A meeting with Divine Science Association president Erwin Gregg led to him being reordained into Divine Science, and he became the minister of the Los Angeles Divine Science Church in 1949, which he built into one of the largest New Thought congregations in the country. In the next decade, Murphy married, earned a PhD in psychology from the University of Southern California and started writing. After his first wife died in 1976, he remarried to a fellow Divine Science minister who was his longstanding secretary. He died in 1981.
