Unity Bookstore Book Review
Handbook of Positive Prayer by Hypatia Hasbrouck
The author of this book, Hypatia Hasbrouck, had a background in the Unity organization. She was ordained as a Unity minister in 1974 and wrote several books pertaining to spirituality. Handbook of Positive Prayer explores various prayer techniques, giving structured guidelines for the reader to follow.
Many of us who were brought up in conventional churches may have been taught that prayer was a way to beseech God for something that you thought you needed or wanted. A person was often disappointed when it appeared that prayers were not answered. Prayers based on pleading for rescue from negative situations are based on fear that God may withhold his help, or else God may not know what the person needs.
Ms. Hasbrouck points out that the “Law of Mind Action” means that “Thoughts held in mind produce after their kind.” Prayers based on fear of something bad happening can actually cause fear to grow. God is Divine Mind and absolute good. His creations, including us, are meant to manifest only good. However, since we have free will, we will manifest whatever our habitual thoughts are, positive or negative. We cannot escape the results of our own thinking. What we send forth returns to us and is multiplied.
In positive prayer, denials are used to withdraw our attention from the appearance of difficult situations by denying that they have any power over us. We need to focus upon Truth, which is enduring and does not change. Facts change according to our perception and our changing thoughts. Doing affirmations create an environment in harmony with Divine Mind. We need to speak and act as though the positive outcome has already occurred. Positive prayer includes thanking God for already giving us what we truly need, which will manifest because of our union with God.
Ms. Hasbrouck goes into much more detail in her book and provides steps of how to use denials and affirmations to change our perceptions to be in line with the Divine Mind. This book is very helpful in learning how to practice positive prayer.
Handbook of Positive Prayer is available in the Unity Bookstore.
Namaste,
Lisa Madewell