How To Pray Without Talking to God: Moment by Moment, Choice by Choice

by Linda Martella-Whitsett

Unity minister Linda Martella-Whitsett provides a new framework for thinking about prayer that will revolutionize the lives of readers everywhere. The good news here is that you can pray without believing God; that you can have a rich and fulfilling spiritual practice without adhering to a set of creeds or dogmas. She encourages seekers to look within, rather than outside themselves for a God in the sky, for the spark of the divine that is at the core of their being. How to Pray Without Talking to God shows how to develop a true spiritual practice re-forming the words of traditional prayers; cultivating a habit of daily prayer and meditation; learning how to pray with others. How To Pray Without Talking To God is filled with the author's stories of her own evolving understanding of God. Each chapter includes a section called "Talk to Yourself" that poses questions for readers to write about or share in a study circle.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction

166 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2011

Reviews

[Tim Larison · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw the initial response James Twyman’s “Best Spiritual Author Competition” I was not impressed. It seems author after author came out of the woodwork on the web with promos saying “vote for me! pick my book!”. I was in a class at my church where one aspiring writer was upset with the minister teaching the course. The instructor would not allow the author to solicit for votes for his book during class time. “Is this competition just a popularity contest?” I wondered. Will the winner be the more skilled in campaigning rather than spiritual insights?

Much to my surprise a true gem of a book came out the winner of the “spiritual author” competition – “How to Pray Without Talking to God: moment by moment, choice by choice” by Linda Martella-Whitsett.

“Perhaps you, like countless others, are leaving your church, temple, synagogue, or mosque in disillusionment,” Martella-Whitsett writes early in her book. “Maybe you are filled with knowledge based upon your religion’s teachings about god, all the while longing to experience god. Maybe you are ready for a concept of god that is unconfined by dogma and an experience of god that is intimate as well as expansive.” These words spoke to me, having been raised with traditional Christian doctrine where my actual experiences of God were rare. It was not until I looked beyond doctrine where I connected to the unconditional love of Spirit.

How to Pray Without Talking to God emphasizes affirmative prayer to get in touch with the Spirit within – what Martella-Whitsett calls our “Divine Identity”. Instead of pleading to a God “out there”, true prayer is “to claim and assert our Divine Identity so that we can live more fully from it,” she writes. This is different than expecting God to change other people or circumstances to our liking.

The type of prayer promoted in Martella-Whitsett’s book will give you peace in any circumstance. Some realizations I have come to independently were confirmed in reading the book. Martella-Whitsett has the gift of explaining sometimes difficult to grasp spiritual truths in understandable language.

And for all those disappointed writers who failed to win the “Best Spiritual Author” competition – read this book to be reminded again of who you really are. As an aspiring writer myself I need to remember, also, that whether my words resonate with people in the end really doesn’t matter. I don’t need to be a successful author to be somebody in the World. I already am somebody! “Realization occurs when truth becomes real to you, no longer theoretical. You get it!” Martella-Whitsett writes. “Whereas before you believed it, now you know it. It doesn’t matter whether anyone else knows it or whether you have seen its manifestation. You now live into this truth.”

[Persephone · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the clearest and most understandable explanation and guide to affirmative prayer ("the practice of realizing, affirming, and then being the living Word" p. 55) I've seen so far. Some of the language is pretty specific to New Thought/metaphysical teachings/traditions, but I think people unfamiliar would still enjoy and find this book incredibly useful.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

For someone that struggles with organized religion, this works well for me in my spiritual practice.

A clear, wise, and empowering book. One that furthers the understanding that I am the creator of my experience, and a helpful reference to further develop the wholeness of my being.

[Fred Kohn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found the title intriguing, but this book wasn't for me. As someone outside the Unity movement I found little to relate to. Everything was variants of "I recognize the divinity in me".

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better with third reading. 4.5

[Geraldine Amaral Hodson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very uplifting and well written.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous book with powerful content and relatable stories.

[Craftyrose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Practical advice for me.

[Liesl · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author drives home the point that the Divine resides within us and is not a super being judging us. However I like to believe that there is a power greater than me acting in me, through me and as me. I still call upon an external universal power when I've lost things or are at my wits end or when I give thanks.

[Marianna]

A little too new-agey for me.

[Dorothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. Definitely gives you a different thought processes on pray.

[Martine · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those who have disconnected with church, this book may appeal to you. Read to find out why. Personally, I was hooked in the beginning with a favorite Bible quote from Corinthians. This book resonated with my own thoughts. It focuses on spirituality and the practice of affirmative prayers. I thought I practiced affirmative prayers until I read Martell-Whitsett's examples.