The Law of Prayer is the Law of Belief

Lex Orando, Lex Credendi can be translated as “The law of Prayer is the law of belief.”

As I heard one person explain it, “How we pray is what we believe. Episcopal and Anglican belief is grounded in the way that we pray and worship together.

Two Kinds of Faith

There are two kinds of faith. First is trust in a person. The second is belief in a truth claim. A belief, then, is a claim that is accepted as truth, which then becomes a rule of action. As James tells us, “faith without works is also dead” (Jam. 2:26).

But there are many credences or things we agree with, but which don’t impact our actions. There are not really beliefs, though we usually call them that. But it would be more accurate to call it memtal assent.

Prayer Changes Us

Because prayer is deeper, or should be deeper, than mere agreement, it changes us. It get behind the filters, and walls, and even prejudices. Prayer changes us.

And it is grom this inner relationship with God that our true convictions should arose. Meeting God is transformative. “The law of Prayer is the law of belief.”

Right Thinking

A further thought comes to mind. Related to this is another truth. As Peter A. Giersch put it, “We do not think ourselves into right action as much as we act ourselves into right thinking.”

Prayer is an action, a practice that we do. And what we do has an effect on our thinking. And belief is accepting a claim as true. It is the cooperation of thought and will. Thought is the claim, will is the accepting of that claim as true.

Published by

Jay Forrest

Dr. Jay N. Forrest is an Ordained Interfaith Minister and Certified Meditation Teacher who guides others on the Mystic Way through contemplative teaching and interspiritual insight.Since becoming a Christian in 1983 and earning his Doctorate in Ministry, Jay has served within a rich range of Christian traditions—including Pentecostal, Charismatic, Baptist, Methodist, and Liberal Catholic churches—and provided compassionate care as a Hospice Chaplain.His journey has also led him through catechism studies with the Orthodox Church in America, minor orders in the Liberal Catholic Church, and over two decades of Buddhist study and practice. His path is one of depth, integration, and a lifelong dedication to the transformative power of spiritual practice.



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