United Prayers Across America
A National Prayer Project to Awaken the Sleeping Giant

Conference Call #17

Faith in Prayer

Anne Edwards

April 10, 2006

Good evening everyone. Thanks to each of you for being here.

When I first learned that Jesus had asked Philip to organize people to pray to "Awaken the Sleeping Giant" of America, I was grateful to at last be able to do something about the plight of the world. I had prayed for the world before, and even visualized the earth in light many times, but I did not have real confidence that my little prayers were effective. Participating in this project has made me part of something larger than myself, giving me precious energy and validation that my prayers can make a difference. I now feel that my previous inclination to visualize the world in light was truly inspired by heaven.

I want to share a quote from a favorite book, The Prophet, by Kahlil Gibran:

"When you love, you should not say, ‘God is in my heart, but rather, I am in the heart of God.’ And think not that you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course."

I often think of Paul’s experience on the road to Damascus, where he heard the voice of Jesus speaking to him after being literally blinded by a bright light. He might have thought that he was going mad and turned to healers of his day. He might have shared this life-changing experience only with his closest associates or with his children and grandchildren. But, as we all know, he didn’t make those choices. Instead of using his experience simply to enhance a sense of God in his heart, he understood that he was in the heart of God, and he allowed his course to be directed by love. He responded to his vision by becoming the chief apostle of Christianity—the person who shaped the early Christian movement and influenced the direction of Christianity for all time.

Philip, too, had an extraordinary spiritual encounter with Jesus. He, too, could have kept this experience to himself, lacking confidence that it was truth, or choosing to share it only with family and friends. Instead, he searched deeply for spiritual confirmation and, when convinced that he had received a precious God-given message, he acted. The process Philip followed is an example of integrity, humility, and obedience. He emulated Paul’s faith in letting his course be directed by love. He did what he could to serve heaven and earth by sharing his experience with as many people as possible.

I immediately benefited from Philip’s willingness to take the risk of making a maximum effort. I am no longer alone. I can trust that our prayers are effective and can change the world and history from an eternal point of view. I believe that our prayers can reach heaven and all people of the earth, through all time. In praying this prayer, we are turning inward to where everything exists, and we are allowing ourselves to be vehicles for amplifying the flow of God’s love into the world.

As we pray, we experience the truth of another teaching from The Prophet:

"And what is prayer but the expansion of yourself into the living ether?"

Anne has a master’s degree in social work and has worked as a high school English teacher, a licensed clinical social worker, and an adjunct faculty member at the Virginia Commonwealth University Graduate School of Social Work. Anne retired in 2005 after 22 years as director of the Area Agency on Aging in Loudoun County, Virginia. During her career in aging, Anne served as an advocate for residents of long term care facilities and helped to develop senior centers, adult day care centers, home delivered meals, transportation services, and referral services for older adults and their families.

Anne was raised as a mainstream Christian and continued her spiritual search through Eastern religions and organized efforts to re-connect humanity with God. For the last two decades, she has searched through meditation, journalling, reading, and discussions with other seekers. She has received great assistance from spiritual guides and teachers through Philip Burley’s mediumship and her own increasing sensitivity.

After raising two sons in Virginia, Anne and her husband George are pleased to make their home in Surprise, Arizona, where they enjoy walking, traveling, and gathering with friends.