“Avoid praying much for yourself; pray more for the spiritual progress of your brethren. Avoid materialistic praying; pray in the spirit and for the abundance of the gifts of the spirit.” 146:2.10 (1639.5)
Prayer is often approached as a means of obtaining relief from difficulties or acquiring desired outcomes. While it is natural to bring personal needs before God, Jesus consistently directed attention toward a higher purpose in prayer. Rather than centering our petitions upon ourselves and our material concerns, he encouraged a broader and more spiritual outlook—one that seeks the welfare, growth, and enlightenment of others. Such prayer expands the heart and aligns the individual more closely with divine purposes.
When we pray for the spiritual progress of our brothers and sisters, we participate in the ministry of love that lies at the heart of true religion. These prayers transcend personal interests and express a genuine desire for the growth, peace, wisdom, and well-being of others. They cultivate compassion, strengthen fellowship, and remind us that we are all fellow travelers on the journey toward God. In praying for others, we often find that our own souls are enriched and transformed.
Likewise, the highest treasures we can seek are not material possessions or temporary advantages, but the gifts of the spirit. Wisdom, courage, patience, understanding, faith, love, mercy, and inner peace possess a lasting value that no earthly circumstance can diminish. As prayer becomes increasingly focused on these spiritual realities, it elevates the soul beyond immediate concerns and opens the personality to the abundance of divine life flowing from the Father.