Written by:

Frank Sisco, 30 Mill Road, New Rochelle, NY 10804

Home office - 914.740.4422, Cell - 914.589.1013; Email – ideasmoney@aol.com

www.LifeAndMoney.com

Word count = 1,197 words plus 61 words for About the Author)

Did you ever pray to God, or whatever term you use for a "higher power," for financial help?   Maybe one night lying in bed you wished very deeply, almost pleadingly, for a solution to a serious   financial mess you found yourself in that put the financial security of your family in jeopardy.   Or perhaps it was in a fleeting manner you asked for divine help in making that month's payments for your home mortgage to the bank, or health insurance premiums to the insurance company, or tuition to your children's college.   Or maybe you prayed that the money issues surrounding a pending divorce or a recent death would be resolved, and in a hurry.

Some people have told me they believe that God acts directly and personally, and answers our requests - at least sometimes.   Bruce Wilkinson claimed in his book called "The Prayer of Jabez" a few years ago that a certain prayer could reap financial benefits.    Others theorize that the universe picks up on their prayers and pleas, processes the requests, and in turn fulfills them, sort of like the principles I understand are written about in "The Secret," the popular best-seller by Rhonda Byrne.   And there are people who adamantly oppose such thinking, either out of atheism or out of their belief that a higher power if one exists would not get involved in such trivial details of our personal finances or would not want to mix spirituality with money.   Start a conversation about these topics in a group of people you know, and you may be surprised about their views and about how much they differ.

Of course, I don't have answers for you on exactly how financial praying works, but I do believe sincerely that it has worked in my own life.   And because it has worked so often, I have incorporated it as part of my being.   In my particular case, the way it works is that I pray for God's help about a serious financial matter (usually involving not just myself but also loved ones, friends or even clients) and the prayers are often answered, and fairly quickly.   In my own case, my requests to the higher power occur mainly through Jesus Christ to whom I pray.   I realize that it is possible that Christ could have been just a man, not divine and not an alive force in our lives, and, moreover, that the happenings I perceive as answers are merely coincidental or just wishful thinking on my part.   I realize that it is possible my praying may actually be an intense form of intention and that my faith that God will resolve a financial issue for me then affects me subconsciously so that I take steps to resolve the issue, marshalling whatever resources are needed to do so, including the help of others.   And yes I realize that the prayer/answer process may actually have a scientific basis (e.g. collective telepathy) and not a spiritual basis.   But I say, who cares about the various possible reasons and rationalities?   If financial praying works for me and it makes me happy to believe that there is a God whom I can call on for help when I'm in need, then who is to say I'm wrong.   More importantly, my sharing of my thinking and experiences with you may either provide you with more comfort if you hold a similar view or possibly persuade you to be more accepting about the power of prayer in financial matters.   After all, getting financial help in this way may not only be more significant to your financial well being than your current financial planning but also may lead to more richness in your emotional and spiritual well being.   Isn't your true net worth made up mainly of the nonfinancial aspects of your life?  

I think faith and a belief in prayers being answered, coupled with a belief that God often works through people as God's agent in effecting change, can lead to a better life, especially in helping to fit together the often disparate pieces of one's life into a beautiful appreciated puzzle, one with meaning, purpose and potential.   And from this new, or renewed, better state of being, "magic" can then happen. Even answers to requests related to finances. Put another way, you can put more money and more God into your life by sharing yourself with others.  

During my life, I have been helped by my financial praying numerous times.   I have detailed several experiences in my forthcoming book "Dollars from Heaven" which is being self-published through AuthorHouse.   Although your own experiences may be even more extraordinary, I felt several of mine were so amazing they profoundly fortified my faith.   In future articles, I'll explain the details about these examples including:   (1) I prayed nine years ago for resolution of a temporary cash crisis and two days later a prior client I had not talked with for years called me out-of-the-blue and requested special work that led to my receiving fees of $5,000 the next day, $35,000 within 10 days and $40,000 within several weeks, all based on a fee-method that was quite different than my usual method, and the amounts were more substantial than my customary fees (2) Ten years ago I prayed for a solution to get through a period of heavy debt and reduced income related to a business change and, within one week, a helping organization guided me to develop a remarkable plan that worked wonders and solved the situation and (3) One night six years ago I was distraught about a financial matter and prayed fervently.   The very next day someone I knew, but who was completely unfamiliar with the matter or with the state of my finances, answered it by naming me as a beneficiary on a trust. In the last few years, I've come to realize that many of the other answers I have received throughout my life I did not even realize at the time.   Now, I more clearly understand that often I receive answers to prayers for financial help in the form of good ideas for new products and services and improved ways of doing business, and that these innovative ideas are not distractions or unimportant imaginings but rather are worthwhile creations that could have important financial rewards and other benefits in my life and in the lives of others.

The famous New Testament quote "Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you" is not a f anciful dream but rather is indeed a real working principle.   Furthermore, I believe that if you involve other people in your quest for a solution, then you allow for God (or the universe or divine energy or whatever you want to call it) to work through those people, multiplying the resources that could help you.   And through your sharing with others, you help to center and balance your life - financially, emotionally and spiritually.

If you want me to include your views and experiences in future articles, please email them to me.   The sharing could very well lead to answers you are praying for.

About the author:

Frank Sisco is a CPA and Personal Financial Specialist and writes on topics related to life and money.   You can contact Frank by email at ideasmoney@aol.com or by phone at 914.589.1013 in order to express your opinion about this article or to obtain copies of prior articles.   He resides in New Rochelle, NY with his wife and daughter.