No matter how difficult your problem, you can release spiritual power to solve it. Here's how:

There are generally speaking, three ways to get what you want and need:

by work
by thought
by prayer.

The first two are used everyday. The third is greatly neglected.

Why? Probably because work and thought are common, everyday things, while prayer is associated with something different. It has been made a sort of Sunday-go-to-gurudwara thing, remote from our daily lives. This elimination of prayer factor from man's experience is a tragic omission. Greater strength may be generated by prayers than by the thoughts of brain or the work of the hands. Alexis Carrel, a leading scientist, pointed out that the powerful form of energy one can generate is not mechanical, electronic, or even atomic, but prayer.

To be efficient in prayer, you must learn the art of praying. The first step is JUST TO PRAY. You can read every book ever written about prayer, and you can attend innumerable discussions on prayers, but the only way to learn to pray is TO PRAY. It is the general rule to learning; that is, if you want to learn something, if you really want to master something, you have to practice. Similarly, if you want to analyze praying, first start praying.

How much time each day do you spend in prayer? I have asked that question of many people and have arrived at the conclusion that about five minutes per day is the probable average. Some pray more than that; some less-most people probably less.

Here is a little exercise in arithmetic. The average person is awake about 16 hours a day. That means he has 960 minutes at his disposal. If he uses only five minutes to pray, it means that he is praying only one-half or one percent of his waking hours. Raise the daily percentage of time you spend in prayer if you expect to experience its power.

Alex Carrel also stated: "When we pray, we link ourselves with the inexhaustible power that binds the universe. Pray everywhere; in the street, in the subway, in the office, the shop, the school, as well as in the solitude of one's own room. TRUE PRAYER IS A WAY OF LIFE.

A practical plan is to utilize spare moments that would otherwise be aimless. Make your prayers simple. If you are sitting at your desk and you do not know what to do about some matter, do not ask your co-worker for help, because he or she may know, either; but call in a greater partner. Merely say, "Waheguru, I am stuck with this problem. You know more about this business than I do; tell me what to do." If your fears and anxieties are heavy, talk to God about them in simple fashion. Then do your best and leave the rest to God. Quit worrying. God's love will protect and defend you. Trust God, work hard, think straight, and things will come out right. We need to recognize that prayer is a simple thing. People who practice the simple techniques of prayer secure guidance to an unusual degree. They are directed in their activities by an invisible but definite power. In meeting situations and in dealing with people, they acquire remarkable skill. There is not anything magical in prayer, but it is certain that insights and illuminations are given to people who habitually practice an attitude in prayer, through which they receive divine guidance. Yield your mind with its problems to an attitude of prayer. Be willing to accept, not what you want or what you think ought to be, but affirm that you will be led in the solution of your problem. The result will be that, over time, you will see a pattern that you, yourself, did not conceive.

Whatever your problem, no matter how difficult, you can release spiritual power sufficient to solve it. The secret is, pray and believe. This may be difficult, but do it nevertheless. Simply believe in that Waheguru will give His power to you and mentally yield yourself to it. The secret is faith. The only struggle it urges you to exert is the effort to believe. When you have done so, you become a channel through which power flows. You then have all the strength you will need.

Here are ten rules for saying your prayers. They have proved to be an effective discipline.

Set aside a few minutes to be alone and quiet. Relax body, mind, and spirit by turning the thoughts away from problems and fixing the mind on Waheguru. Think about Waheguru in the way that is most natural.
Talk to Waheguru in a simple manner, telling how anything is on your mind. Do not use formal words or phrases. Talk to Waheguru in your own language. He will understand.
Practice talking to Waheguru as you go about the business of the day. On the subway or bus, or at your desk, close your eyes for a moment to shut out the world and have a word or two with Waheguru. This will give you a sense of Waheguru's nearness.
Affirm that Waheguru is with you and helping you. Affirm that He is blessing you.
Pray with the thought that your prayers surround your loved ones with Waheguru's love and care.
Think only positive thoughts when you pray.
State in your prayer that you are ready to accept Waheguru's will. Ask for what you want, but express your willingness to take what Waheguru wants.
Put everything into Waheguru's hands. Pray for strength to do your best, and confidently leave the rest to Waheguru.
Say a word of prayer for people who do not like you or have treated you badly. This will help them and release tremendous power in you.
Daily, pray for this troubled world, and for lasting peace. Then believe that your prayers will be answered.

Let Us Pray Together.

What an amazing thing it is when someone says, "let us pray." It is not just an invitation or a formal exercise of devotion, it is the suggestion that we can actually make contact with Waheguru. It means we can put aside all distressing thoughts and get into harmony with the eternal Waheguru. If you have any problem, a need, or a difficulty, open your mind with intensity, for your situation can be healed, handled, corrected, and empowered.