Response 6: Dr. of Spirituality
Denise L. Graves
 1.       What is meant by the concept communication and creation are synonymous?
This concept implies that communication and creation are interchangeable, that each produces the same outcome.  The Course states that: Because Father and Son are one, undivided self, the communication they share is perfectly united and perfectly understood.  It needs no translation because nothing comes in between God and Son that could ever distort their communication. It also makes no request because God and Son are already perfect, pure and abundant.  They have no needs.
This seamless communication stream creates as it communicates. The world and humankind were made in the mind of God in the same fashion, God thought and substance appeared, creation.  Prayer is creative.  It is a worldly label for how we communicate with God.  As expressions of God, we the sisters and brothers of Jesus have the same option of experiencing the seamless concord of love with God. Since prayer begins with God and not with us and we are a manifestation of the thought of God, then God is always communicating with us.  God is always making Its intention known though humankind.  Our challenge is to move through the illusions and return to love.  In this practice of prayer, we will sing the song of loving thanksgiving as Jesus did with God. We, the created will agree with the divine plan and will of God. We, the created will hear, remember and say “yes and amen” to the intention of God. Thusly, the good intended by God becomes manifest because of the reciprocal relationship between the creator and us, the created.  This single harmonious voice is endless.  It is connected by love and extends throughout eternity.  At no time is the relationship of communing and creating not present.  What keeps us from experiencing the good of it is our inability to attune ourselves the truth about our perfection, pureness and abundance, consequently we historically prayed to get a “Need” fulfilled.  This practice of prayer is not in agreement with the truth God knows about each of us.
2.       The definition of prayer to a friend.
According to the Course; True prayer is communion for the sake of sharing mutual love and thanksgiving. It acknowledges what has already been given and accepts what already is. It is not about asking for things such as cars, houses, clothes, jewelry ,vacations, furniture, the lottery; removable from bad situations, harm to others, validation from some false accusation, acquisition of positions, attracting friends and/or spouses.  The absence of these is not the real problem.  The real problem is the lack of love.
The Course says; we would rather see that these problems originate outside of us and that the circumstances and people who caused the problem are out of our control.  In reality, we have the power to choose these problems and we do.  As we allow these problems to remain, become complex, overwhelm us and make us impotent; we remain separate, living in a lack of love and unforgiveness state. Consequently, what happens when we ask God to provide things, opportunities, positions and or vindication, we are telling God what to do. This is a usurpation of the authority of God and binds us to our problems. 
God knows we do not know what the best solution to our problems is outside of love, thanksgiving and forgiveness. We do not know the ramifications of our requests. True prayer recognizes our ignorance.  That is why the Holy Spirit is present for us.  We have the opportunity to forget the things we need. When we ask to be shown the real problem and surrender to the Holy Spirit, all we have to do is wait for the real answer.

3.        What is true prayer to person praying for a spouse?
True prayer is asking for God’s answer regarding the desire for a spouse.  It is a stepping aside; a letting go, a quite time of listening and loving.  It is realizing that you need nothing.  Everything you need is already provided.  God has already granted us Gods’ happiness, all of Gods’ love, joy and peace.  Since God made each of us out of these things, they already exist in us.  What is the request for spouse about? If it is about love, then God gives us the wherewithal to draw it to ourselves.  If it is about separation, then God through the Holy Spirit  reminds us our oneness with God.  True prayer is actually a way of asking for help to remove all the obstacles that prevent us from realizing the happiness, love, joy and peace that is already ours.
How could a Son of God need anything?  As offspring of God we already possess of all of Gods’ fullness.  We have no needs of any kind. Our true prayers are songs of thanksgiving for what we already are and already have.  Prayer asks for nothing and receives everything.
Dear God,
You are the source of my life.  I have every good you intended.  I am grateful for love, joy, peace, happiness, companionship, abundance and all the good given to every offspring.  There is nothing in the way of my receiving my good.  Please show me what is present in my life that blocks me from remembering that my good that already exists.  Thank you for the opportunity to hear from you and experience your many gifts.  I surrender this lack of love, happiness, and forgiveness to the Holy Spirit and wait patiently for your reminding answer.