Prayer: Our Path to Divine Connection and Self-Refinement

Prayer is our means of connection. By speaking to G-d he sees we want a relationship with him and he comes to help us. We can all turn our hearts to the heavens and say, “Hashem Master of all creation, please help me refine my character traits so I can cleave to you. I know you want us to have no separation it is my lack of perfection that is causing the problem please help me my mighty King, I don’t have the strength or inner knowledge to know how to refine myself please give me direction. I know the evil forces are tremendous I only stand a chance at winning this battle with your aid and guidance. The Yesod Ve’Shoresh Ha’Avoda quotes: “In regards to what you feel with the evil desire fueling you to commit any specific sin continuously,

If it was not for my prayers from the inner chambers of my heart, especially in the prayer of ‘Hashivenu’ [one of the nineteen prayers that make up the Amida prayer], I would not be able to receive the help from the Holy One Blessed Be He in order to purify myself from the work of perfection of

Covered by conscious awareness these inner forces drive a man towards lust and unwanted desires. He is simply unaware of how these forces are controlling and causing unneeded havoc in his life. These unseen forces drag him through every moment throughout his life and create a constant state of tension clothed as the will and physical desires. When tension from these unseen pressures ignites we all fall into the ancient old decrepit hand of anger. Naturally our behavior is balanced and predictable but when anger rears its ugly head we lose all control and composure. This unbridled force is obvious with our extreme change in facial expressions, tone of voice and (G-d forbid) violence. Unfortunately self-control is foreign thought at this point. Rabbenu Yonah on the Mishnah from Pirkei Avot states, “Do not be easy to anger.” A wise person sees his surroundings and protects himself from their influence. He slowly builds defenses to control his inner life. He creates a stable “safe haven” before any outside turbulence can knock him off keel. Even when anger is appropriate these defense mechanisms protect against its full