Service with the Heart

Author’s Preface

The essential purpose of the Seven Universal Commandments is the rectification of our world—to establish within it truth, justice, and order among individuals, families, and entire nations. As it is said: “Thus says the Lord, the Creator of the heavens—He is God, the Maker of the earth, who formed it and established it; He did not create it for chaos, but formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord, and there is none else.”
Moreover, on a personal level, when a person looks deeply within himself, these Seven Commandments of the descendants of Noah allow each individual to perceive his own unique mission—the purpose for which the Almighty created him. The search for this purpose is itself a blessing from the Almighty, and proper conduct connects a person with his Creator.
This faith and awareness require constant expression. This is the obligation of prayer.

Prayer—and this is the duty of every believing person—constantly reminds him of his connection with the Creator. Its central element is the supplication for the fulfillment of essential needs, both spiritual and material, beginning with the most fundamental.
Spiritual needs include the search for answers to the essential questions of existence: “Who am I?”, “Why do I exist?”, “What is my mission in life, my purpose in this world?”, and “How am I fulfilling it?”

Material needs reflect the full recognition that everything is in the hands of Heaven, that the Creator personally watches over every element of existence and provides all that is necessary for everyone, always and continually.
The significance of prayer lies in the fact that it gives a person the opportunity to express himself before God, to speak with Him. It deepens one’s relationship with the Almighty, making it more intimate and sincere, bringing it closer to one’s inner feelings and rendering it more truthful.
Prayer strengthens faith in the Almighty, and it is the best way for any person to fulfill the commandment of faith in God. For faith is not only in the heart, but also in one’s constant thoughts, speech, and actions. True faith is expressed in all aspects of a person’s life. In essence, one must live by faith.
In prayer, a person not only expresses faith in God by pouring out the concerns and needs of the heart, but also thanks Him for all the goodness with which He has blessed us. Moreover, through prayer a person entrusts himself into the hands of the Almighty and connects with Him through words, devotion, and by turning his heart toward Him.

Prayer is a special time for meditation and reflection on God—on His greatness, His goodness, and His other attributes—through which each person may walk in humility along the unique paths of the Almighty.