What is a popular delusion?

You think it is not permissible to pray for worldly objects, but this is a popular delusion—

Pray for help whenever you want it, let the object be what it may, but not if it is an evil object. 

In the latter case, prayer is certainly undesirable, for it is the cause of attracting to you spirits who will aid you in accomplishing your purpose perhaps, but they will only increase your unhappiness afterwards, for if you have strong willpower, you are tempting them. 

On the other hand, if you pray for a good object, you benefit the spirits whom you draw around you. 

It is good for you to help others, and in helping, you help yourself. Thus, you see, prayer is a spiritual force, which you can put in operation if you have willpower enough. 

Prayer is a spiritual force, which you can put in operation if you have willpower enough. 

It is not necessary before you can be helped, but it is advisable because although spirit friends can read your thoughts and understand your wants, you lose the aid of many others who cannot read your thoughts but who would be attracted to you by your prayers and would help you if they knew you wanted help. 

If, however, you never pray, they do not know of your needs and do not help you. 

Prayer is, therefore, something like advertising your wants in the newspapers. All spirits do not see them, it is true, but those who can help you are made aware of your needs and are able to assist you. 

You should, of course, prayer to God, not to spirits. He permits spirits to execute His decrees. 

You may not know that this is the case because you do not see God, but you live under His laws and nothing can happen contrary to His laws; consequently, whatever is done must be done by Divine sanction, and to Him your prayers should be addressed. 

You can address your prayers to spirits if you like, but it comes to the same thing. 

You call on the spirit of God, which dwells in their souls—as in yours—to help you, and that spirit responds to your call. There is, therefore, no disgrace in asking help from spirits.