When you are praying or meditating for someone else, do not try to transfer thoughts to him, do not try to know what is right for him or best for him, but sit in a state of complete receptivity, and then let the Father function as your consciousness. You may not receive any message for your patient or student, but you do not need any. He will receive it, and he will receive it not from you, but from the Source of you. Your consciousness acts only as the instrument of contact, and you yourself may never know what the message is, or even whether any message has been received”
― Joel S. Goldsmith

The crucifixion of the self is accomplished when there is nothing left for which you wish to pray. To those unfolding on the spiritual path, come the discordant experiences of human life, until the transition from “this world” has been completely accomplished.
The desire is to avoid or escape these inharmonies of mind, body, or economic affairs – but this cannot be done, since the discords result solely from the battle with Spirit and “the flesh,” that is, with spiritual consciousness and material sense.
To those on the way, harmony in human affairs often is a lack of spiritual awakening; and, therefore, when the battle, leading to the overcoming of “this world” is on, the initiate will remain as quiet as possible under the adverse circumstances, endeavoring to refrain from fighting erroneous conditions and insofar as possible “letting” the warfare go on until the moment of transition arrives.
When your spiritual study is sincere, the breaking-up of your material world –the desertion of friends, students, or family, a change of health or other outer activity — often ushers in the spiritual transition, or rebirth. This is the attainment of that which you have sought. A tremendous movement is taking place as the initiate discerns the difference between physical harmony and spiritual wholeness.
Joel S. Goldsmith
The Infinite Way

Before our enlightenment in truth, we prayed for things and persons; in other words, we sought to gain some personal end. With his great vision, Emerson wrote: “Prayer that craves a particular commodity, anything less than all good, is vicious.” Then this wise man defines prayer for us: “Prayer is the contemplation of the facts of life from the highest point of view. It is the soliloquy of a beholding and jubilant soul. It is the spirit of God pronouncing His works good. . . . As soon as the man is one with God, he will not beg.” Prayer must not be understood as going to God for something because, as Emerson continues, “Prayer as a means to effect a private end is meanness and theft.”
Joel S. Goldsmith
The Infinite Way