There are many characteristics of effective prayer, and one important aspect is that it is unselfish. Prayer that is unselfish is a truly healing influence, and the wonderful thing is that it meets our needs as well as the needs of others.

The first sentence in the first chapter of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy provides helpful guidance on this point. The author, speaking from her own experience as a healer, wrote, “The prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible to God,—a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfed love” (p. 1).

To me, having “unselfed love” doesn’t just mean being unselfish, though that is important. It means that as I pray for myself—as well as when I pray for others—I am willing to exchange a limited, self-oriented, material view of myself or my needs or desires for fresh, more expansive, inspired, spiritual views. I’m reminded of a simple, encouraging fact as I do this: “… whatever blesses one blesses all …” (Science and Health, p. 206).

It’s so worthwhile to take this unselfed approach when faced with a problem, be it physical, financial, or social. Rather than allow it to turn our thought inward, we can see it as an opportunity to enlarge our prayers and include others in our community, and even our nation, in the spiritual truths we are affirming for ourselves. Then we are contributing to the healing of negative, limiting, or frightened thoughts of discord and disease in the world. We can see that these beliefs come to the doorstep of our thought to be healed. 

Through our study of Christian Science, we learn that the power of God, divine Principle, is the intelligence that regulates, governs, provides, and protects each and all, everywhere. This understanding can bring healing and solutions not simply to ourselves, but to all who are in our thoughts and hearts and prayers. Whatever the need is, when we earnestly desire to let the commandments guide us, we can find healing and discover what meets the need. And we naturally feel the benefits of this understanding.

Each and every one of us has an inseparable relationship to God.

We want to live what Christ Jesus called the “great commandment” in the law: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37, 38). We know we love God because we love the good that is of God, such as honesty, goodness, grace, humility, harmony, peace, compassion. Jesus’ ability to express divine Love came from his inseparable relationship to God. As we accept more of God’s love and care for us, we will see and understand that each and every one of us also has an inseparable relationship to God. 

The second part of the commandment, that we love our neighbor as ourself (see verse 39), is a divine demand for our own spiritual progress. For example, when we have a challenge and realize it is a call to pray more deeply than just for our own need, we are loving our neighbor as ourselves. Prayer includes the recognition of the power of divine Truth. Who is left out of the healing effects of this Truth, or of God’s goodness? No one! 

The world feels the effects of prayer. But we need to know this. Prayer that is impelled by an unselfish desire to bring good to humanity is a prayer that can certainly bring healing. We have all undoubtedly been blessed by the unselfish prayers of others.

As we pray today, we can challenge the thought that anyone is vulnerable or subject to what God does not create or know. As we love the Bible, and find comfort in its promises, we can acknowledge that any form of evil is not the reality of man’s being as the loved child of God. Recognizing this, we know our prayers are not just for ourselves but for our community and our world.

We are needed. We are making a difference. Mrs. Eddy reminds us, “The human affections need to be changed from self to benevolence and love for God and man; changed to having but one God and loving Him supremely, and helping our brother man” (Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, p. 50).

When our healing prayers become more generous, they have the ability to heal impositions of mortal belief, whether of sin and disease, or unhappy relationships and financial difficulties, through our spiritual alertness, integrity, and understanding.

Our prayers are not just for ourselves but for our community and our world.

There will always be an opportunity to understand that the law of God, good, is in operation and includes safety and provision for each and every one. Every place we are is a place to pray for our world. 

When I first thought about praying more for the world around me, I would go to a local mall, find a comfortable spot, and handle in my own thought whatever appeared to need prayer. Sometimes it might be a lost little girl or a family that was unhappy. I could always find something to pray about at airports, certainly during flights. We shouldn’t underestimate the effectiveness of our daily, faithful, watchful prayer.

So, let’s love God by loving others more! Such prayer is all-inclusive—no one, not even you or I, is ever left out! Mrs. Eddy assures us, “The inevitable condition whereby to become blessed, is to bless others: …” (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 127).