Article May 20, 1905 Issue

Prayer and Faith

M. M. HAPER.

Two very closely related commands are, "After this manner therefore pray ye: . . . Thy will be done"; and, "Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is." Many Christians acknowledge that their prayers are, to a grater or less extent, mingled with doubts, occasioned by a belief that perhaps the blessings for which they pray are not intended for them; so, to dispel doubts, the first duty is to understand what the will of God is. Then may we safely offer our prayers without fear of conflicting with this greatest of all prayers, "Not my will, but be be done,"

Many are the Scriptural passages which indicate the need of gaining spiritual understanding. As a reproof came the Master's query, "Are ye also yet without understanding?" The will of the mortal leads to selfishness, sickness, sin: God's will to none of these, — He willeth "to do of his good pleasure." His "good pleasure" is ever to create and maintain all things good and perfect, like Himself. So long as we do not know whether our prayer is in accord with His will, doubts must necessarily intervene and hinder. Taking Jesus' example, and the chart which he left his disciples, Christian Science teaches that it is God's will, in all cases, that all which is unlike Divinity be destroyed through the prayer of spiritual sense. The thought that knows His will, destroys all fear and doubt.

"Why are there so many unanswered prayers?" ask some bewildered petitioners. "Is it because God does not consider consider it best always to grant that for which we ask?" Let us seek the answer in the Scriptures and not from any catalogue of human opinions. In Isaiah we read, "The Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear." This refers both to God's power and willingness; He is not unwilling, neighter does He turn a deaf ear. Beyond question, if we were not guided by unerring Principle, we would often ask for unnecessary and injurious things; but he who is governed by that Mind "which was also in Christ Jesus," is necessarily directed by divine Principle, and cannot ask amiss. When afraid of asking amiss, one's first prayer should be, "Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law," and then, through the study of the Word, "I will pray with the Spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also."

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Prayer and Faith

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access