Article October 4, 1924 Issue

Consistent Prayer

HELEN GENEVIEVE MEST

Every sincere student who seeks an understanding of the truth in Christian Science learns early in his study of the Bible and of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, that he must attain to that spiritual understanding of prayer which fulfills only the divine will. Mrs. Eddy tells us (Science and Health, p. 9) that "consistent prayer is the desire to do right," and the Scriptures admonish us to "pray without ceasing." Therefore, we realize that it is possible for us to "pray without ceasing" if our constant desire is to do right; and just to the extent that our prayer is for divine guidance in our daily walk, our prayer is answered.

We must, in the words of Paul, bring "into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." If we have the Mind of Christ, allowing only the pure and true to enter our consciousness, then are we able to realize our divine sonship and become receptive to the good which is ours. For God, who is all good, knows only good for His children; and our duty is to live as He would have us. If we are to pray consistently, therefore, it is quite evident that our prayer must be that of right desire, because only such prayer is heard of the Father. Praying thus, and continuing steadfast in our faith, knowing the all-presence and all-power of God, we may confidently expect that our prayer will be answered; for the promise reads, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

We may rejoice in this knowledge even when the hour seems to be darkest,—rejoice because we have the blessed assurance that as we commit our way to God and overcome the false suggestion that there is a mind opposed to God, good, the light of Truth will surely be revealed to us, and we shall be able to reflect the divine Mind in all our activities, thereby gaining release from the bondage of human thinking and planning. And what a release it is, to be enabled to proceed fearlessly with each daily task, knowing that as we yield our will to the divine, trusting to God's guidance, we shall be directed aright in our every act and protected and sustained in His love.

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