Editorial December 4, 1926 Issue

"Desire is prayer"

Ella W. Hoag

In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 1) Mrs. Eddy has stated concisely that "desire is prayer." Just what constitutes such desire must, however, be discerned before the richness of this statement can be fully understood, its importance realized, and its beauty demonstrated.

Rarely do men comprehend how greatly their desires influence their lives. They do not often stop to consider that as one "thinketh in his heart, so is he;" or that their desires are very apt to pursue the way of their human inclinations. It is, however, of great moment that men should awaken to these facts, else they will allow their wishes to run riot, carrying them hither and yon through what may prove to be but an aimless existence. Without earnest consideration of desires, without such analysis of them as reveals their exact nature, their origin, and the results which must follow from them, men are left all unprotected from the disastrous effects of being controlled by mistaken or wrong purposes.

When Christian Science comes telling us that "desire is prayer," it begins to arouse us to recognize that no desire should ever be cherished which is not based on an understanding of Truth and its immutable laws, obedience to which always results in good and in good only. At this point Christian Science presents a sure safeguard; and Mrs. Eddy's further illumination of the subject, when she goes on to say that "no loss can occur from trusting God with our desires, that they may be moulded and exalted before they take form in words and in deeds," is valuable to the Christian Scientist beyond power to estimate.

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