Article June 26, 1926 Issue

Learning to Pray Aright

M. ETHEL WHITCOMB

We talk with God in the sanctuary of prayer, find man as Mind's own likeness, hear the angel's guiding voices, and reflect the healing Christ. Within the sanctuary of prayer every pure aspiration and every spiritual achievement draws its first breath from heaven. Into this holy place of refuge, joy, and protection, men, women, and children alike must enter to find God, and to take His forever gifts of health and peace.

What is the door to this divine retreat, where all that is noble and godly has been accomplished for men and nations? Christian Science points to the entrance—self-forgetful love and sinless longings. As one enters at this gate, he begins to pray aright; for spiritual, unselfed desires are prayers that reach the heart of Love. Through such desires one walks with God in sweet companionship.

A mighty thing is taking place in the Christian Science Sunday Schools, for there children are being taught to pray the prayer that purifies and heals, that they may be prepared to fulfill their sacred ministry and unfold in Christlikeness. We turn, as Sunday school workers, to our textbooks, the Bible and "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, that we may be shown the divine way to teach this healing, comforting, saving prayer which Jesus made imperative for all. In the opening words of the first chapter of Science and Health we find this way made plain. There we read, "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." With what spiritual vigilance and devout purpose we should help the pupils to gain these three cardinal points in the prayer that heals and saves: faith, understanding, unselfed love! Ever new opportunities has the teacher to increase the pupils' faith in God's power and care, through the lives and works of prophets and apostles. How gently and surely understanding unfolds as the Science of God and man enlightens consciousness, and God's ever operating law of love is discerned and demonstrated!

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