Article September 11, 1926 Issue

Name

WILLIAM B. HARRISON

Millions of petitions uttered by Christian lips and addressed to Deity have brought no response. Why have not these prayers been answered? Jesus said, "If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." James said, "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss." When we understand the meaning of the word "name," we find why our prayers, however earnest or sincere, however worthy the request, have remained unanswered.

"Name" means character, nature, or quality of being To pray in Jesus' name means to understand life as he did, to realize the infinite presence and goodness of God to exclude from our consciousness any presence or quality other than that of the one eternal creator, who made man in His image and likeness, spiritual and perfect. If we fail to do this, we ask amiss, and our prayers cannot reach the throne of grace.

Mrs. Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 1), "Desire is prayer." Truly, a longing for good is the first step toward goodness. Then follows the spiritual illumination which enables us to discern what truth is, and to forsake the false for the true. We then begin to pray in Jesus' name, to realize and know that God neither created evil nor permitted it to exist. His nature is love, life, intelligence, health, holiness, goodness, peace, joy, infinite good, and He is everywhere expressed, in man and the universe.

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A Daily Duty
September 11, 1926
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