Article September 29, 1928 Issue

"When thou prayest"

CHARLES W. HALE

Everyone aspires to something beyond what he now has; and the aspirations vary according to the type of individual thought, not necessarily taking form in words, but manifesting themselves in deep-seated desire. Some look wholly to material things, and long for and labor to secure greater abundance of material possessions, a greater degree of satisfaction in the desires of the "carnal mind,"—to use Paul's phrase,—a greater sense of ease in matter. Others aspire to higher mental possessions, to knowledge, to greater business or professional ability. Then there are those who look to and desire a greater degree of spiritual things, a getting away from the flesh, from the sordid and the mundane. Therefore, regardless of one's position, character, or mode of living, everyone in some manner prays, either to the living God, or to some false god of his own devising. Mrs. Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 1), "Desire is prayer." It is clear, therefore, that each one expresses some desire, or prayer, in every aspiration to attain something which may seem to him to be more desirable than that which he already possesses.

In Proverbs it is declared that as one "thinketh in his heart, so is he." Therefore, it is evident that prayer, or aspiration, is answered in quality similar to that of the prayer, or desire, expressed or experienced in the consciousness of the individual. The materially-minded, greedy and selfish, reap the effects of material desires; while the spiritually-minded, unselfish and pure, attain to greater spirituality and its accompanying blessings; for, as Paul pointed out, "he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."

The teachings of Christ Jesus pertaining to prayer showed the need of more than mere words, of more, even, than fervid petitions to God. He did not, however, indicate that a perfunctory type of prayer was without its answer, for of those who prayed "standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men" he said, "Verily I say unto you, They have their reward"—they were "seen of men," in accordance with their desires. Thus it is shown that to each is given exact measure, in accordance with the aspiration, with the spirit or type of thought back of the desire; for "with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you." True prayer is more than words, more than a recounting of needs or a plea for pardon. It is a spiritual process of adjustment; the attainment of the righteous desire to know and understand God, and the spiritual reaching out for a closer relation to God than our present understanding permits. Jesus taught that to pray truly and to be heard of the Father, it is necessary to enter into the secret place of consciousness, to shut out material beliefs with their suggestion, false attraction, and discord, and therein to commune with the Father which is in secret; and the result, the reward or fulfillment of righteous desire, will be manifested in experience. This is exemplified in Mrs. Eddy's statement (Science and Health, p. 15): "The Father in secret is unseen to the physical senses, but He knows all things and rewards according to motives, not according to speech. To enter into the heart of prayer, the door of the erring senses must be closed. Lips must be mute and materialism silent, that man may have audience with Spirit, the divine Principle, Love, which destroys all error."

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