Article October 24, 1931 Issue

The Prayer of Reassurance

BERNARD MORLEY-FLETCHER

Before one heard of Christian Science, had one been asked, How often have you turned to God in prayer throughout the day? one might have answered, Not at all, and thought the question ill advised. The Psalmist's admonition, "Commit thy way unto the Lord," in our ignorance of the Science of being did not seem to fit with the wish to be practical; and it appeared better to carve out our own career. As, however, we become ready to receive it, a measure of understanding of Christian Science was gained, and the basis of our thought and consequent action radically, if gradually, changed. Then it was seen as eminently practical that, in order to be efficient in daily life, one should learn to obey the command, "Commit thy way unto the Lord," to turn to one's highest understanding of Principle as "a very present help in trouble," and learn to commune with the Father-Mother God at all times and under all circumstances.

The beginner may have clearly recognized the necessity for this, may have felt guided along this path, seeing, indeed, that his Master and Way-shower had pointed out this way as imperative. Still, he may have dallied along the road somewhat, perhaps feeling the loss of his old concept of God, and being a little puzzled as he now considered unfitting a prayer containing naught but request, having pondered Mary Baker Eddy's words on page 2 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures": "God is Love. Can we ask Him to be more?"

But one cannot progress far before that cry voiced nineteen hundred years ago, "Teach us to pray," is repeated from the depths of human longing; and one finds that in the measure of his understanding comes the spiritual interpretation of that great prayer, the Lord's Prayer, given to men by our Master, the spiritual sense of which our Leader gives on pages 16 and 17 of the textbook.

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