"Pray without ceasing"

[Written Especially for Children]

RUTH R. WESLER

In the Bible we read, "Pray without ceasing." These words were written in a letter to a little group of early Christians at Thessalonica. The letter was from their friend and teacher, the Apostle Paul. Paul was a great and good man, who wanted to help and bless not only the Jews who were his own people, but the whole world. He taught the people about Jesus, who came into the world to prove the great love of God for man.

How glad these people must have been to hear from their teacher, to know that he had not forgotten them, but was rejoicing in their progress even in his absence, and patiently guiding them with wise and loving advice!

Now, anyone as good and wise as Paul would not be apt to ask others to do something which he had not proved for himself could be done. So let us see if it is not possible for us who read his words today to "pray without ceasing," which means, of course, all of the time.

First we must understand what prayer is. Thinking good thoughts is prayer. Children, as well as grown people, are capable of thinking. Desiring good, not only for ourselves but for everyone, is prayer. Desiring to be good is prayer. Our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, says, on the first page of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," that "desire is prayer." But just wanting to be good is not enough. Our Leader also says, a few pages farther on in our textbook (p. 4), "The habitual struggle to be always good is unceasing prayer." This means that we must try—we must make ourselves think the kind of thoughts we wish to think, namely, good thoughts. Children can think kind, loving thoughts about their brothers and sisters and playmates. They can think helpful and obedient thoughts toward their parents and teachers. Then, since actions follow thought, they will find themselves doing little helpful things for others, reflecting the kindness and the goodness of which they are thinking.

But what about bad thoughts? one may ask. Do they not come, even though we do not want them? Well, they do seem to sometimes; but if we are watching all the time, "without ceasing," they will not be allowed to stay. "I am busy thinking good," we might say, "and have no time for you." If one knocked at the same house for a number of times but always found the door locked, would he not cease to knock? So it is with cross, ugly, impatient, or disobedient thoughts. They will not be able to bother us if we shut them out—lock the door of our thought against them—before they have time to try to push their way in.

In the same way, thoughts of disease can be handled. A little girl who attends a Christian Science Sunday School once found that a skin disease was breaking out on her hands, making them appear rough and unsightly. Her teacher and classmates at her day school began urging her to use salves and other material remedies. The little girl wisely said nothing to them, but at home, where she was among Christian Scientists, she kept saying, "I just know it will go away, because God is good." She was praying without ceasing. In a few days her hands were smooth and soft again.

In that letter to his fellow Christians, Paul also advised them to "rejoice evermore." Rejoicing is really a part of prayer; for how could one be knowing good without rejoicing and being grateful for it? Loving also is an important part of prayer. How could one desire good for others without loving, or expect good to come to oneself without being generous and kind? God is Love, and we pray to be conscious of man's likeness to Him.

We might say, then, that prayer without ceasing is a continual state of watching, loving, rejoicing, expecting good and being thankful for it. Little children can easily "pray without ceasing." It is natural and right that they should.

Christ [Jesus] taught the brotherhood of man. If the world would follow his precepts, peace and good will would everywhere prevail.—SELECTED.

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