Prayer and Self-Discipline

Alfred Pittman

Christians in general have believed in the advantages of prayer and reformation, or self-discipline. A common effect of Christian Science upon its students has been to increase their interest in both. They have learned through this Science to pray with signs unmistakably following, and they see in a new light both the practicability and the value of correcting the human sense of self.

It is plain that Christ Jesus saw no limits to the power of prayer for either himself or others. He urged its immeasurable opportunities upon his followers. Not once, but many times, he counseled them to pray with full expectation of the results that they rightly sought, and he continually admonished them not to ask for too little. "If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it," he said. And at a time when, in the ordinary human view, they had certainly asked for a good deal, he said, "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name," as if what they had sought thus far was little indeed in comparison with what they might expect. "Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full," he said.

How indeed could one ask meager blessings of God, who is infinite good, as Jesus understood Him to be! Or in any manner ask otherwise than in accordance with His nature!

Many Christians have wondered about these statements of the Master's. They have found prayer, as they have understood it, to be stabilizing in a general way, and have been grateful for it; but many of them have prayed daily for years without any of the specific and definitely traceable results which Christ Jesus' statements clearly promised.

It is not strange that large numbers of them have been so refreshed and heartened by the first chapter in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. Here, it has been plain to many on their first reading of the chapter, was one speaking with authority on prayer, declaring that now, as in the time of Jesus, it can be specifically and adequately effective in human affairs, and explaining for all the nature of this effectual prayer.

As they have grown in understanding of the subject, as set forth in this chapter, they have found their experience of prayer fulfilling their renewed expectations. They have seen that through such asking they can heal disease and overcome other evils—that they can help themselves and others with every type of human problem.

What is this healing prayer? How does one ask of God, in order to receive? For a full answer, one must turn to the chapter above mentioned. Its seventeen pages, spiritually interpreting the teaching of Jesus in accordance with the needs of this and every age, are the authoritative presentation of the subject; and they may well be studied with great care, as indeed Christian Scientists continually study them.

This much may be said here of the nature of the prayer that is unfailingly with power. It is not asking as one would ask of a human person. Such seeking would obviously imply that God had not already done all things well, and needed a reminder or request to prompt Him to do more. "Shall we ask the divine Principle of all goodness to do His own work?" Mrs. Eddy writes on page 3 of Science and Health. And she continues, "His work is done, and we have only to avail ourselves of God's rule in order to receive His blessing, which enables us to work out our own salvation."

As understood in Christian Science, prayer is a clearing of one's own consciousness; it is recognition of what God is, and what He has already done. Proportionally to one's recognition of Him as infinite good, Spirit, Life, Truth, and Love, everywhere expressed, one has evidence of His presence and power; and this is the answering of prayer. The method is spiritualization of thought, but the effects are correspondingly apparent upon the human conditions, as they now appear to be.

Effectual prayer, however, is never separate from selfcorrection. It is recognition and proof of perfect Life, or God, and Life must have evidence in terms of life. Therefore, the Christian Scientist strives to express in his thinking and living all the intelligence and right activity, all the wisdom, truth, and love, that unfold to him through communion with God: he strives to express nothing different from God.

It is true that one's effectiveness in prayer increases as one advances in the study and practice of Christian Science, but even at the beginning students are continually helped by meek and earnest endeavor to pray aright. Somewhat as the lad Ishmael, when he and his mother were imperiled by thirst in the desert, prayed and presently had water, so today those not far along in the study of Science, as well as those farther along, find their prayers being answered; and the experiences stand as scientific proofs that God is ever at hand to meet all human need.

"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you," said Jesus, "ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."

Alfred Pittman

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