Thought, Prayer, and Action

FRED B. KERRICK

"The time for thinkers has come," writes Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, on page vii of the Preface to "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." Closely allied to these authoritative words is a statement in an editorial which appeared in the Sentinel: "The time for pray-ers has come." With these inspiring thoughts to guide him, every student of Christian Science should and will consummate his thought and prayer with action. Against the combination of pure thought, prayer, and action, no disease, limitation, or sin can survive.

To watch one's thinking is no small task. It requires alertness, courage, and stability. At times a mighty struggle ensues between the carnal mind, battling for supremacy and right thinking based upon man's God-given dominion.

A Christian Scientist some years ago was called to visit one who was in great need of healing. The woman seemed unable to think beyond her own physical condition. With the hope of counteracting the belief in a power opposed to God, the practitioner finally asked her if the following day, as she sat by the window, she would deny every erroneous condition which she saw on the street. She promised to do so, and proceeded to fortify herself for the surprising task. A few hours of this sort of effort so completely lifted the patient's thought from self that she was greatly improved. She learned through the experience the importance of overcoming and standing guard in the future over all forms of error, one of the most momentous of which, in her plight, was that of selfish thinking. She soon found through this turning of thought away from self that she was lifted into an altitude of thought where things were more clearly discerned and she was better able to pray.

When once the foundation of false thinking is exposed, then righteous prayer follows naturally, and substantial action begins. Not only are the attacks of pain, suffering, disease, and other so-called physical conditions more readily overcome, but all self-centered thinking expressed in anger, jealousy, envy, impatience, and the like, begins to lose its hold and is no more looked upon as an essential element in our thinking.

Mrs. Eddy's words on page 99 of Science and Health provide a searching test for judging one's thinking. She writes. "The calm, strong currents of true spirituality the manifestations of which are health, purity, and self-immolation, must deepen human experience until the beliefs of material existence are seen to be a bald imposition, and sin, disease, and death give everlasting place to the scientific demonstration of divine Spirit and to God's spiritual, perfect man."

In whatever work one is engaged, whether it be considered nonessential or in one of the most vitally important of occupations, spiritual thinking coupled with prayer necessarily brings about right activity. Not primarily what one does, but how well he accomplishes his task, is of the most importance. Christ Jesus once gave to his disciples some wise counsel which is important for all to follow: "If any man will come after me let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

Thinking elevated to the altitude of prayer is a power born of God. It inspires one with the spirit of the Christ, and with gladness does one take up his cross; or, in other words, he enthusiastically lays hold of opportunities which have been side-stepped and neglected because of indifference or despair. To the follower of Christian Science, this is the spirit of cross-bearing.

So it is, as one desires to think the righteous thoughts of God and the perfect man angels begin to whisper words of courage, confidence, and hope. The very fact that one thinks of God proves conclusively that God has sent an angel to minister unto him. It would be quite impossible for one to believe that error could ever cause one to think of God. On the contrary, error would prompt one to think of sin, disease, or death— never of God. "Desire is prayer," writes Mrs. Eddy in the Christian Science textbook (p. 1), "and no loss can occur from trusting God with our desires, that they may be moulded and exalted before they take form in words and in deeds."

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