HEALING PRAYER

LYMAN S. ABBOTT

When their prayers have seemed unavailing, many have echoed Job's cry (Job 23:3), "Oh that I knew where I might find him!" No longer need one seek in vain for God. For through the discovery of Christian Science by Mary Baker Eddy the ever–presence and power of God have been revealed to mankind. This revelation is set forth in her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," which was first published in 1875. The first chapter of this marvelous book, entitled "Prayer," shows clearly that all who will may appeal to God for help in time of need and be assured of His blessing. Indeed they will find, as the poet says, that "closer is He than breathing, and nearer than hands and feet."

The first sentence in this chapter reads (p.1), "The prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible to God,—a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfed love." Herein we find the qualification requisite for healing—absolute faith, which includes "a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfed love." It is plain that the reformation of the sinner and the healing of the sick go hand in hand.

Absolute faith is not a blind or an ignorant faith, but a faith so clear and positive of God's perfection and allness that no element of doubt can enter therein. Neither is it a borrowed faith. How often we find that someone is depending for healing upon the faith of a loved one a husband or wife, a brother or sister, a father or mother—rather than upon his own absolute faith in God's power and willingness to heal. Christ Jesus said to the two blind men who sought his healing ministry (Matt. 9:29), "According to your faith be it unto you," and to another (Mark 10:52), "Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole." What a glorious faith has that one who has complete confidence that his prayer will receive an immediate answer.

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