Article December 18, 1954 Issue

LOVE IS ANSWERED PRAYER

FLORENCE C. SOUTHWELL

Christian Science has come to troubled humanity to bring the sweet assurance and proof of certain solution for all human needs. This is confirmed by the following merciful and potent message, written by Mary Baker Eddy in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 494): "Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need." This meeting of the human need in Christian Science is termed healing, or answered prayer.

Before we can fully understand why love is answered prayer, it is necessary to know what prayer is. A dictionary defines it in part as "earnest request." To many over the years, prayer has been regarded as the means of calling down God's blessings and has carried the thought that it could cause the creator and governor of the universe, reverently called God, to do that which He might not otherwise be inclined to do. Christian Science, however, does not so define prayer. The writings of Mrs. Eddy are filled with explanations of this word. Perhaps the following statement in our Leader's work "No and Yes" will best define it here (p. 39): "True prayer is not asking God for love; it is learning to love, and to include all mankind in one affection. Prayer is the utilization of the love wherewith He loves us. Prayer begets an awakened desire to be and do good. It makes new and scientific discoveries of God, of His goodness and power. It shows us more clearly than we saw before, what we already have and are; and most of all, it shows us what God is."

True prayer is understanding God and very often is termed in Christian Science "knowing the truth." It is the complete realization of the present perfection of God and of man in His image and likeness, and is always related specifically to the problem at hand.

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