Editorial August 26, 1961 Issue

Spiritual Communion with God

Ralph E. Wagers

People are more inclined to pray for themselves and their country in times of trouble than at other times, and the nature of their prayers will be determined by their concept of God. One who is entertaining a humanized, personalized concept of God is likely to pray from the basis of material sense and from the standpoint of urgent petition or pleading. He may attempt to acquaint God with the difficulty and ask that those upon whom heavy responsibilities rest be granted the necessary strength and wisdom to fulfill them. And in so praying he will feel that he has fulfilled his responsibility and that the rest is up to God.

But, in Christian Science, if one understands God to be the divine Principle of the universe, and he himself in reality an idea of this Principle, he will reconcile himself to the spiritual facts that exist right where the trouble seems to be present. In place of threats of danger, he will hold to the divine facts of safety.

In teaching his disciples how to pray, Jesus used a very helpful illustration. He said (Matt. 6:6), "When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."

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