Article September 21, 1974 Issue

Appreciating God

JUDITH ANN HARDY

Appreciating God is effective prayer! Throughout his healing ministry Christ Jesus was grateful to God for His goodness. And his acknowledgment of God's goodness was made active in his healings of sin, disease, and death. Through his true appreciation of God, Jesus exemplified effective prayer. Gratitude is a healing agent.

When his disciples asked Jesus to teach them how they too could pray effectively, he gave them what we call the Lord's Prayer, which begins with deep appreciation of God: "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name."^{ Matt. 6:9;} To hallow God's name, or nature, we first need to know His nature, be sensitive to the value of knowing Him, and be fully aware of His goodness.

Christian Science teaches us how to appreciate God. It shows us more of His nature. In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures Mary Baker Eddy gives us this definition of God: "The great I am; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal; Principle; Mind; Soul; Spirit; Life; Truth; Love; all substance; intelligence."^{ Science and Health, p. 587;} These names are synonyms for God and enable us to recognize the grandeur of His nature.