Article December 13, 1975 Issue

Prayer—The Most Effective Help

FLORENCE C. SOUTHWELL

Being aware of the urgent needs of mankind today—of war refugees, of those who suffer from famine or economic disaster—brings to many a sharp realization that they must do all they can to help.

But we may well ask ourselves, "Where do we begin? How can I help heal a world in trouble?" We can turn to the wise counsel of the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, found in her writings and in her own response to the needs of others. A particular statement of Mrs. Eddy's recalled by one of her students has made this writer more keenly aware of the way to effectively help mankind: "I saw the love keenly aware of the way to effectively help mankind: "I saw the love of God encircling the universe and man, filling all space, and that divine Love so permeated my own consciousness that I loved with Christlike compassion everything I saw."^{We Knew Mary Baker Eddy, First Series (Boston: The Christian Science Publishing Society, 1943), p. 74;} Would it not appear from this that our reaching out to help others is really including in—including all within our recognition of the healing power and presence of divine Love?

Realizing that mankind is within the infinite range of God's love and power is true prayer, and the power of prayer should not be underestimated. No power on earth equals the power of God, the might of infinite, divine Love. Mrs. Eddy writes, "True prayer is not asking God for love; it is learning to love, and to include all mankind in one affection." And further on she tells us why prayer is effective: "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."^{No and Yes, p. 39;}