Article September 13, 1975 Issue

Prayer—Casual or Inspired?

PETER B. VANDERHOEF

The Scriptures emphasize that prayer is effective as righteousness is cherished and expressed. Christian Science explains that righteousness is related to spiritual thinking, thinking that manifests the pure, spiritual nature of God, divine Love.

Christ Jesus said, "Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."^{Matt. 5:20;} The Master emphasized the importance of reflecting the qualities of God—purity, goodness, love—which heal and bless. His theology resulted in spiritual regeneration. He taught that God's nature is realized as men's hearts are made ready for it. Prayer, Jesus implied, is the abiding and unquenchable desire for holiness, for the spirituality that bears witness to God and His goodness.

Referring to the divine definition of Deity, Mrs. Eddy says, "It explains the eternal dynamics of being, and shows that nature and man are as harmonious to-day as in the beginning, when 'all things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made.'"^{Miscellaneous Writings, pp. 258–259;}