Editorial February 21, 1976 Issue

Prayer That Makes a Difference

Naomi Price

Prayer of the right sort is never in vain. It always helps the one who prays as well as the object of the prayer—if this is being offered for another. True prayer uplifts and purifies human thought and brings it into harmony with divine law. Then, since our earth-life is the objectification of thought, this prayer results in uplifting, purifying, and making more harmonious our daily affairs. It cannot fail to have a healing effect on them. It always must make a difference for the better in human experience.

True prayer is based on an understanding of the goodness of God, Spirit, the one creator and supreme governor of the universe and man. It is supported by faith in the all-power of Love, and its motive is selfless. The one who prays should not be aiming to get some material benefit for himself or for another. Rather should he have the sincere desire to see God's will established on earth in goodness and harmony as it is being done in heaven.

Mary Baker Eddy, who learned at a very early age the power of prayer, writes in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: "The prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible to God,—a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfed love. Regardless of what another may say or think on this subject, I speak from experience. Prayer, watching, and working, combined with self-immolation, are God's gracious means for accomplishing whatever has been successfully done for the Christianization and health of mankind."^{Science and Health, p. 1;}