Article October 25, 1982 Issue

Prayer and voting

GLORIA ELAINE MARLATT

Every year millions of people throughout the world are called on to participate in their government by voting. Voting is certainly an important responsibility. It is also an opportunity to bring to bear on human government the divinely derived guidance that comes from inspired prayer. Turning to God directs our thought to the one Mind, whereby we claim the divine intelligence of our true nature and are able to act according to our highest concept of Principle. We learn to avoid being unduly influenced by pollsters or political harangues, and to rely more on divine inspiration, wisdom, and direction.

Does following Mind's direction mean that we pray for our chosen candidate to win or for our will to be done? Of course not. We pray and then act according to our highest concept of right. Christian Science teaches that God is ever active and ever present. When we align our thoughts and acts with His beneficent law, we are able to make wise choices.

Knowing the facts of God's control over all, one might ask, "Why bother voting if God will take care of everything?" Just knowing intellectually that all is in God's hands is not enough. For example, we may know from the study of Christian Science that God is Mind and that man reflects the attributes of Mind, such as intelligence, wisdom, and understanding. But we must put this knowledge to work by expressing these qualities in our lives. Until all are of one Mind—united in God's purpose—we need to endeavor to uplift humanity through whatever actions are necessary. The greatest and most fundamental contribution we can make is prayer, and the deeds that grow out of it.

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