Article August 20, 1984 Issue

Constant prayer

SYLVIA PRALL RHODEY

Paul admonished the Thessalonians: "Pray without ceasing."^{I Thess. 5:17.} But how can we do this? In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy tells us, "Self-forgetfulness, purity, and affection are constant prayers."^{Science and Health, p. 15.} These three powerful qualities are vital to making our daily living harmonious and the world around us a better place.

Constant prayer is ceaseless prayer. But someone might ask, How can I pray constantly when I have business responsibilities, a full-time job or a house to keep, a family to raise—so many commitments? Praying is really living our understanding of God. Prayer is more than declaring the truth we know or seek; it is the manner of our daily living. Mrs. Eddy states: "Thoughts unspoken are not unknown to the divine Mind. Desire is prayer; and no loss can occur from trusting God with our desires, that they may be moulded and exalted before they take form in words and in deeds."^{Ibid., p. 1.}

The constant prayer of self-forgetfulness is a challenge. When situations, personal relationships, social entanglements, present themselves in our daily affairs, can we forget self-centeredness and face them with the understanding of God? Should we not ask ourselves, "Am I more concerned with myself than I am with expressing God in this instance?" Unyielding personal opinions, disappointments, hurt feelings, judging, condemning, or any of the traits of the human mind, may be signals that we are tied up in a mortal selfhood and not living the prayer of unselfed love. Prayer reveals our true nature, and this is vital to our spiritual growth. Only as we know God and understand ourselves as His image and likeness can we know ourselves.

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