SENTINEL WATCH November 12, 2007 Issue

ACTIVE PRAYER CAN TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES

BEVERLY GOLDSMITH

NEWS REPORTS from around the world reveal that honest, compassionate leadership, in which the needs of the people come first, isn't universal. Many citizens suffer when government officials are apathetic or corrupt, or when basic services and infrastructure are neglected. Sometimes warring political or ethnic factions reduce individual communities to chaos, or—if conflict spreads—a menacing military may be waiting in the wings, ready to take power. Visiting such countries is a heartbreaking experience, as I know from personal experience.

Yet our prayers can help improve the current leaderships, as well as open the way to a change in leadership so that individuals with a commitment to serving their people come forward.

Some people find it helpful to pray the "Daily Prayer" from the Manual of The Mother Church written by Mary Baker Eddy: " 'Thy kingdom come;'" let the reign of divine Truth, Life, and Love be established in me, and rule out of me all sin; and may Thy Word enrich the affections of all mankind, and govern them!" (p. 41). This universal prayer encourages us to affirm that God is the Supreme Ruler of all individuals, no matter who they are or where they are. His will for each is loving and good, even if the leadership of a country isn't the best. Rather than focus on the problems we have, we can pray to God for guidance in supporting what will lead to social and economic progress for all. Our prayers, and the resulting prayer-inspired actions, forward our own well-being as well as the good of the nation as a whole.

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