Article November 14, 2011 Issue

Prayer—a game-changer in times of conflict

By Josh Niles

For many years I have prayed daily that there be no more war, no more barbarous slaughtering of our fellow-beings; prayed that all peoples on earth and the islands of the sea have one God, one Mind; love God supremely, and love their neighbor as themselves.

–Mary Baker Eddy, The First Church of Christ, Scientist and Miscellany, p. 286

Today you can look at almost any news website and read about pretty severe conflicts taking place around the world. This isn’t new. If you’ve ever read through the Bible, you’ll have noticed people who faced similar challenges and conflicts. Jacob, Moses, King David, Elijah, Elisha, Christ Jesus, and the Apostle Paul, to name just a few, witnessed and faced such challenges as slavery, war, and persecution within their communities as well as personally. But they were not without help. They turned to God, a presence and a force described in the Bible as “Almighty” and as “Love.” They did something pretty amazing in the face of harshness, brutality, and destruction: They prayed. They drew nearer to divine Love, forgiving unkindness, and in many cases resolving the conflict. This kind of prayer can have a powerful healing effect on any situation. It can be a game-changer.

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