'To Bless All Mankind' August 29, 2016 Issue

It’s natural to pray

Veronica A. Ragatz

Originally published in The Christian Science Monitor, May 12, 2016.

The editorial on the facing page reminded me of how prayer has been an integral part of my life since I was a child. Not a day passes that I do not pray to God—acknowledging His presence, seeking His guidance, and thanking Him for His love and care. No matter where I am, I know that I can turn to God for the inspiration and understanding needed to feel His presence and accomplish whatever rightly has to be done.

I have found that my prayers have been most effective when they stem from a humble desire to understand more of the spiritual fact of God’s goodness and of our relationship to Him. Mary Baker Eddy writes: “Are we benefited by praying? Yes, the desire which goes forth hungering after righteousness is blessed of our Father, and it does not return unto us void” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 2).

The Bible teaches that we are all children of God. It says in Malachi: “Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us?” (2:10). And the first chapter of Genesis reveals that God created each one of us in His own image. Since God is Spirit, we all are actually spiritual, naturally expressing divine good. We can never for a moment be separated from our heavenly Father, who loves and cares for His creation at all times.

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