Christian Science shows that prayer brings healing. And there are big benefits, particularly related to praying for others. The Bible says, “Pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). What does this mean for us in praying for one another?

It’s helpful to consider that our lives are essentially a manifestation of our thoughts. The consciousness we hold undergirds our experience. And the thoughts we receive from God, the infinite Mind governing the universe, have a positive effect on our consciousness, which in turn has a positive effect on our bodies and lives. 

Now, anytime we’re talking about prayer, there are a couple of ideas that I find especially helpful. First, Jesus introduces what came to be called the Lord’s Prayer by saying, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven” (Matthew 6:9). To me, this is telling us to start with identifying God as our origin or source. If we are becoming more conscious of this key point that we are created and defined by God, divine Love, we’re going to see more of Love’s goodness expressed or manifested in our experience.