This world would be a much better place if more of us prayed for it to be so—and then acted consistently with our prayers. Spiritually based prayer and action inspired by it can be as effective in world affairs as in individual experience. Few of us have the opportunity to take an active part in government, but each of us can pray for it and can mold his words and deeds in conformity with his prayers.

How effective can prayer be? When it rightly invokes divine power, there is no limit to its effectiveness, for there is no limit to God's power. Omnipotence is the measure of the power of prayer.

Complex issues face government today. Often these issues seem so complicated with intricate technological considerations and clashing social interests as to defy understanding, much less solution. How can we pray effectively in such cases?

Mary Baker Eddy tells us that the first step to take in practicing Christian Science is to deal with fear. ^{See Science and Health 410:29–30, 411:27–28;} How can we silence the fear that mankind's troubles have proliferated beyond the point of manageability? By scientifically breaking away from the whole human picture. Struggle as we may, we will never find the answer to the agonizing problems of governmental complexities within a human frame of reference. We must turn from the human to the infinitely greater power and wisdom of the divine. In scientific prayer it's essential not to wander around in the byways of human reasoning but to go straight to God Himself!

Biblical writers clearly indicate that God can properly be considered as the one infinite, all-wise, divine intelligence—as Mind. We need to turn to this Mind, let this Mind be in us "which was also in Christ Jesus." ^{Phil. 2:5;} To the degree that we do, our prayers will be effective, as were the Master's. Divine Mind includes no confusion, uncertainty, foreboding, but it imparts the realization that "with God all things are possible." ^{Matt. 19:26;} No intimidating complexities there.

The intricate problems of clashing interests are not overwhelming to spiritually enlightened thought any more than the problems of two thousand years ago were overwhelming to Christ Jesus' spiritual perception.

The darkness of materiality is dispelled by the clear light of Christly love. God, through His eternal Christ, the spirit of Truth, illumines our thought and our way. Fear is dispelled. We see that the man of God's creation is not a confused, dispirited, helpless victim of forces beyond his control.

Mrs. Eddy writes, "Man is God's image and likeness; whatever is possible to God, is possible to man as God's reflection." ^{Miscellaneous Writings, p. 183.} Since God is all-knowing, man can and must know only as God knows. God doesn't know a tangled mass of struggling humans wrestling with their self-created monsters. God knows man as He created him—spiritual, beautiful, wise, free, forever dwelling in the harmony of Christly love. Reflecting the divine perception of man, our prayers are a powerful healing force for sound governmental decision-making.

Almost all Christians unite in the faith that God is infinite and that God is Love. We can realize that both these statements really are true, and that Love is the sole governor of man.

In our prayer, our Christian Science treatment, we must be alert that we not only see the truth that makes free but that we are not deceived by the lie that enslaves. God is Spirit; therefore all that He made really must be spiritual. The belief that there is a complicated material world with evil forces whipping about is a complete misapprehension of creation. It's a nightmare, utterly misrepresenting the harmonious spiritual universe that God has created, in which all of His children express clarity, love, and delight in His work. The complexities of materiality are the suppositious opposite of the simplicity of universal Love, of infinitely loving and eternal Life.

Visionary, you say? Not at all. Our grateful realization of the everlasting reign of Love is the highest prayer we can offer. And by living consistently with this prayer, we are regenerated now. We don't have to wait for some future life or what we believe to be a far-off heaven. This is the true purpose of prayer. It is the true and divine purpose of Christian Science treatment. The people and governments of the world will be immeasurably blessed by it.