Few subjects are of greater importance to human welfare than is the subject of prayer. Although so much has been written upon this subject, many are still asking, Why do not my prayers avail? First of all, it should be conceded that if one prays ineffectually the fault lies, not with God, but with the nature of the prayer. Everyone should understand the power of prayer and be able to utilize this power, not merely for his own benefit, but for the benefit of all mankind as well; and Christian Science is enabling its adherents to do this.

To understand the true nature of prayer one must understand God as divine Principle or infinite Mind, whose creation consists of perfect, divine ideas. The legitimate purpose of prayer is to bring human consciousness into accord with the perfect ideas of God, and thus dispel or displace the false human concepts of fear, lack, sorrow, separation, disease, sin, and death. In order to pray effectually one must continually cultivate an understanding of God and His good creation, thereby losing faith in or fear of evil. In this connection, on page 3 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy asks, "Who would stand before a blackboard, and pray the principle of mathematics to solve the problem?" Continuing, she writes, "The rule is already established, and it is our task to work out the solution."

In mathematics it is generally understood that there are exact rules governing the relation of numbers, and that an understanding of these rules gives the ability to solve mathematical problems. The teachings of Christian Science reveal the fact that there is an exact law of God which never operates to cause discord, but which ever operates to cause harmony. Prayer which is based on an apprehension and application of this law brings a right solution to every problem of human existence. The one way in which God aids mankind is by means of His right ideas operating through divine law. God gives man ideas of honesty, justice, mercy, kindness, health, peace, and so on, with which to counteract every wrong concept—all evil; but these right ideas must be utilized, entertained in thought and put into active operation in every word and act. By this method anyone can prove the availability of prayer to meet every need.

It would be surprising to hear one say that he had prayed to God that he might be successful in robbing a house. What would make such a prayer inconsistent? Are there not, generally speaking, many inconsistent prayers offered? Prayers asking for a blessing upon purely selfish aims, or offered by those who assert that they have neither the time nor the inclination to learn of spiritual things, are inconsistent. Many who are satisfied to pray to an unknown God would at once recognize the absurdity of attempting to work out a mathematical problem without regard to mathematical law, and then asking the law to sanction the solution. Since ignorance of God's law is at the root of all sin and suffering, the earnest seeking to understand and obey His law is an essential element of effectual prayer.

The protective power of righteous prayer is clearly set forth in the Scriptures, and that no form of evil can withstand this power was fully demonstrated by Jesus, and can be demonstrated by all who will learn from him how to pray. Jesus' prayers included uncovering the falsity of the evidence of the material senses, denying reality to this evidence, and affirming the ever operative law of God. An example of his method of prayer is found in the account of the raising of Lazarus as given by the Apostle John. In the illness of Lazarus Jesus saw an opportunity to prove the power of God to destroy evil; hence he declared, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God." This was a flat contradiction of the evidence of the physical senses, because, according to that evidence, he later died and was buried. At the tomb Jesus asserted, "I knew that thou hearest me always." In other words, he knew that God's law is the ever operative law of Life, and that man is the ever present manifestation of this Life.

Prayer is the pivot upon which the viewpoint is turned away from the evidence of the material senses to the spiritual facts of being. Effectual prayer springs not from a cold intellectual grasp of the letter of Christian Science, but from a deep desire to reflect God, good, in serving others. On page 39 of "No and Yes" Mrs. Eddy writes: "True prayer is not asking God for love; it is learning to love, and to include all mankind in one affection. Prayer is the utilization of the love wherewith He loves us." According to Christian Science, then, prayer is the light of the spiritual law of Love thrown upon the dark shadows of fear, disease, or discord, which shadows can no more resist the light of God's law than darkness can resist light.

Mrs. Eddy, having recognized the importance of a right understanding of prayer, devotes the first chapter of the textbook of Christian Science to this subject. Through study of this chapter, thought is lifted above the false sense of prayer as a blind pleading. Christian Science reveals the glorious fact of an infinitely good, divine intelligence, protecting, guiding, governing, sustaining, supporting all creation. Christian Scientists regard prayer as a spontaneous, unceasing process as necessary to them as breathing. As it is beautifully expressed in a stanza of a hymn,