Some years ago I found myself in a potentially dangerous situation. I had spent the evening taking care of some business matters in the downtown area of our city. Upon leaving the train at my station I began a rather long walk toward home at an hour when the houses all along the street were dark.

I soon noticed a car pacing me as I walked along. I began to pray silently; that is, to affirm God's all-power and ever-present care. As I reached a corner, the car turned and stopped, blocking my way. A door was opened, and I heard a voice command: "Get in!" But I refused, stepping down in front of the car, and proceeded on my way. I did not look back. As I walked on, I heard the door of the car slam shut, and the car was driven away.

For me this incident has served to illustrate the value of turning to God instantly in any threatening situation. Prayer might be likened to a secret weapon. Our deep and consecrated silent prayers, though unseen and unheard by human eyes and ears, by materialistic and even violent thinking, are neither unseen nor unheard by God.

We find Biblical confirmation of the effectiveness of prayer in the accounts of Christ Jesus given in the Gospels. The Master prayed often. And the effect of his prayers is demonstrated in the following incident: Once after preaching in the synagogue, Jesus was thrust out and taken to the edge of a steep cliff, where the mob was determined to throw him off. But the Bible says that "he passing through the midst of them went his way" unharmed. ^{Luke 4:30.}

Our real need is always to turn to God. Honest, heartfelt prayer causes us to become more conscious of the presence of God, whom the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, defines as "the great I am; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal; Principle; Mind; Soul; Spirit; Life; Truth; Love; all substance; intelligence." ^{Science and Health, p. 587.} Since there can be no real power opposed to God, the All-in-all, our understanding of and trust in Him bring into our experience safety and guidance in the most suitable way, whatever the situation. Also, when we listen and respond to God's direction we become conscious of others as the spiritual offspring of God, divine Love.

True prayer is not a complicated ritual of pleading with God for help or even for a better view of our fellowman. Effective prayer involves simple, childlike obedience to spiritual intuition, yielding to the eternal facts that man is ever at one with his creator, divine Mind, and therefore cannot be tricked, intimidated, or victimized. Further, man, in God's image, cannot be condemning, aggressive, abusive, or injurious. These traits have no spiritual source and therefore cannot have any effect. Man cannot be separated for a moment from God's love, reflected in spiritual power and guidance.

In the Old Testament we find an account of how the king of Syria tried in vain to capture the army of Israel. ^{See II Kings 6:8–12 .} The spiritually-minded prophet Elisha discerned each plan and warned the king of Israel in advance, thereby preventing attacks and saving everyone. God's inexorable all-power is ever in force and finds expression only in what is good and beneficial. As we become conscious of such truths, we realize more of the power of spiritual, intelligent good in our own lives. This will help to dismantle the seeming power of evil in our communities and in the world as well.

The question may arise: But what good does prayer do thousands of miles away from a scene of threatened crime, criminal activity, or even terrorism to protect and guide those living in the immediate danger area? Christian Science explains that our prayers for others, near or far, are beneficial because prayer is an affirmation of divine, infinite Truth. This may seem obscure until we realize that, in reality, God, divine Mind, is in perpetual control of His creation—in all places, at all times. Our understanding of the universal and absolute nature of His control contributes to bringing about harmonious resolutions and adjustments in the human situation, near or far, wherever evil seems to have a hold.

And so it can be for those in danger of being victimized by violent treatment, suffering from it or appearing to perpetrate it. We can help them all through our prayers by recognizing that evil has no place in the ever-presence and infinite power of God, good; by seeing each individual as he/she truly is—already and always secure "in the secret place of the most High." ^{Ps. 91:1.}