Editorial April 21, 1997 Issue

Staying on track—with silent prayer

Barbara M. Vining

How often at the end of a day have we looked back on what we've thought or said or done, and wished we'd done it better, wished we'd stayed on track with our highest values and goals? Getting off track—perhaps with worry, with actions racing ahead of reason, with stressful words that unintentionally pull people down rather than build them up—this, we realize, is not the most economical use of our days. We'd all like to avoid taking wrong steps on the road of progress—steps that we only need to retrace.

Yet, we can keep on track. There is great hope in the very fact that we desire to bring out higher ideals in our lives. And this desire is nurtured and brought to fruition especially through silent prayer to God. Christ Jesus recommended such prayer by all those who would follow the noble spiritual ideals he sets forth in his teaching and example. He said, "When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly" (Matt. 6:6).

Silent prayer is a way to listen to God wherever we are, whatever we are doing—to nurture within ourselves a receptivity to His goodness and purity. God is always present because He is infinite Spirit, divine Love, filling all space. And He is always imparting His love and wisdom. Turning to God in prayer, we begin to feel His stillness. This quiets our restlessness. Then, by keeping ourselves inwardly still, mentally listening to God, Spirit, we can hear His thoughts throughout the day. Staying close to God in this way points us in the right direction and guides our actions. As Mary Baker Eddy says in her book No and Yes, "Prayer begets an awakened desire to be and do good" (p. 39). Silent prayer keeps our thoughts on track with God's will as the day progresses; and it keeps our words and actions on track as well. And what a perfectly natural thing it is for a child of God—which each of us is—to turn to God for guidance.

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Testimony of Healing
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse ... and prove me...
April 21, 1997
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