The author is a financial advisor who makes her home in Japan. The Sentinel's Russ Gerber asked her recently about the practicality of prayer in handling her financial and business transactions.

It's true that goodness is power. I am learning that since God is our heavenly Father, we can ask Him whatever we want and expect to have everything we need. We can always trust His direction and guidance.

Some years ago in Japan, several foreign companies decided to issue notes guaranteeing three percent per annum over two years on the deposit of yen. These companies were very sound and highly regarded in Japan. They had a very good reputation and did seminars on the economy and the future of Japan, looking at the worldwide economy. As a financial advisor, I was obviously interested, and I asked them to show me how it worked.

One of the top representatives came to see us and showed me the plan. I had some important clients who were very interested in this investment idea. But the plan didn't make sense to me. I thought, "Well, maybe my knowledge is not sophisticated enough." But I really wanted to understand. And I wanted to present the full picture to my potential clients so they could understand it before making an investment decision.

I had learned from Science and Health that "honesty is spiritual power." But I wondered, "Is this legal?" I didn't want to appear stupid or unsophisticated; I honestly wanted to see how it worked. So I asked, "How do you do this?" And he said that they converted the Japanese yen funds into US dollars and were investing these assets. At the time the exchange rate was about 140 yen to the dollar, and all the economic indicators in Japan pointed to a weakening yen. That's what this company was basing its return guarantee on.

"Well, what if you're wrong?" I asked.

And he said, "We're never wrong when predicting on the currency." He kept saying it was impossible that they could be wrong about this.

I said, "OK. Well, imagine if, against all odds, the currency strengthens. Show me some collateral so that, in case you're wrong, you can reimburse at least the initial investment of my clients."

"Well, we'll get back to you," I was told.

In the meantime, I had my clients calling me, eager to invest. Many people were interested. We were talking huge amounts of money. I thought, I could probably retire—it was so big. But I was still expecting these representatives to show me collateral, because the plan didn't make sense to me. And I felt it was not right. So, when my clients called I said, "I'm sorry, but I'm not satisfied with their guarantee. Therefore, I cannot recommend it to you."

A few months later, the yen had—against all odds—strengthened against the US dollar. And I read in the Financial Times that many funds went into this guaranteed note. If you've seen the movie Shogun, you may know that the Japanese people, if they trust someone, will just follow, without much questioning. They had trusted this company, so they did not question it.

I was happy that I had been honest about not understanding, even though I might have looked stupid or lacking in knowledge. It was the desire to be honestly able to understand something that helped me protect my clients from investing in something that went very wrong. It is true: Honesty is spiritual power.

When my boss saw the news story about the scandal, he came to me and gave me a big kiss on the cheek and thanked me.

Another time, we had some guaranteed funds that invested in futures and hedge funds for foreigners. But one of the bosses I was working for used to say that there was hardly any margin for the company and that I should concentrate on other products that had more margin for the company.

But I had learned that what was good for one had to be good for everyone. And I thought, "If it's good, I want it. If it's not good, I don't want it." I wanted to practice the Golden Rule—to "do unto others as I would have them do unto me." And sometimes it's quite challenging, when you want to reach goals for a company. But I stayed the course and really did my best to follow the Golden Rule as much as my understanding would allow.

A few years later, these guaranteed funds over four years did 147 percent. That meant that even if the market went down, my clients would be protected. And they even made profits, even in falling markets. This success has given me so many contacts, developed so many good relationships, that it's been absolutely incredible.

Another aspect of the economy in Japan is housing. It's so expensive! You need to pay five or six months' rent to be able to move in somewhere—two months' deposit, two months for the owner, the first one month's rent. And sometimes another extra month for the agent. And on top of this, you must have a guarantor who says that if you are unable to pay your rent, he or she will pay for you.

When I first got to Japan, I had nothing. I was teaching French and sharing an apartment. One day some yakuza (Japanese mafia men) came to the door and said that the owner of the apartment owed them money. The women I was sharing the flat with were very scared. So we left that apartment, and I had nowhere to go. And I certainly didn't have five months' worth of rent.

I prayed, asking myself, "What does Christian Science say?" It says that God is our Father and that if you ask your Father for bread, you will not be given a stone. I really liked that. I thought it was so loving. And I thought of my own father, who would give me bread—and not only bread, but butter and eggs and orange juice!

I said, "OK. Well, since God is my Father, I can ask Him whatever I want, and He will give me what I need." So, I said, "Well, Father, I need a house. Please find me a house."

Then an intuition led me to speak to one of my students. I asked her, "Do you know any Japanese couples who might be moving to Europe for a while and maybe want to sublet—without asking five months' rent?"

The next day she came to me and she said, "Oh! I have found a house. My friends are leaving for Italy, and their house will be empty. They would like to sublet it. And you don't have to pay the deposit and all that. Just one month's rent."

That little house was on a hill, and I could see Mount Fuji. It was all furnished. It had everything. I was just a student, with nothing at all. Not even dishes. The rent was cheap, and the house was beautiful.

Ask, and you receive.