ONE vital respect wherein Christian Science differs from other denominations is in its explanation of prayer, thousands having been guided to a realization of health upon a spiritual basis from Mrs. Eddy's teaching on this subject in the first chapter of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." All denominations are substantially unanimous in resting the hope of salvation upon prayer; but when we observe that few Christians believe in the efficacy of prayer as a producing power in human affairs, the affairs which must be dealt with if salvation is ever to be attained, it is evident that prayer is far from being understood. Many profess to believe in the efficacy of prayer, but when we see them turn to every conceivable source for relief from their distresses without the slightest reliance upon prayer, we cannot but conclude that their belief ends with mere profession, however honest the profession may be.
We cannot deny that many so-called prayers have gone unanswered, and mortals receive little solace in the assurance that the evil thing from which they sought deliverance was perhaps best for them after all. The teachings of Jesus emphatically declare that our prayers will be answered, and when we look about us and see them unanswered, we are forced, if we believe in the Christ, to find a reason for the apparent failure. In Mark's gospel we read, "What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." Elsewhere we read, "Believe and be saved;" and "These signs shall follow them that believe," such signs as the healing of the sick, etc.; and again, "Thy faith hath made thee whole." These statements are not admonitions to ask of God the thing desired, and possibly receive the request if it accords with the will of God. According to these texts the fundamental requisite to the attainment of the things desired, is to believe that we receive them. This clearly implies that the good things are already here, and that we shall realize their presence in proportion as we believe.
When we remember that God is Love, divine Principle, we must see that it would be just as futile to ask Love to do something as it would be to ask the basic laws of mathematics to solve a problem. The result will be an actual fact, discernible by human sense, the instant we demonstrate it. If we do not firmly believe, the reproof comes, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" Prayer then, correctly understood, is not supplication or petition, but affirmation; not asking, but declaring and knowing (believing) that the thing desired, if it be good, is a present reality for those who accept the truth. This acceptance is a warfare with material sense, the mental intimation which denies this truth, the cross which we must bear and overcome.
