What constitutes true prayer, the kind that removes mountains; that says, "Take up thy bed and walk;" that heals and saves from all discordant conditions, both mental and physical, is a question that is well worth consideration, for many Scriptural promises are based thereon. On page 1 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, we read, "The prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible to God,—a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfed love."
We should more fully understand the depths of Jesus' meaning of prayer, for universal blessings are promised to all who come into a proper mental attitude with their desires; as we read in the eleventh chapter of Mark, "What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." "Believe" must mean rather "understand," for the words believe and understand have much the same Greek derivative. These two definitions of the words "believe" and "understand" no doubt have much to do with the use of the prayer of supplication, or faith; for as our textbook says (p.297), "Until belief becomes faith, and faith becomes spiritual understanding, human thought has little relation to the actual or divine."
If we were to read the Scriptures without the interpretation of others, we should have a different concept of them. All the material or doctrinal teachings that we have had might well be likened to looking through different colored glasses, selected to suit the beliefs of different creeds. Through these different theological colorings, different concepts of prayer have been conceived. If the Bible were properly understood we should be well and happy, for it has been given us as a guide to eternal life not only hereafter but here. When these teachings are fully understood they will destroy all discord, poverty included, heal all forms of sickness, and restore to mankind its seeming lost state of dominion. Jesus said unto his disciples: "Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain. Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith."
