THE Psalmist sang of "a people near unto him," near unto God, and Christian Scientists have reason to believe that they are "a people near unto him," the true God. This sense of nearness has been gained by learning how to pray the prayer that is realization of the truth of being, which permits the demonstration of it in human affairs.
What is prayer? We find this satisfactory definition given by Mary Baker Eddy in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 9): "Consistent prayer is the desire to do right." Turning to her book "No and Yes," we note another helpful statement of hers (p. 39): "Prayer begets an awakened desire to be and do good." Thus, a pure desire for that which is spiritual, or scientifically real, holy, is scientific prayer. This desire for spirituality may become so strong, so overpowering, that it fills our whole consciousness. Such prayer, more than petition, unfolds into triumphant declaration and realization of what is true, of what really governs man.
To "call on the name of the Lord" is to worship God. "Worship" comes from the root meaning "worth"; and so true worship can be taken as meaning to be worthy of God's love, of the impress of His allness in our consciousness. Closely allied to worship is praise. It is well to bring into our prayers or worship of God a large measure of appreciation, of praise. To praise is "to value, to appraise, to esteem;" so to praise God may be said to properly evaluate Him—to seek to appraise or appreciate His worth, His allness.
