The prophet Isaiah no doubt recognized the necessity and naturalness of spiritual progress. How his inspiring words encourage the spiritually-minded to attain a broader outlook! He says, "Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes." The desire to progress is, in its highest sense, an irrepressible longing to be closer to God, good.
Mary Baker Eddy defines "prayer" in the brief sentence, "Desire is prayer" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 1). Certainly there is pure prayer in the heartfelt desire for the good things of Spirit. Far above fleshly appetite is the hunger for spiritual good! Even in the wilderness of human experience, where armies of evil thoughts may claim presence and activity, divine Love prepares a table of unlimited good. The attraction of Spirit is irresistible. Spiritual man desires and is completely satisfied with the good things of Spirit.
Divine Love is eternally unfolding the infinitude of good; and spiritual unrestricted good. In the degree that the human consciousness learns more of God, spiritual unfoldment is externalized in human experience. But if one mistakenly accepts as true the false testimony of material sense that evil is influencing mankind more than good, he overlooks the tremendous leavening power of Christian Science in human consciousness. Economic problems, crime, maladjustments of capital and labor, injustices both national and international —these cannot hide the fact that, in spite of them, mankind is progressing spiritually.
