Does a human problem seem like a ball of snarls, with no apparent place to begin to unravel it? An earnest student of Christian Science had tried, seemingly in vain, to find what needed to be handled in a problem confronting her in order to bring out harmony. After she had prayed earnestly for guidance, her eyes fell on the first words in the Bible (Gen. 1:1), "In the beginning God." Why, of course, she thought, I should begin with God. Did not the master Christian instruct his followers in what manner they should pray? Did he not show them that they should always start with God?
The first words of the Lord's Prayer (Matt. 6:9), "Our Father which art in heaven," not only taught them to start with God, but indicated where God is to be found—in heaven, or harmony. Jesus further instructed them to pray, "Hallowed be thy name." One of the meanings of the word name is nature. In other words, he told his students to contemplate further the nature of God, thus consecrating their thought to good. They were to acknowledge God's government by praying: "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."
Not until they had prayed in this manner of beginning with God, contemplating where He is to be found, dwelling appreciatively on His loving nature, acknowledging His harmonious government—which includes the government of the earth, or universe—were they to ask that their needs be met in the petition, "Give us this day our daily bread."
