Paul exhorted his followers, "Pray without ceasing" (I Thess. 5:17). This admonition has seemed impractical to many because their concept of prayer has been limited. Even the little child taught to say his evening prayers at bedtime is led to believe that there are stated times and places for praying. Through the ages there have been devout and earnest men and women who, feeling the urge to devote their lives to unceasing prayer, have sought to accomplish this by withdrawing from the world. But this could not have been what Paul expected of his followers when he instructed them to pray without ceasing, for his teachings were based on the life and precepts of the master Christian, Christ Jesus.
Jesus prayed without ceasing. Though he withdrew for periods of quiet communion with God, he set aside no stated hours for prayer and conformed to no ritualism. At all times he realized his oneness, or unity, with his Father. Jesus affirmed this unity with God both through his words and through his works. This constant affirmation of Love's presence and his demonstration of the truth through his sublime healing work constituted Jesus' unceasing prayer. He went daily about his Father's business, healing the sick, comforting the sorrowing, redeeming the sinner, and raising the dead.
The unceasing prayer of affirmation and demonstration is the prayer we learn in Christian Science, as revealed to Mary Baker Eddy. In the first chapter of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy explains this effective, healing prayer as it was taught and lived by Christ Jesus, by Paul, and by many of the other early Christian workers. Reading this inspired interpretation of the true function of prayer, many a newcomer to Christian Science learns for the first time that prayer demands action, as well as petition and affirmation, in order to fulfill its purpose.
