Prayer is the prelude to successful enterprise. In Christian Science no success is worthy of the name unless it is the result of honest, earnest, unselfed prayer. When God is understood through prayer, His purpose is made plain. It may not be a way which one has outlined, it may not even be the way which one has previously approved, but when spiritual conviction occupies human consciousness, then the treasures of Truth are demonstrated and Mind manifests its unerring jurisdiction.
A members' meeting in a Church of Christ, Scientist, just as surely as any other important occasion, requires the preparation of prayer. The business transacted at such meetings demands thoughtful decisions by each member, but the success of the meeting will be determined primarily by prayer. One who has entered "the secret place of the most High" (Ps. 91:1) steps into a church meeting with wisdom in his thinking and love in his heart. He is humble and confident. One so prepared will not be disturbed during the meeting by a prolonged discussion, and even dissension will not break his calm conviction that the Christ controls the wind and the waves of controversy. Many beautiful demonstrations of supply, unity, development, economy, and unselfed service take place at church meetings. But such demonstrations do not just happen; they are the result of individual and collective prayer. The influence of human will is ruled out of a church meeting by the recognition that the divine will alone controls the thought of all members and that the ever-presence of the one Mind assures unity of action.
Each member brings his tithe to the meeting. No one should come empty-handed in this respect. Mary Baker Eddy defines the word "tithe" on page 595 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" in part as, "Homage; gratitude." Homage signifies the acknowledgment of the omnipotence of God; gratitude, the outflowing thankfulness for Love's grace and affluence.
