The Lord's Prayer is one of the precious gifts which Christendom has received from Christ Jesus, the great Way-shower of men. It is the one prayer in which all Christian denominations can unite to glorify God. Mary Baker Eddy refers to the Lord's Prayer as the prayer of Soul, because it turns the thought of the individual away from the testimony of the material senses to the realm of spiritual sense—the kingdom of heaven. This heavenly kingdom our Leader describes in part as follows (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 590):"The reign of harmony in divine Science," and, "the atmosphere of Spirit, where Soul is supreme."
The Lord's Prayer is mainly a prayer of petition, not for material things but for spiritual food, spiritual enlightenment, and spiritual progress. It requires self-forgetfulness and a deep sincerity of purpose to pray this prayer effectively. Spiritual aspiration and righteous desire are accompaniments of all true prayer, for through them thought becomes identified with the Christ and brings infinite blessings to mankind. Through such exalted prayer the individual finds his true selfhood as a son of God and fulfills his divine mission. It is sometimes said that the highest form of prayer is not one of petition, but of instant realization and demonstration of the truth of man's unity with Spirit. Such a state of consciousness is reached in exalted moments through deep receptivity and degrees of progress. Mrs. Eddy refers to this achievement as follows (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 116):"The ultimate of scientific research and attainment in divine Science is not an argument: it is not merely saying, but doing, the Word—demonstrating Truth—even as the fruits of watchfulness, prayer, struggles, tears, and triumph."
When Jesus said to the blind man (Luke 18:42), "Receive thy sight," and to his friend (John 11:43), "Lazarus, come forth," the results were immediate. In both these instances the Master's thought required no steps of reasoning to reach the conviction that man is eternally perfect and at one with Spirit. He knew intuitively the truth concerning man's perfection because of the sinless nature of his mentality. Through the pure spirituality of his thought he detected the human need and met it instantly. He cast out error by the Word—the Christ—healing the sick and raising the dead.
