"The prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible to God,—a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfed love." This statement by Mary Baker Eddy is in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 1). There is a great need for men to pray understandingly. Evil forces seem to be at work endeavoring to dominate and govern the thoughts of men and nations.
Through the centuries men have prayed in some fashion, especially in times of great need. It is natural to pray. Often their prayers have not been answered, and men have wondered why. The reason is not hard to find when one realizes how far from true prayer has been the ordinary concept of it. The Bible tells us why prayer is not answered, namely because we ask amiss.
There is no set form of prayer in Christian Science. Every good thought, every desire to be better, every good and sincere act, is prayer. Right, spiritual thinking is prayer. Like the followers of Jesus, each seeker for Truth reaches a state in his mental journey where he cries out, in effect, "Lord, teach me to pray!" In answer to their longing to know how to pray, the Master gave to his disciples the Lord's Prayer. This prayer, understood and lived, is answered in the healing of sin, disease, discord, and grief; in fact, through true prayer every need of mankind may be supplied. Prayer is the realization of the truth of God's allness, power, and presence and of man's oneness, or unity, with Him.
