God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. Prayer in Christian Science is based on this premise. Christian Science treatment is prayer, but it is not merely a pleading or a begging petition. It is, rather, aligning the divine facts of being against the so-called laws, limitations, and beliefs of material existence. Treatment is prayer from the standpoint that man is spiritual, not material. Because it is based upon the teachings of Christ Jesus, prayer is effective; it is a dynamic force in the lives of those who avail themselves of it.
In the textbook, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, there is in the chapter on Christian Science Practice a subtitle "Mental Treatment Illustrated" (p. 410). On the pages under this title many demands are made upon the individual in order that he may bring about successful results from prayer or treatment. A study of these pages will bring a clearer understanding of what Christian Science treatment is. The first instruction is, "Christian scientific practice begins with Christ's keynote of harmony, 'Be not afraid!'" Someone may say, That is easily enough said, but how can one help being afraid when confronted with serious illness or accidents?
First, one needs to know that his fear or anyone's fear cannot stop God from expressing His being, and man is that expression. This understanding helps to release one from fear. Secondly, as one becomes more conscious of the presence of God, he adheres to his true being as a child of God. He actually feels the tender love and care of his heavenly Father-Mother and realizes clearly that God's protection is always available and is the only protection he needs. He realizes that divine law supersedes any false law, so called, and that the divine law is governing him, his body, and the world. With such assurance, what is there to fear?
When evil is seen to be without law, substance, and a place of occupancy, what is left of it? One can say with the Psalmist (Ps. 56:3,4): "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me."
Trusting in God and loving Him "with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" (Matt. 22:37) require the acceptance of God's promises of good as valid and an expectancy that they will be fulfilled in the experience of everyone.
Christ Jesus was the outstanding advocate of radical reliance upon the power of God in every emergency. He went about preaching the gospel, healing the sick, and raising the dead. His whole ministry and his own resurrection were accomplished because of his complete assurance and recognition that man is spiritual, not material. He maintained that he was the Son of God and held to this above all else. Since he is our Way-shower, it follows that we too should hold the spiritual concept of ourselves and declare with John (I John 3:2), "Now are we the sons of God."
Jesus declared that we should do the works that he did. When we accept this fact as true, we find that we can avail ourselves of the same power that Jesus did and so overcome the limitations, fears, and ills of material existence.
To maintain an attitude of Christianly scientific prayer means to hold a high standard of thought and behavior. We read in Science and Health (p. 428): "To divest thought of false trusts and material evidences in order that the spiritual facts of being may appear,—this is the great attainment by means of which we shall sweep away the false and give place to the true. Thus we may establish in truth the temple, or body, 'whose builder and maker is God.'"
One who seeks to maintain that in his true being he is the son of God must hold this concept of himself in thought rather than the limited concept of himself as merely a businessman or a businesswoman, homemaker, teacher, salesman, or the like. As he lives up to this high concept, he will find success in his everyday endeavors.
Someone may be wondering how this can be applied to specific needs. Let us take as an example one who is seeking a position. As a Christian Scientist he prays from the standpoint of what he can give to a prospective employer. Understanding that man reflects Mind, God, he knows that he can express wisdom, intelligence, and good judgment in whatever he does. He knows that the Christ is with him and realizes that the angels of God's presence go before him to prepare the way. Surely this is bringing a blessing to his work. And who would refuse a blessing?
In reality, or under God's government, no idea is ever without employment. As long as there are mortal concepts to be overcome in the material realm, as long as there is sorrow or sickness within the range of his sight, one has plenty of employment. He can always employ himself with constructive prayer to help to overcome these false suggestions. Indeed, replacing the beliefs of mortal existence with the divine idea of spiritual existence is true employment.
When fear tries to suggest that one may not say the right thing or be able to present himself in the best light, he may recall that Moses found himself in a similar situation. God told him to appear before Pharaoh, and Moses hesitated because of fear of inadequacy. Then the message from God came (Ex. 4:12), "Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say."
Biblical promises were not made just to one individual or for one time; they are meant to encourage everyone to accept them as true. In so doing, one finds that he can more fully express his true selfhood, and wisdom will dictate to him what to say, how to say it, and when to say it. As a Christian Scientist he will reason that the unfoldment of a divine idea cannot be obstructed by personal sense, beliefs of competition, or lack of ability, opportunity, or recognition. He will know that because he is in reality an expression of the one divine Mind, he can bring to anything he does a power, influence, and ability beyond any mere human capacity. He can feel assured that the qualities of God, which he reflects, will be seen humanly as outstanding ability.
If one is maintaining an attitude of scientific prayer, he will not dwell upon what appears wrong with him when he is confronted with a physical disability; he will hold his thought firmly to what he is in God's sight—the perfect expression of perfect God, whole, harmonious, and free. Since Mind sees only its own perfection, the expression of Mind can be conscious only of perfection in itself. Here again the Christian Scientist is following the example of Jesus, who at the tomb of Lazarus, before there was any apparent evidence that his friend was alive, thanked God for hearing his prayer. The recognition of God as Life, held to firmly and without a vestige of doubt, could not fail to result in the expression of Life in his friend.
It is this positive sense of the allness of God, of His constant presence and infallible power, which makes the Christian Science prayer effective. It means that we shall not let a single mortal concept go unchallenged. Every phase of mortal existence, whether it appears as sin, disease, deformity, lack, or any phase of materialism, must be replaced by purity, wholeness, spirituality, and abundance. The oftener we replace false concepts with spiritual facts and the more firmly we hold to the fact that divine law supersedes all mortal belief, the sooner will the human yield to the divine and our prayers be answered with the tangible evidence of peace, prosperity, joyous activity, and good health.
The first chapter in the textbook is on Prayer, and this chapter elucidates in detail the method of prayer in Christian Science. The question is asked (p. 2), "Are we benefited by praying?" and the answer is given, "Yes, the desire which goes forth hungering after righteousness is blessed of our Father, and it does not return unto us void." This prayer is not a petition for material things, but an earnest longing for growth in grace, for a spiritual understanding of God. It is a firm conviction of the presence and power of God and of the availability of that power to one who recognizes himself as actually the child of God.
Jesus said (Matt. 6:33), "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
