As I began to pray for the world one day, its overwhelming needs made my prayer seem futile. There was violence and hatred on every front. And yet, the Bible promises, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16 What is this prayer?
Effective prayer begins with an acknowledgment of the infinite source of the universe—God, our Father-Mother. The real universe, including man, is God's perfect spiritual creation, as indicated in the first chapter of Genesis. Because God is good, all that He creates must express divine good. Because God governs what He creates, there is a perfect law of harmony controlling everything real. But how do these spiritual truths relate to the violent, hate-filled material world we see around us?
In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy compares the work of a sculptor, looking to his model "to perfect his conception," to the work we all have as sculptors, "moulding and chiseling thought." She asks, "What is the model before mortal mind?" And she continues further along: "Do you not hear from all mankind of the imperfect model? The world is holding it before your gaze continually." Science and Health, p. 248 The "imperfect model" certainly describes the world scene I was observing. Mrs. Eddy goes on to say, "The result is that you are liable to follow those lower patterns, limit your lifework, and adopt into your experience the angular outline and deformity of matter models." These words indicate that the model we hold in thought has a direct influence on our experience. To help the world, then, I must also begin in my consciousness, and decide whether to accept those discordant images as the truth of creation. After her statement about discordant "matter models," Mrs. Eddy continues, "To remedy this, we must first turn our gaze in the right direction, and then walk that way."
