One evening a little girl I knew was happily building a castle with wooden blocks. She stopped, however, when the pieces wouldn't fit, and without a moment's hesitation called out, "Help me, Daddy." This plea brought her loving parent's immediate assistance.
As I observed this simple display of childlike confidence, I thought, "If adults would only turn as wholeheartedly to their heavenly Father, how much more easily would complex, challenging problems be resolved!"
Each one of us, regardless of circumstances or problems, can turn immediately to God, divine Love, our ever-present help.
Christ Jesus taught this. He said, "If y then, beign evil, know how to give good gifts unto you children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Matthew 7:11)
In the chapter entitled "Prayer" in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, writes (p. 1), "The prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faiththat all things are possible to God, -- a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfed love."
I know many people who have gained this spiritual understanding of God which is the divinely effective "asking" of unselfed love. As one bases his prayer on a desire to know more of God's spiritual, perfect creation, he is seeking divine help in the most effective way possible. Christian Science shows that true prayer is the discernment, through spiritual understanding, of God's perfect universe, including man.
Acknowledging the truth of man's inseparable relationship with God, divine Mind, who knows and imparts only good, one brings his consciousness into line with spiritual perfection, and harmony replaces discord. The understanding of God's all-pervading goodness, of His constant love for all His children, is effective prayer.
Through my study and application of Christian Science, I have been able to demonstrate to a heartwarming degree the understanding of God's ever-presence and ceaseless love that sustains us under all conditions. And I have found peace, joy, ability and good health. The acknowledgement that we are spiritual, the reflection of infinite Life and Love, is prayer that heals.
In the Bible is this eternal assurance: "With us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles" (II Chronicles 32:8) How comforting to know that we always have instant recourse to our Father's ever-present love, that whatever our particular battle may be -- physical, financial, emotional, moral -- we may ask God for help, confident of obtaining the victory!
