Prayer cannot change the Science of being, but it tends to bring us into harmony with it. Goodness attains the DEMONSTRATION of Truth.
God is Love.
The unspoken desire does bring us nearer the source of all existence and blessedness.
Who would stand before a blackboard and pray the principle of mathematics to solve the problem? The rule is already established, and it is our task to WORK out the solution. Shall we ask the divine Principle of all goodness to do His work? His work is done, and we have only to avail ourselves of God's rule in order to receive His blessing, which enables us to work out our own salvation.
How empty r our conceptions of Deity? We admit theoretically that God is good, omnipotent, omnipresent, infinite, and then try to give information to His divine Mind. We plead for unmerited pardon and for a liberal outpouring of benefactions. Are we really grateful for the good already received? Then we shall avail ourselves of the blessings we have, and thus be fitted for more. Gratitude is much more than a verbal expression of thanks. Action expresses more gratitude than speech.
While the heart is far from the divine Truth and Love, we cannot conceal the ingratitude of barren lives.
The habitual struggle to be always good is unceasing prayer. Its motives are manifest in the blessings they bring-blessings which, even if not acknowledged in audible words, attest our worthiness to be partakers of Love.
Audible prayer can never do the work of spiritual understanding, which REGENERATES; but silent prayer, watchfulness, and devout obedience enable us to follow Jesus example.
Sorrow for wrong-doing is but one step towards reform and the very easiest step. The next and great step required by wisdom is the test of our sincerity-namely reformation. To this end we r placed under the stress of circumstances. Temptation bids us to repeat the offence, but woe comes in return for what is done. So it will ever be, til we learn that there is no discount in the law of justice and that we must pay the uttermost farthing.
Sinners flourish like a green bay tree; but looking farther the Psalmist could see their end-the destruction of sin thru suffering.
Sin is forgiven only as it is destroyed by Christ-Truth and Life.
Divine Love corrects and governs man. God is not separate from the wisdom He bestows'.
To cause suffering as the result of sin is the means of destroying sin. Every supposed pleasure in sin will furnish more than its equivalent of pain, until belief in material life and sin is destroyed. To reach heaven, the harmony of being, we must understand the divine Principle of being.
The only civil sentence Jesus had for error was, Get thee behind me satan.
We never need to despair of an honest heart; but there is little hope for those who come only spasmodically face to face with their wickedness and then seek to HIDE it. Their prayers r indexes which do not correspond with their character.
If we feel the aspiration, humility, gratitude, and love which our words express-this God accepts; it is not wise to try to deceive ourselves or others, for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed.
If we turn away from the poor, we r not ready to receive the reward of Him who blesses the poor. We confess to having a very wicked heart and ask that it may be laid bare before us, but do we not already know more of this heart than we r willing to have our neighbor see??
We should examine ourselves and learn what is the affection and purpose of the heart, for in this way only can we learn what we Honestly are. If a friend informs us of a fault, do we listen patiently to rebuke and credit what is said? Do we not rather give thanks that we r not as other men? During many years the author has been most grateful for merited rebuke.
The test of ALL prayer lies in the answer to these questions:
Do we love our neighbor better because of asking?
If selfishness has given place to kindness, we shall regard our neighbor unselfishly, and bless them that CURSE us; but we shall never meet this great duty simply by asking that it may be done.
Dost thou love the Lord thy God with all they heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind?
Consistent prayer IS the desire to do right.
Seeking is not sufficient. It is STRIVING that enables us to enter. Spiritual attainments open the door to a higher understanding of the divine Life.
Without punishment, sin would multiply.
When forgiving the adulterous woman, Jesus said, Go and sin no more.
Mere legal pardon (and there is no other, for divine Principle never pardons our sins or mistakes till they r corrected) leaves the offender free to repeat the offence, if indeed, he has not already suffered sufficiently from vice to make him turn from it with loathing. Truth bestows no pardon upon error, but wipes it out in the most effectual manner.
Prayer cannot change unalterable Truth, nor can prayer alone give us an understanding of Truth; but prayer, coupled with a fervent habitual desire to know and do the will of God, will bring us into all Truth. Such a desire has little need of audible expression. It is best expressed in thought and in life.
Be blessed with Truth and Love.