While
all sacred writings affirm that when we are in harmony
with the Infinite we are automatically prospered, the
Christian scriptures lay greater stress on prosperity
through spiritualizing the mind than any other of the
bibles of the world. Our Bible, truly understood, is a
book for the emancipation of man from the thralldom of
every evil, every lack and limitation.
From
the teaching of Moses, running through the thought of
the major prophets and culminating in the brilliant manifestation
of the Mind of Christ through the thought of Jesus, over
and over this idea is reiterated -- that if we live in
harmony with the Spirit everything we do shall prosper.
Religious
Science teaches that through right knowledge of the Science
of Mind we may definitely and consciously demonstrate,
that is, prove or show forth, practical results of spiritual
thought (Read carefully the entire section on the control
of conditions in The Science of Mind textbook). Countless
thousands have proved this principle and there is no longer
any question about its effectiveness. The greatest guide
we have for this is found in the inspired writings of
the Christian scriptures.
"Prove
me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not
open to you the windows of heaven, and pour out a blessing,
that there shall not be room enough to receive it."
"And he shall pray unto God and he will be favorable
unto him." "For every one that asketh receiveth;
and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh
it shall be opened." "Ask, and it shall be given
you." "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask
in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."
Whether
we choose to call this faith or understanding makes no
difference. It really is faith based upon understanding;
it is belief elevated to the mental position of unconditioned
certainty. For Jesus said that whoever could believe ".
. .and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe
that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he
shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you,
What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that
ye receive them, and ye shall have them."
Nothing
could be more definite or concise than this statement.
We must actually believe that there is a power, an intelligence,
a law, which will make this desire manifest in our experience.
There
is a Law of Mind which follows the patterns of our thought.
This Law works automatically. It will always respond by
corresponding. Thus Jesus said that it is done unto us
as we believe. The word is important since it implies
that the creative Intelligence, in working for us, must
work through us at the level of our acknowledgment of
It as working. This is working in spirit and in truth,
and according to law. And there must be law even in prayer,
if there is to be cosmic order.
Man's
mind has been likened to the "Workshop of God"
for it is here that the tools of thought consciously may
fashion destiny, may carve out a new future. We have been
told to do this according to the pattern shown us on the
Mount.
This
means that we are to formulate our ideas on the premise
that there is an all-sustaining Power and an all-pervading
Presence around us, and an immutable Law ever serving
us when our lives are in harmony with the Divine Nature.
Through an exact law, demonstration follows the word of
faith. This calls for a surrender of the intellect to
a spiritual conviction which dares to believe, disregarding
any evidence to the contrary.
We
must continue in faith until our whole mental life, both
conscious and subjective, responds. If we would pray and
prosper we must believe that the Spirit is both willing
and able to make the gift. but since the Spirit can only
give us what we take, and since the taking is a mental
act, we must train the mind to believe and to accept.
This is the secret of the power of prayer. One need not
have great intellectual attainment to understand these
simple things. Jesus said that the Kingdom of Heaven is
reached through childlike faith. Again he said, "I
thank thee, O Father . . . because thou hast hid these
things from the wise and the prudent, and hast revealed
them unto babes."
Just
as the teachings of Jesus announce the Divine Presence,
so his works prove the presence of a Law which received
the impress of his word and brought it forth into form.
He asked no authority other than that which was demonstrated
through his act. Since Jesus taught the most definite
system of spiritual thought ever given to the world, as
well as the most simple and direct, and since he was able
to prove his teaching by his works, we could do no better
than to follow his example. There are two ways in which
we may do this. One is blind faith, and we cannot doubt
its effectiveness; the other is through coming to understand
what the teachings of Jesus really meant. Thus knowledge
passes into a faith so complete that it is unshakable.
Jesus
left very implicit instructions relative to prayer. He
said, "Judge not according to appearances."
That is, do not be confused by the conditions around you.
This is the first great instruction of Jesus -- to have
such faith and confidence in the Invisible that appearances
no longer disturb you.
Next
we come to the preparation for prayer. Having shut out
all appearances to the contrary, enter the closet. To
enter the closet means to withdraw into one's own thought,
to shut out all confusion and discord. here in the silence
of the soul, look to the all-creative Wisdom and Power,
to the ever-present Substance. When we have entered the
closet and shut the door to outward appearances, we are
to make known our requests -- "what things soever
ye desire."
Next
Jesus tells us that we are to believe that we actually
possess the objects of our desire, disregarding all appearances
to the contrary. We are to enter into this invisible inheritance
acting as though it were true. Our faith in the substance
of the Invisible is to take actual form. The Divine Giver
Himself is to make the gift, but first we must believe
that we have received it, and then we shall receive it
--"...believe that ye receive them, and ye shall
have them."
This
is a veiled statement of the Law of Cause and Effect operating
in human affairs. When we have believed that we have,
we have actually given birth to the form that is to be
presented. Having made known our request with thanksgiving
and received the answer with gratitude, we must rest assured
that the Law will bring about the desired result.
"Thy
Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee
openly." Everything passes from the Invisible into
the visible to be temporarily experienced and again to
be withdrawn. This is the eternal play of Life upon Itself;
the eternal act of creation. "Thy Father which seeth
in secret himself shall reward thee openly." Rest
in peace knowing that it is done. this profound principle
which Jesus announced (and the simple technique of its
use in which he counseled his followers) exists today
in all of its fullness. It is the very cornerstone upon
which our philosophy is built.
Even
in divine communion we are dealing with the Law of Cause
and Effect. Our prayer invokes this Divine law and causes
It to manifest in our external world at the level of our
inner perception of Its working. Because this is true,
prayer should always be definite, conscious and active.
Prayer
ties us to a Power that is able, ready and willing to
fulfill every legitimate desire; to bring every good thing
to us; to do for us even more abundantly than we have
expected. "Before they call, I will answer; and while
they are yet speaking, I will hear." This shifting
of the burden is important, for when we feel isolated,
alone and struggling against tremendous odds, we are not
equal to the task before us. Life becomes a drudgery rather
than a jubilant beholding. But if we know he burden is
lifted and set upon the shoulders of the Law, then power
and speed come to hands and feet; joy floods the imagination
with anticipation.
The
reflection of an image in a mirror is an exact likeness
of the image which is held before the mirror. So the Law
of Cause and Effect reflects back to us a likeness of
the images of our thought. Thus we are told that we reflect
the glory of God. But too often we reflect the fear and
limitation of man rather than the glory of God.
We
must find new meanings to life if we hope to create new
images which, in their turn, will supply new reflections.
Jesus told us to judge not according to appearances but
to judge righteously. If we judge only according to what
is now transpiring, our reflection of these images will
merely perpetuate the old limitation, but if we judge
righteously, that is, if we look to the omnipotence of
Good, we shall create new images of thought which will
reflect greater abundance.
Prayer,
then, is a mirror reflecting the images of our thought
through the Law of Good into our outward experiences.
What are we reflecting, the glory of God or the confusion
of man? However, Jesus carefully pointed out that before
we can reach this position of absolute power, we must
first have complied with the Law of Love. For the whole
impulsion of the universe is an impulsion of love, the
manifestation of Divine Givingness.
The
Apostle Paul said, "I will pray with the spirit and
I will pray with the understanding also . . ." This
is an instruction for us to combine spiritual intuition
with definite mental acceptance. He is telling us that
the gift of God is to be consciously used.
We
are also told to pray without ceasing, to maintain a steadfast
conviction, disregarding every apparent contradiction,
obstruction or appearance that would deny the good we
affirm. "but let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.
For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven
with the wind and tossed." "To the righteous
good shall be repaid." "The minds of the righteous
shall stand." "Behold the righteous shall be
recompensed in the earth." "The righteous is
delivered of all trouble." A righteous man means
one who is right with the universe; one who lives in accord
with the Divine Will and the Divine Nature; one who lives
in harmony with good.
We
have the right then to expect, and we should expect, in
so far as our inner thought is in tune with the Infinite,
that everything we do shall prosper.
