Daily Prayer For All Mankind

Written by Robert S Van Atta, March 30, 1929

Of the many inspiring examples to be found in the life of our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, none could be more inspiring than the one revealed in the following lines from "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 220): "Each day I pray for the pacification of all national difficulties, for the brotherhood of man, for the end of idolatry and infidelity, and for the growth and establishment of Christian religion—Christ's Christianity. I also have faith that my prayer availeth, and that He who is overturning will overturn until He whose right it is shall reign." Truly an inspired utterance, a rebuke to doubting trust and drooping faith, and a stirring call to high and noble achievement in which even the most lowly may have part, opening up vistas of vast possibilities for humane and healing service to the human race!

When one stops to consider the apparent power and stubbornness of the world's false beliefs, the well-nigh endless complexities of national difficulties, the number and tenacity of those forces which seek to destroy the brotherhood of man, the seemingly strong intrenchment in the hearts of mortals of idolatry and infidelity, and the gigantic struggles of many noble men and women through the ages who have labored "for the growth and establishment of Christian religion,"—when one considers all these things on the one hand, and then turns to the picture, on the other hand, of our Leader praying each day for the help and healing of this vast multitude, the simple majesty of her statement, "I also have faith that my prayer availeth," is impressed upon one with astounding force. Surely, here is the faith that removes mountains!

Christian Scientists endeavor to follow their Leader; and so it is their privilege to follow her example in praying daily for all mankind. Mrs. Eddy evidently considered such prayer one of our important activities, for she has included in the "Daily Prayer," which, she says, it "shall be the duty of every member of The Mother Church to pray each day," these words (Manual, p. 41): "May Thy Word enrich the affections of all mankind, and govern them!" Paul, the great Apostle to the Gentiles, whose vigorous ministry covered the greater part of what was then the civilized world, gives us this same wide vision of the scope and power of prayer; for we find him exhorting Timothy that, "first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty," adding, "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."

Through Christian Science there is intrusted to this age the grandest and most powerful healing and regenerative influence ever known to the world, the power of righteous prayer based upon a knowledge of fixed divine Principle. The world greatly needs the help and healing which such prayer brings. Every day, through the press, and in fact through every possible channel of utterance, mankind is still uttering the modern equivalent of that cry of distress which came to Paul in the darkness of the night so many centuries ago: "Come over into Macedonia, and help us." Thank God, we now have in Christian Science the means whereby this cry can be answered! What a privilege is ours, what joyous service awaits us, for "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much"!

It is wonderful to feel that righteous prayers are helping all mankind. In the middle of the night some shipwrecked mariner on far-away seas may need just the thought of courage which prayer in Christian Science is bringing to the world. Or perhaps some lone, discouraged struggler may receive something of the feeling of protection which Christian Scientists are realizing in quiet communion with God. Or, again, those tempted by vice or crime may respond to the silent influence for good which prayer in Christian Science is bringing forth.

How many crimes have been averted by the coming of some gentle angel-thought just at the right moment! What anger has been stilled, what discouragement dispelled, what heartaches banished, through the fervent prayers of some unknown watcher in some far-off land! The world may never know who ministers unseen, and those who pray may never know of the far-reaching effects of their true prayers; but what human recognition or reward could equal the grandeur, the glory, the sense of dominion and power reflected in that simple, trustful sentence, "I also have faith that my prayer availeth"!

The Preacher tells us of a little city in the long ago besieged by a great king. Though there were "few men within it," yet there was found in it one "poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city." Wherefore the Preacher rightly concludes, "Wisdom is better than strength," and, "Wisdom is better than weapons of war." True wisdom is spiritual wisdom, and righteous prayer is the exercise, in faith, of this spiritual wisdom.

We could not hope for salvation if it were not equally available for all. Divine Principle knows no special dispensations. It is because Truth is universal that each of us may come into a knowledge of it. Our Leader writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 206), "In the scientific relation of God to man, we find that whatever blesses one blesses all." The converse of this statement is also true—whatever blesses all blesses one. In helping our brothers we help ourselves. The unselfish daily prayer which Christian Scientists offer for the world at large is bread thrown upon the waters; and it will surely come back to them. What a privilege it is, then, to help all mankind by our right thinking, our earnest prayers, our frequent and silent realizations of the truth! And our all-seeing, all-hearing Father-Mother God does indeed reward us openly and bountifully for this secret, sacred work.