Run and pray

Two little boys were out in the woods playing. Suddenly it began to rain. As the youngsters started home, the rain developed into a severe storm replete with ominous flashes of lightning and loud claps of thunder. The boys were scared. One youngster said, ''Let's stop and pray.'' The other stated firmly, ''No, let's run and pray.''

That's the wonderful thing about prayer. Whatever we're doing - even if we're running - we can pray. We need only turn to God, to the one Mind, because God's presence and all-power are precisely where we are. And when we do turn to God, we can expect results!

Certainly quietness and dedicated study of the Bible are essential to spiritual development and, in many instances, to healing. Yet there may also be times when the situation requires quick action. Perhaps we cannot stop our activity or even take time to seek human help. This doesn't mean, however, that we are deprived of God's care. Right where we are we can direct our thought to Him and recognize His absolute control. The prophet wrote, ''The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.'' n1

n1 Zephaniah 3:17.

Just as a quick flick of a light switch extinguishes the darkness, so decisive trust in God removes fear; and with the removal of fear, harmony is restored.

On one occasion when two family members and I were traveling, we had an opportunity to prove the immediate efficacy of prayer to God. Just as our airplane was taking off, there was a loud, unusual sound. The pilot announced that we had a problem and were returning to the airport. There was complete silence on the plane. I'm sure everyone, in his or her own way, was praying for our safety. Certainly our family was holding to the fact that God is All. As the Bible assures us, ''The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.'' n2

n2 Deuteronomy 33:27.

There was a quiet feeling of assurance and a stillness over the next several minutes as the plane returned to the airport. There were emergency vehicles waiting with flashing lights, and although the plane had lost its hydraulic system, we did land without incident.

The book of Hebrews provides a resounding declaration of God's almighty power: ''The word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword.'' n3 Through prayer we can quickly feel the powerful presence of divine Love, comforting us, steadying our faith, removing fear and the discord accompanying it.

n3 Hebrews 4:12.

Whatever the situation, God never fails! If we are embroiled in a heated discussion where human wills conflict, we can help resolve the situation by quietly turning to God, knowing that there is only one genuine Mind and that all parties involved are under the jurisdiction of this Mind. Even if an alarming situation arises, the power of infinite Love is there to protect and direct.

The Gospel of Mark records an incident when Jesus and the disciples, traveling by ship, encountered a violent windstorm. Jesus was asleep, and the disciples, who were fearful, awoke him, saying, ''Master, carest thou not that we perish?'' Jesus' actions were direct and decisive. ''He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still.'' The account then tells us, ''The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.'' n4

n4 See Mark 4:35-41.

Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, observes: ''When an accident happens, you think or exclaim, 'I am hurt!' Your thought is more powerful than your words, more powerful than the accident itself, to make the injury real.

''Now reverse the process. Declare that you are not hurt and understand the reason why, and you will find the ensuing good effects to be in exact proportion to your disbelief in physics, and your fidelity to divine metaphysics, confidence in God as All, which the Scriptures declare Him to be.'' n5

n5 Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 397.

Clearly it is our God-derived right to claim our immediate dominion as His child. The healing results will in each instance reaffirm the unshakable spiritual truth that God is indeed All. DAILY BIBLE VERSE The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer. Psalms 6:9

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