Do you take time out to pray? Everyday? It’s important to staying healthy and well.
Too often, the mortal mind would run us mentally and physically ragged, starting each day with a long list of to-do items that keep us so busy from dawn to dusk that we feel like we have no time to pray, study and grow spiritually.
But this does not have to be! We can take command of our schedule and take time out for the most important activity of all—the pursuit of spiritual growth.
We always have time for our priorities. If spiritual growth is a priority, we will get it in no matter what.
Learning to pray regularly and demand spiritual growth is part of loving yourself.
It’s not loving to yourself to let material priorities govern your agenda to the detriment of your spiritual growth.
When you fill the fuel tank on your car, you know you can drive a certain number of miles, and then you need to refuel.
Likewise, with your spiritual fuel tank—your consciousness of spiritual truth—you need to keep it full! Don’t let it deplete to empty and leave you stranded on a ditch bank somewhere in a remote territory.
Take time out to pray. It can be early in the morning, in the middle of the day, or an hour before you go to bed. Whatever works for you and brings the best results. It’s worth the effort.
The inspiration you gain from meaningful communion with God will bless every activity of your day. It will make all the other activities flow much smoother. It will bring answers to your thought much quicker. It will harmonize relationships, resolve conflicts and demonstrate supply. It will bless you more than any other priority. It will be the overriding one most important action you take.
Love yourself today. Take time out to pray!
“Watch and pray.” Jesus Christ, Matt. 26:41
Thank you Evan for such a lovely way of explaining why Daily Prayers and communication with God is so important in our life.
We should not give away all our precious time on earth to achieving the glitter of material comforts and ambitions, that we don’t have sufficient time for our higher and more precious goal of spiritual growth, which alone brings us everlasting happiness, peace and harmony.
Refuelling our spiritual energies with prayers and listening to the messages from God, takes us a long way to richer and higher rewards of good relations, peace of mind, good health, satisfaction and divine joy, which riches, luxuries and status can never give.
Thanks Evan. This brings me directly to the following, as mentioned last week by one of your readers. I thank her for reminding me of this article and am endeavoring to use it daily.
1. “OUR DAILY IDENTIFICATION WORK”
BY ARTHUR P. Wuth.
-The Christian Science Journal – February, 1978
“TO IDENTIFY YOURSELF TO YOURSELF AS THE EXPRESSION OF GOD’S BEING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK YOU DO EACH DAY.
WHO AM I?
I AM AN INDIVIDUAL SPIRITUAL CONSCIOUSNESS.
WHAT AM I?
I AM THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD, A SPIRITUAL IDEA, AN EXPRESSION OF THE INFINITE, THE REFLECTION OF GOD’S BEING.
WHERE AM I?
I AM RIGHT HERE IN GOD’S UNIVERSE, NEVER OUTSIDE HIS PRESENCE, CONTROL OR INFLUENCE. BECAUSE I AM GOD CENTRED, I AM ALWAYS IN MY RIGHT PLACE.
WHY AM I?
I EXIST TO FULFIL GOD’S WILL, TO BEAR WITNESS TO WHAT HE IS, TO GLORIFY HIM, TO MANIFEST HIS QUALITIES.
WHEN AM I?
I EXIST IN THIS MOMENT, RIGHT NOW, ALWAYS, IN ETERNITY, NEITHER PAST NOR FUTURE, BUT IN THE ETERNAL NOW
jhp thank you for letting us know about Arthur P. Wuth’s article.
The segment you posted will now sit with me at my “Prayer Station”
as it perfectly embodies the Truth of our being.
Thank you for the reminder of this article! Very helpful!
Thanks Evan
Despite being a life-long Christian Scientist, until last year, I didn’t have “no matter what” set aside prayer time each day. Last year, I decided I would do it for a year whether it made a difference or not. I would just practice it and not check for results.
Sometimes it’s a half hour in the morning. Sometimes, it’s five short times in a busy business day. I figured if the entire Muslim world can take time to praise God five times during the day, then I can do it too. Sometimes it’s a peaceful dedicated time at night. The difference is that I do it intentionally every day in some way. I try to listen for the appropriate way, and time, for that day. It is rarely the same from day to day, but it happens intentionally every day. It’s like practicing a sport.
It has made all the difference. Thank you, Evan.
Another keeper!
Goes perfectly with yesterday’s Lift
Reminding us that God is Our Everything.
The study and application of Christian Science is the Ultimate and Best Road
Through –And out of–the claim of
Life in matter. Finding this Road
Has made all the difference
In my life.
Bonnie’s reference to this
Reminds me of part of Robert Frost’s poem,
The Road Less Traveled.
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
In gratitude, I am resolving to honor the
Privilege of Choosing God’s Road
By praying more often and more earnestly.
Thank you, once again, Evan.
And thank you “jhp” for including Arthur Wuth’s article on Daily Identification Work.
What a Wonderful Road to be on,
And with you all!
(God’s Only Road!)
:-)))
Being in the practice is an all day experience, every moment open to guidance for the good, confident in the knowledge that there is only one Infinite God, Spirit with infinite expressions of that goodness. Thank you Evan. Another top 10 post where it seems that every post is a top 10.
Josef you have just described something I too have started doing.
It seems to be the natural outcome of the fervor we express to know ourselves as expressions of the Christ. Our every moment, all day long become a prayer and acknowledgement of Truth, Love and Being……
You are So Right On, Evan! I’ve been noticing lately how pushy and aggressive the urge to skip over my spiritual prayer time has become. There seems to be so much in the World, in an Election Year, on the News, etc. that would convince us to stay confused and stirred up and thus to crowd out our quiet time alone with God. I have often had to “fight” for my right to carve out some time to read, study and pray with the Bible and Science & Health. But, it’s well worth it! Thank you for this most pertinent reminder! Love and Grace and Joy to All!
Thanks Evan! I was reading Phil Davis’ blog (CSB) and he made a comment about how “praying” is different than “reading” and how Christian Scientists spend a lot of time reading (i.e. reading the Bible Lesson, periodicals, etc.) and sometimes don’t spend time “praying”. Since reading that, I’ve been more conscious to make sure I make time for the “praying” time even if it means I have to cut back on my “reading” time.
Thanks for bringing this up Brian! That is so true. Sometimes I find reading the lesson, or something else, helps focus my thought for more effective prayer; but the temptation is there to just read, and not pray too.
I was part of a prayer group in my apartment building for a while. It was made up of various Christian denominations. What impressed me the most was how some of the people were able to open their mouths and let prayers flow through them! As Christian Scientists, we often recite the Lord’s Prayer, the Daily Prayer, the Scientific Statement of Being, etc., but do not engage in free-form prayer aloud. I learned a lot about praying with others, which helps me when I am working with someone to help elevate their thought.
Thank you all. What a family of thought expressed. It is a blessing.
Like Brian, I also read Phil Davis’ blog. I have found that praying first and then studying the weekly Bible lesson each morning when I get up, before doing anything else, works best for me.
And thanks jhp for letting us know about Arthur P. Wuth’s article. I will print out a copy of your comment for repeated reference.
thank you for this important reminder! it is very pertinent to myself!
Evan you have brought up two very important points which embody Christian Science Practice,
Prayer and Communication with God. Being new to Christian Science I have been amazed at the transformation of my thoughts and therefore my life. Prayer and communication with God have served as the cornerstones. For instance, one cannot help but to contemplate the nature of God when studying Scripture and Science and Health. At times Gods seem unfathomable, impossible to grasp as infinite, omnipotent, omnipresence, yet in prayer our Mother/Father God presents a way to communicate with us that is so personal, loving and enlightening.
For me study is very important and these study sessions are always followed by prayer. It is in prayer i have discovered communication which usually adds a deeper meaning and understanding of what I had just read. I am also not surprised to often experience a loving rebuke awaiting me, some of which would be rather devastating prior to being able to understand their purpose in light of Christian Science. The Spiritualization of our thoughts, our lives is truly a wonder to behold…….and accomplished by making and spending time in study and prayerful communication…………
Here’s a link to the article “Our Daily Identification Work” by Arthur P. Wuth that a couple of people have commented about. And I haven’t said this in a while, so I’ll say it again now….THANKS to everyone for your comments. I always enjoy reading what everybody posts in addition to Evan’s posting.
http://journal.christianscience.com/shared/view/2drfwqkrjli?s=e
I too am grateful to be reminded of this article. There is a little more to this paragraph that jhp shared: “TO IDENTIFY YOURSELF TO YOURSELF AS THE EXPRESSION OF GOD’S BEING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK YOU DO EACH DAY.” that is very helpful to me…
“Of course, IT DOES NOT STOP THERE. The truths we affirm have to be lived. But how can they be lived if they are not claimed? How can they be lived if they are not affirmed? How can they be lived if they are not understood?”
This is then our continued work…to then LIVE these truths, CLAIM these truths, AFFIRM these truths, and strive to UNDERSTAND these truths.
Thank you Evan for this important reminder and thank you everyone for your comments. (=
Thank you Evan. I am so grateful that the practitioner I started with 62 years ago also stressed the importance of making daily prayer & study a priority – she preferred early a.m. as a minimum, and that is what I have done all these years (even the 45 years I worked full-time) , but applying truths all day long – gratitude prayers at bedtime.
While driving, at various times, I express gratitude for those who designed our roads and freeways, turn signals from inside the car, traffic lights, making traffic lanes, back-up lights, etc., and those who so ably made them all a reality. We know where their ability came from. AND I am grateful to those on our roads for obeying the laws, being courteous when someone needs to cut in, etc. So very much to be grateful for. Thank you to all the responders, especially jhp, ellen and maximo.
Righteous living with our daily acknowledgement in prayer is the best way to begin your day.
Thanks, Evan
Thanks Evan and everyone! Prayer is so important! Knowing God is all plus showing gratitude for that all is the key!
Brian thank you so much for posting that link otherwise I would have missed reading that wonderful article. I have learned so much this week learning about our relationship to God and prayer. This blog is such a blessing and I am so grateful to receive greater insights about spiritual living. I thank every one that contributes.
Brian you mentioned the Phil Davis blog could you make a link for it as well? I would be interested in reading it. Thank you.
Hi Patty…I found Phil Davis’ blog by going to the top of the SpiritView page and clicking on “Resources” (top right of the page) and then clicking on “Christian Science Bloggers”. But the link below will take you right to the blog.
http://www.phildaviscsb.com/
Thank you Brian. I so appreciate your help.
Thank you for this helpful post and the comments. It is helpful to research and apply what Mrs.Eddy says about prayer, and some of the topics she asks students to pray about daily, or when doing prayerful work for the world- to pray for legislators, for example, or prayer for the congregations when in church. She also reminded one student about “keeping her violin in tune”, to be prepared for whatever came her way to be treated. An experienced practitioner told me she knows the Truth even as someone is speaking to her, when a call for help comes, handling mentally and correcting in thought whatever claims are presented as being real, while listening to discern the need, praying for a right response, and reassuring the patient of God’s Allness. We can do this consciously relative to suggestions that come to us in need of clarification as we go through the day, as well as in a focused time set aside for receptive prayer or gratitude to God. I would be interested to hear more about how prayer and specific treatment in Christian Science are the same and ways they may differ… and approaches one might take to praying when someone from another faith asks you to pray for them or someone in their family, but does not ask for specific treatment through prayer.
It varies from time to time but I do read and meditate every morning. I am re reading something I have read many times and find it all new to me again.
Sometimes I listen to the the lesson while I sit and drink my morning coffee on the weekend.
A while back you wrote a blog about where we begin in the morning. I am what you might call a morning person. I realized after reading the blog that part of my morning busi-ness is really mortal mind taking a foot hold in my thought. So I slow down and make sure I read and meditate first.
I also find taking ‘God breaks” throughout the day when I feel the mesmerism begin to start is helpful. I close my eyes and follow my breath sometimes just saying “God Is” or a phrase that comes to me.
I also like to pray as I go to sleep, mostly stating some simple truths. It is a great way to fall asleep. My thought is so clear at that time of day, lying in bed with the lights out.