Bandaid or Cure?

I’m talking about prayer here.  Ask yourself: do you see it as a bandaid, something that may or may not make any difference?  Or do you see prayer as an actual cure, removing the problem?  Your view of prayer likely determines not only how you pray, but what you expect as a result of your prayers.

Jesus’ prayers were cures.  He knew exactly what to expect when he prayed: healing!  He didn’t wonder whether those he prayed for deserved to be well, and he certainly didn’t wonder whether God would approve.  He didn’t wonder whether there were mitigating circumstances, or whether other things had to happen first.  He went right to the bottom of the issue and healed it.

We can learn a lot from The Master’s example.

Prayer is neither wishful thinking nor guesswork, nor is it human will.  Jesus never doubted what the outcome would be when he prayed.  (See John 11:42 for example)

Expect thought and circumstances to shift as a result of prayer.  Jesus knew it wasn’t man’s outlook but God’s viewpoint that healed.    (See Matt 19:26 for example)

Use your prayers to confirm God’s omnipotence.  Jesus always trusted that God could and would heal, redeem, and save.  (See Luke 17:6 for example)

Every prayer, even the briefest one, is useful.  You always have time to pray.  Jesus, even when the multitudes were crowding him, and his disciples bickering, and the Pharisees hounding, found a way to pray.  (See Mark 6:46 for example)

Let your prayers be cures.  Accept nothing less.  Jesus didn’t.

Melissa Hayden is a Christian Science practitioner in Salem, OR. You can find more information and additional articles at this link.  If you like what you’re reading, click the “add me” button.