Is There No Intercessory Prayer?

From No and Yes by


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         All prayer that is desire is intercessory; but kindling
         desire loses a part of its purest spirituality if the lips try to


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1      express it. It is a truism that we can think more lucidly
         and profoundly than we can write or speak. The silent
3      intercession and unvoiced imploring is an honest and po-
         tent prayer to heal and save. The audible prayer may be
         offered to be heard of men, though ostensibly to catch
6      God’s ear, — after the fashion of Baal’s prophets, — by
         speaking loud enough to be heard; but when the heart
         prays, and not the lips, no dishonesty or vanity influences
9      the petition.

         Prophet and apostle have glorified God in secret prayer,
         and He has rewarded them openly. Prayer can neither
12    change God, nor bring His designs into mortal modes; but
         it can and does change our modes and our false sense of
         Life, Love, and Truth, uplifting us to Him. Such prayer
15    humiliates, purifies, and quickens activity, in the direction
         that is unerring.

         True prayer is not asking God for love; it is learning to
18    love, and to include all mankind in one affection. Prayer
         is the utilization of the love wherewith He loves us. Prayer
         begets an awakened desire to be and do good. It makes
21    new and scientific discoveries of God, of His goodness and
         power. It shows us more clearly than we saw before,
         what we already have and are; and most of all, it shows
24    us what God is. Advancing in this light, we reflect it;
         and this light reveals the pure Mind-pictures, in silent
         prayer, even as photography grasps the solar light to por-
27    tray the face of pleasant thought.

         What but silent prayer can meet the demand, “Pray


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1      without ceasing”? The apostle James said: “Ye ask,
         and receive not, because ye ask amiss, to consume it on
3      your lusts.” Because of vanity and self-righteousness,
         mortals seek, and expect to receive, a material sense of
         approval; and they expect also what is impossible, — a
6      material and mortal sense of spiritual and immortal
         Truth.

         It is sometimes wise to hide from dull and base ears the
9      pure pearls of awakened consciousness, lest your pearls
         be trampled upon. Words may belie desire, and pour
         forth a hypocrite’s prayer; but thoughts are our honest
12    conviction. I have no objection to audible prayer of the
         right kind; but the inaudible is more effectual.

         I instruct my students to pursue their mental ministra-
15    tions very sacredly, and never to touch the human thought
         save to issues of Truth; never to trespass mentally on in-
         dividual rights; never to take away the rights, but only
18    the wrongs of mankind. Otherwise they forfeit their
         ability to heal in Science. Only when sickness, sin, and
         fear obstruct the harmony of Mind and body, is it right
21    for one mind to meddle with another mind, and control
         aright the thought struggling for freedom.

         It is Truth and Love that cast out fear and heal the sick,
24    and mankind are better because of this. If a change in
         the religious views of the patient comes with the change to
         health, our Father has done this; for the human mind
27    and body are made better only by divine influence.




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Love is the liberator.