Praying for health

“. . . pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

That’s what it says in the Epistle of James (5:16).  And it’s what came to mind while reading a study just released by the American Psychological Association that shows an increase over the past decade in the number of Americans who pray for their health.

According to the study, which was published in this month’s Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, the percentage of people who pray for health climbed to 49% in 2007.  That’s up from 43% in 2002, and a big jump from 13% back in 1999.  The study also acknowledges the need for health care providers to gain a better understanding of how prayer affects health and well-being.

Interestingly, there's no indication in the study as to the types of prayer people used.  That’s understandable, I expect, as approaches to prayer are so individual that it might be difficult in this context to sift through them all.

One thing I've discovered in the study of Christian Science, though, is that there are some basic essentials underlying all prayer — essentials that make prayer effective, regardless of the particular expressions prayer may take.

Mary Baker Eddy, the Founder of Christian Science, writes in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures:

“The test of all prayer lies in the answer to these questions: Do we love our neighbor better because of this asking? Do we pursue the old selfishness, satisfied with having prayed for something better, though we give no evidence of the sincerity of our requests by living consistently with our prayer?” (read more) 

 And in her book, No and Yes, she says:

“True prayer is not asking God for love; it is learning to love, and to include all mankind in one affection.”

When praying to overcome obstacles or problems in our lives (even when it comes to health), the first question we might ask is:  Are we “learning to love” in our prayer?  If thinking and health are related, as Christian Science teaches, then in proportion as loving thoughts predominate and negative thoughts are subdued, the more harmony and stability will be experienced, both mentally and physically.

The second question we might ask is:  Are we “living consistently with our prayer”?  This one, I'd say, requires some soul-searching.  Might we start by showing a little more kindness and affection to family members and friends, for example?  Maybe we could extend a helping hand to a neighbor or co-worker, even before a request has been made.  Small acts of love add up to big blessings — for one and all, — blessings which are manifested in infinite ways, including in better health and better living.

These are some of the questions I've found helpful to consider when it comes to prayer.  And they seem especially pertinent in light of the new APA study.  For me, these trends not only point to a growing tendency among Americans to turn to prayer, they also indicate an increasing activity of love.

Interested in learning more about healing through prayer in Christian Science? (click here)