The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1944-08-04
Our Secret Weapon

TN HIS allegory, "The Pilgrims
Progress" Bunyan tells how
l. Christian, when going through
the valley OF the shadow of death,
found enemies that were immune to
the sword with which he had van
pushed Apollyon, so che was forced
to put up his Sword, and betake him
self to another weapon called ALI
prayer" When the flends "were come
even almost at him, he cried out with
a most vehement voice, / will walk in
the strength of the Lord God; so they
gave back, and came no further"
Christians sword was of no avail
against the blasphemies whispered
SO subtly in his ear that he mistook
them for his own thoughts, but the
weapon of prayer brought him safely
through the ordeal.
One who lived in England during
the worst of the blitz, speaking Of
the wonderful protection expert
enced by those who sought the way
of escape through prayer, said ii
was difficult to understand unless
one were there, but in their darkest
hour it seemed the whole nation lived
in prayerl Thus did those materially
unprepared for war find themselves
equipped with secret weapon OF
defense. So spiritually empowered
were they with courage and con-
seriousness of nearness to God that
they could prove to the world 1t is
possible for civilization to survive
the barbarous onslaught OF savage
modern warfare. ).
Spiritual power accompanies I'M
derstanding now as it did when
Jesus sent forth seventy of his stu
dents to preach and heal, telling
them, Behold, give unto you power
:. over all the power of the enemy:
and nothing shall by any means hurt
your duke 1919. No weapon OF
the carnal mind can withstand the
Christ-power operative today
through enlightened prayer. In the
light of Truth the carnal mind,
which "is enmity against God" (Ro-
mans SD, is seen TO be lie, de-
ception which vanishes before the
Mind OF Christ.
The rulers of the darkness of de-
ception hold no sway in the realm
of light. Their effort, therefore, is
to prevent The use of our secret
weapon of prayer. Unerring in aim,
instant in action, infinite in range,
and ever available, prayer is as ire
sistible in attack as it is invulnerable
in defense. Nor can the enemy pre-
vent its use by the Christian soldier.
One must guard against resistance OF
the carnal mind to his use of prayer.
Evil would disarm before it attacks,
but the very conflict arms the
righteous and girds him for victory.
Jesus taught us the use of our Sc
cret weapon when he said Matthew
6:6): "When thou prayest, enter into
thy closet, and when thou hast shut
thy door, pray to thy Father which
is in secret; and thy Father which
seeth in secret shall reward thee
openly" Writing of this secret but
effective prayer in Science and
Health with Key to the Scriptures"
Mary Baker Eddy says Up. 15), 'The
closet typifies the sanctuary of Spirit,
the door of which shuts out sinful
sense but lets in Truth, Life, and
Love-" She continues: Gin the quiet
sanctuary of earnest longings, we
must deny sin and plead Gods all
ness. We must resolve to take up the
cross, and go forth with honest
hearts to work and watch for wis
dom, Truth, and Love-" And she
says further, "The Masters injunc-
ton is, that we pray in secret and
let our lives attest our sincerity"
Those who have learned to use
this weapon of prayer are winning
priceless victories. Through prayer,
the risen Christ comes again through
doors which fear has closed, with the
sublime message of triumph, peace
be unto you" THE Christian Science
Monitor.