Here’s a simple question that I think we all need to be asking ourselves: What are we praying for while attending a Christian Science Sunday Service or a Wednesday Testimony Meeting?

Now, some may wonder: “What is he talking about? I’m listening to the readings, the solo, the testimonies, and trying to be inspired!”

But is that why we, as Christian Scientists, go to these services?

Are we really just there to imbibe the thought and atmosphere for ourselves—for our own benefit?  And if so, isn’t that just a form of selfishness?  Isn’t that just a “what-can-I-get-from-it” kind of mentality that at its very core is opposed to the nature of Christian Science to bless and heal others?

Shouldn’t we instead be taking all the metaphysical work that we’ve done during the week via our study of the Bible Lesson and its subsequent revelations, and bringing that uplifted and more spiritualized thought to bear at those services?

Imagine if all of us were focusing on healing—on praying throughout the service—that anyone there, anyone walking through those doors that is looking for healing, would find it!

Imagine if we all were prayerfully supporting the Readers in their efforts to keep their thought elevated to the highest level of spiritual understanding and to fulfill what Mary Baker Eddy requires all Readers in every Church of Christ, Scientist to do, namely, that:

They must keep themselves unspotted from the world, —  uncontaminated with evil, — that the mental atmosphere they exhale shall promote health and holiness, even that spiritual animus so universally needed. (Manual of The Mother Church, p. 31)

That every word they uttered, that every idea expressed was to bring about healing!  That every thought was a treatment and demonstration of the practical and immediately tangible and effective power of omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent, and omni-active God!

Unspotted and uncontaminated!  In other words, fully protected and free from wrongful influences in whatever guise mortal mind would advocate!

And shouldn’t those same qualities be what each of us should be striving to bring to church?  Not relying on the world’s ways and means—the methods of the carnal mind—but on the immediate inspiration and ever-present help of our Father-Mother God!

Mrs. Eddy wrote in Science and Health (p. 345):

When the omnipotence of God is preached and His absoluteness is set forth, Christian sermons will heal the sick.

And if we’re not seeing that immediate healing evidence at our services, then shouldn’t we be asking ourselves some serious questions as to why?

Remember, healing the sick and reforming the sinner is the bottom line. Nothing less!

So, what are your prayers in church going to be about this week?