The secret of prayer and its power in the outward life depends upon an unconditioned faith in, and reliance upon, this inner Presence. Prayer has power, not through repetition, but by belief and acceptance. When anyone prays he is dealing with involution, the first step of the creative order. This is what the Bible calls the Word. That which follows is evolution, or the unfolding of the Word or concept into objective existence. The time has come in our evolution when we should awaken to the recognition that behind each one stands the eternal Mind; that each has complete access to It; that each may come to It for inspiration and revelation.

Few people realize that prayer works irrespective of location or religious beliefs. If any prayer was ever answered since time began there was a principle, a law operating, a way through which and by which the answer resulted. And if there is a way, anyone can understand it; and if anyone who understands it uses it, he will be able to prove it. If prayer has been answered it is not because God has been moved to answer one man and not another, but because one man more than another has moved himself into a right relationship with Spirit.

Effective prayer requires an understanding of the way it works. Prayer is both a skill and an art, and, in a certain sense, it is a mental process through which spiritual Power flows into our everyday living. Prayer hooks up the dynamo of the mind with the Power greater than we are. It is our line of communication with It.

No doubt every prayer is answered when it complies with three definite conditions that Jesus laid down. The first condition is that we realize the Divine Presence -- all that we call Love, Wisdom, Wholeness -- the Source of every good thing. The second condition is that we understand that there is a creative Law which responds to us by corresponding to our belief. And the third condition is that we use It for definite purposes of good through praying affirmatively and through complete acceptance of the answer.