FRANCES W. FOULKS
UNITY SCHOOL OF CHRISTIANITY
KANSAS CITY 6, MO
1945
FOREWORD
It may come through physical suffering, through heartache, or through some failure to accomplish a great desire. It may come while one is undergoing great stress or strain or temptation, or when one is submerged in some personal grief or bereavement. Strange as it may seem, a great desire to enter into close communion with the Father rarely comes first through joy, during prosperity and success, youth and health; for at these times there is a certain sense of security when one seems sufficient unto oneself. Man usually turns to God because of some need that he realizes neither he nor any other human being can satisfy, and when truly man's extremity becomes God's opportunity.
All men travel the path from self to God by way of prayer. Little by little one learns to relax the physical so that God life may enter; to let go the mental so that God thoughts may take possession; to shut out sight and sound, emotion and desire, and become still before God. No one can take these steps for another any more than he can eat for another or sleep for another. Each one must take them for himself, at his own time, in his own way. Through many experiences he learns the way. Through forms and creeds, through prayers of many words, through desires and emotions the soul finally
It may take months, years, ages, to become a righteous man whose prayer availeth much, but time is nothing to the soul who has truly set out to find the kingdom. Once the soul becomes aware of the divine plan and his part in completing it, the way is filled with victories, the path lighted by the angel presence going before to make plain the way. All trials and tribulations are swallowed up in the victories, forgotten in the joy of the knowledge that comes through achievement.
If the time of achievement seems long, pray. If the way seems dark, pray. If the results seem delayed, pray. Morning, noon and night, pray; pray without ceasing; pray in the night watches; pray and faint not; pray for those who despitefully use you, pray with the spirit and with the understanding also; pray rejoicing; be instant in prayer. Let praise and thanksgiving ever rise like sweet incense from the altar of prayer in your heart. Let the joy of inner communion open the way for you to the glory of God, no matter what the outer appearances may be. When this is done there is no force in the heavens or the earth that can keep your good from you; for you have become one with it and it one with you, inseparable, imperishable, eternal.
Beloved, while studying these signposts along the way to effectual prayer, may you feel the Spirit of Jehovah resting upon you. May you be given a "garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness" Isa 61:3. May you in thanksgiving to the Giver of gifts, break the bread of life to many, preach the glad tidings, heal the sick, bind up the broken hearts, open the eyes of the blind, make the lame to leap, carry prosperity where before there was only poverty.
"Freely ye received, freely give": freely you have given, freely receive. Matt. 10:8
Frances W. Foulks
CONTENTS
- Forward 3
- Effectual Prayer 11
- Preparation 21
- Relaxation 35
- Concentration 51
- Meditation 63
- The Silence 75
- The Message 87
- Living the Life 97
- Meditations for the High Watch - - - 111
- Spiritual Remedies for Particular Lacks - - 147
In Thy Presence
Lord, what a change within us one short hour
Spent in Thy presence will prevail to make !
What heavy burdens from our bosoms take,
What parched grounds refresh as with a shower!
We kneel, and all around us seems to lower;
We rise, and all, the distant and the near,
Stands forth in sunny outline brave and clear;
We kneel, how weak; we rise, how full of power !
Why, therefore, should we do ourselves this wrong,
Or others, that we are not always strong,
That we are ever overborne with care,
That we should ever weak or heartless be,
Anxious or troubled, when with us in prayer,
And joy and strength and courage are with Thee.Richard C. Trench
Scripture
"The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working." James 5:16
"If any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not." James 1:5
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Matt. 7:7-8
"They that seek Jehovah shall not want any good thing." Psalms 34:10
"Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace; Thereby good shall come unto thee." Job 22:21
"All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." Mark 11:24 or Matt. 21:22
