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THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
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out by it in so far as it is physically possible to do so. Jesus, who was well acquainted with the laws governing psychic phenomena, points out the proper method of
praying,' when he says : "What things soever ye desire, when ye pray believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark, XI. 24.) His miracles furnish ample illustration of his teaching. He invariably asked those who came to him to be cured of their ailments and deformities, if they believed ; and never failed to tell them, after the cure, that it was their own faith which had wrought the miracle. It is recorded that when with his own people, in his own country, he could do no miracle, and marvelled because of their unbelief. Thus, if one has no faith, neither God nor Christ nor any one else can do anything for him.
As regards the prayer known as the Lord's prayer, which was taught by Jesus to his disciples, that has nothing in common with the idea of an appeal for help which has been found to be objectionable, being nothing other than a form of mental renunciation in reality.
Its best interpretation is to be found in the works of Swami Rama Tirtha from which we may quote the following: -
“Man shall not live by bread alone,' Look here! In the Lord's prayer we say, "Give us this day our daily bread,' and here we say that man shall not live by bread alone. Reconcile these statements; understand them thoroughly. The meaning of that Lord's prayer, when it was stated, Give us this day our daily bread,' is not that you should be asking, the meaning of that is not that you should be craving, willing, and wishing; not at all. This is not the meaning. The meaning of that was that even a king, an emperor, who is in no danger of not having his daily bread, even a prince who is sure that the daily bread is guaranteed to him, even he is to offer that prayer.
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