Are you in serious hot water in this faltering economy? Perhaps you’re without a job, or your job is inadequate to pay your bills and meet your needs. Listen in on a conversation I had with friend David during a Fellowship lunch at church recently.

David remembered his Sunday School teacher told him never to be one of those “tea bag Christian Scientists.” Say what? I said. These are the folks who wait until they’re in hot water to activate their faith, he explained. I was especially interested because David had just gone through an unusual financial challenge in having to close the bank where he was CEO and then having to find another job pronto. (See previous blog, A Bank Not Behaving Badly.) And now, over honey- baked ham and sides, he was telling us he’d found another fine job at a different bank in our community. We rejoiced with him. He had prayed and his prayers were effective.

We all know David’s no “Tea Bag Christian Scientist.” Long before the hot water poured down he’d been praying consistently over daily challenges. His very sick puppy was healed through prayer, and prayer brought about a remarkable recovery for his mother who’d broken a hip. His earlier bank problems were resolved ethically and harmoniously and he credits prayer for each step. Others were also praying along with him during these times.

Now I hear my friend Cindy, a practicing Christian of another denomination, has also been praying for a better personal economy. Her “hot water” situation was that she needed more income, and fast. As a self-employed housecleaner, Cindy needed more clients to replace those who’d found they could no longer afford her services. Cindy is a faithful churchgoer and constantly brings prayer to her concerns about family and relationships. She’s no Tea Bag Christian.

Soon Cindy’s prayerful, expectant attitude revealed practical, helpful ideas. She asked her son who was employed by a large automotive service if he could suggest any business people who might need cleaning services. He could and they did! One has already employed her to clean two of his buildings and Cindy’s excited about new ways to reach others.

What if you’re not a “prayer type?” Hold that thought. Your expression of gratitude for good already received, your humility, your careful listening for good ideas and willingness to act on them—guess what? That’s prayer! You don’t need to wait for hot water to bring out all these wonderful spiritual qualities. You can lean on them now.

“To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings.” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, Pref. vii) So lean.