Testimony of Healing March 10, 1928 Issue

Christian Science gave me the understanding of the...

Asa C. Phelps

Christian Science gave me the understanding of the truth which healed me of the desire for tobacco. I had on previous occasions, before having any understanding of this Science, stopped smoking for short periods by what is called will-power, but would take it up again because then I knew of nothing to pin my faith to that actually sustained. At such periods it seemed to me as if I were doing nothing more than playing the rôle of a self-righteous martyr. Christian Science, however, was instrumental in bringing about a changed viewpoint. Its teachings and its demonstrations offered unquestionable proof to me that the things I had thought to be material or physical—genuine—were but erroneous beliefs. Through the light thrown upon the Scriptures by the pondering of the instructions of Christian Science, and a sincere desire to understand more of the truth it teaches, I came to see more and more plainly that the tobacco habit was a thought habit; in other words, I awoke to the understanding that the tobacco habit had its claim to existence and effect merely in thought or belief. It then became apparent to me that the supposed physical reactions, such as constipation and other discordant conditions, that I had previously thought would (and did) follow from a sudden leaving off of a habit which is commonly credited with inoculating the body with considerable nicotine, were also but thought conditions—beliefs.

The teachings of Christian Science next showed me that this Science made even its smallest demonstration of permanent healing on the basis of a humble acceptance of the truth, the same as is recorded in the Bible, that God, Spirit, is All, and that this All, including man as God's image and likeness, is eternally good and spiritual. It then came to me that anything that did not manifest good was in reality nothing; and therefore in giving up tobacco I would in fact be giving up nothing real, nothing God-created, and that my true self could not suffer, but always be blessed in conformance to God's law. So I found I could much more readily put aside the use of tobacco than I had before thought possible. And when I stopped its use, I stopped abruptly. There were no ill effects.

When I recount how beneficial are the result from the laying down of just this one habit alone, how it influenced for the better my outlook and environment,—places frequented, companions, sense of health,—I cannot thank God too much or fail deeply to appreciate our beloved Leader, Mrs. Eddy, who followed so closely in the footsteps of Christ Jesus, the great Way-shower, as to receive this final revelation of Truth enabling us to demonstrate the nothingness of evil, this Holy Ghost or divine Comforter which the Master promised to send in his name.

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