Article October 7, 1933 Issue

Spiritual Armor

MYRTLE R. BIGGINS

In contests where skill is tested each contestant enters with the hope of proving his ability to such an extent that his performance may demonstrate his efficiency and competency. Anything less than a perfect performance is looked upon as due to a proportionate failure to measure up to the desired standard. The spiritually right thinker is not working for a material prize, nor is he endeavoring to outdo others. His one desire is to measure up to perfection and attain to perfect demonstration.

Sometimes it is found that erroneous mental arguments and suggestions test the clear thinking and capabilities of the thinker. His safeguard against false moves is to keep clearly in thought the perfect model, so that he may not be confused by false suggestions. If the thinker's motive is honest, his application of the rules correct, and his work earnestly and sincerely done, he will not be swayed from the right course. While he may be impervious to obviously false arguments, he may not be so fully awake to the apparently friendly and plausible suggestions of error. Here great alertness is needed to stand firm and follow our Leader's discerning advice to us in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 113), "He who refuses to be influenced by any but the divine Mind, commits his way to God, and rises superior to suggestions from an evil source." Truth is the safe counselor. Through learning lessons from defeat in any merely personal and human endeavor one may gain the secret of success. Though the experience may seem severe, it is salutary if a lesson is thereby learned.

We read in the Bible that before David went out to meet the giant, Goliath of Gath, the armor of Saul was given to him and he put it on and essayed to go forth. But David had true vision, and so was led to discard Saul's armor, for he had not proved it. Choosing equipment with which he was familiar, he went forward in the indomitable courage and confidence of a sure trust in God to prove God's omnipotence. Thus came the victory of David. With this armor of trust in God, David was able to defeat the claim that evil has power. And through Christian Science we learn that the belief that evil has power and the effects of that belief inevitably fall before Truth understood and demonstrated.

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