Through the study of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, many are gaining the understanding that God is wholly good, and that He is All. Since this is the truth, praising God for His goodness and His allness has a healing, strengthening effect. We do not need to wait for physical conditions or environment to improve before thanking God, but, looking away from the evidence of the material senses, we should press on, glorifying Him and refusing to recognize anything unlike Him as real, powerful, or enduring.

Many wonderful healings have resulted form steadfastly expressing gratitude for infinite good and rejoicing in the truth of perfect God and perfect creation, regardless of what the material evidence claims to present. Many years ago, a student of Christian Science was able to overcome a most trying physical condition of long duration by rightly resolving that she would no longer recognize it as real, regardless of what evidence material sense presented. As she clung steadfastly to the perfection of creation, declaring and realizing that, as Mrs. Eddy says in "Unity of Good" (p. 4), "God is all true consciousness," and that there is no mind to accept evil or believe in its reality, the situation was quickly overcome.

All inharmony results from belief in a power apart from God. Since God is infinite good and fills all space, it is only our acceptance of and belief in a power apart from Him that causes us any physical, mental, or financial disturbance. When we are believing that there is a power which can separate us from God's goodness, we are not being obedient to the teachings of the Bible and Christian Science, which affirm and reaffirm that God, good, is All, and that there is none beside Him. In Science and Health (p. 249) Mrs. Eddy says, "Let us accept Science, relinquish all theories based on sense-testimony, give up imperfect models and illusive ideals; and so let us have one God, one Mind, and that one perfect, producing His own models of excellence."

When we are threatened with sickness or disaster, we accept the suggestion, or do we deny it, knowing that in the real universe, which is wholly good, there is no error? Instead of unreal. In a consciousness filled with gratitude and rejoicing, no belief in error can remain.

It is narrated in the twentieth chapter of II Chronicles that a great host came against Jehoshaphat to battle. As a means of defense, Jehoshaphat "appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord." To praise God is to declare His power and presence, an attitude which must always bring to bear upon any situation the governing power of God. It is further recorded that Jehoshaphat and his followers were protected and freed. Do we sometimes feel that we must see some material evidence of security before we praise God? The very fact that He created all perfect and harmonious, and that His universe is finished and wholly good, is reason enough to praise Him without ceasing. Such constant praise, flowing from a heart filled with gratitude and humility, is as a consuming fire to all phases of sickness, lack, or discord.

We accept the law of mathematics as perfect, complete, and finished. We have an assured, satisfied sense that the law is invariable. We firmly believe that adherence to it will bring correct results, and we know that it cannot fail, should a mistake appear in our calculations. We know the truth about the situation, namely, that the law does not alter; and we immediately set to work to practice it understandingly. So it is with our daily problems. If error of any kind seems apparent, we can declare its nothingness, and instantly praise God, because He is infinite good.

When conditions seem wrong and we permit ourselves to accept false evidence as real, and perhaps rehearse the trouble to others, we are allying ourselves with a lie and are not taking the right course to correct it. On the other hand, if we remain faithful in our gratitude and praise to God for His infinite perfection, intelligence, and power, we are bringing ourselves into conformity with His law, which annihilates all unlike itself. Praising God is a direct blow to sickness, discord, or lack, because one refuses to give error even temporary recognition; and what mountains of fear and dread such firm, righteous mental activity removes! Let us become alert in using this certain means of defense against any phase of evil claiming to attack us.