Inspirational Testimony

ROSE W. HAMMOND

"Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." Is not this Scriptural admonition a bugle call to Christian Scientists? Rising out of the mesmerism of fear, apathy, self-consciousness, timidity, and the like, do they not let their light shine as they express the gratitude with which the understanding of Christian Science has blessed them?

How often one hears the remark: "I wish I had the courage to express my gratitude at a Wednesday evening meeting. It must be wonderful to be free from fear, and to possess the power of expression!" If one sincerely desires to bear witness to the healing power of God, he can gain the needed courage to carry out his desires. In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy writes (p. 89): "Mind is not necessarily dependent upon educational processes. It possesses of itself all beauty and poetry, and the power of expressing them." This statement enables one to realize that, since man reflects God, one can demonstrate the power of expression.

Christian Science is a demonstrable religion. Its Principle and rule must be understood and made practical in one's daily life, if one would experience the blessings which are free to all. The evil suggestions of fear, which would try to make one believe that he is unable intelligently to express himself, can easily be routed out of his consciousness through realization of the truth that "God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." How gloriously comforting it is to know that God, divine Love, has not given us "the spirit of fear," but, instead, the consciousness of love, power, and courage!

A student of Christian Science earnestly prayed to be delivered from the mesmerism of fear which endeavored to prevent her from expressing her gratitude at a Wednesday evening meeting. She asked herself the question, "Why do you feel it necessary audibly to express your gratitude?" The words of Christ Jesus were her answer: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Pondering this angel message, she recalled the statement on page 454 of the Christian Science textbook: "Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way. Right motives give pinions to thought, and strength and freedom to speech and action." She now perceived that inspiration comes from God, and that she must understand and claim it as part of her heritage, just as she must understand and claim honesty, justice, courage. What a revelation! The stone of ignorance had been rolled away from her thought. With this Christly illumination the student realized her freedom, and fearlessly rose to her feet and expressed gratitude for this and for other beautiful healings with which she had been blessed through her study of Christian Science.

Release from the mesmerism of fear can be enjoyed by every conscientious student of this Science. The blessing is free to all, as clearly stated by James, when he says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

Timidity and fear cannot prevent one from expressing gratitude for benefits received, if one feels that his motive is to glorify God. He then will no longer allow these false witnesses to mesmerize him, but will assert his freedom, and stand firm in the conviction that he can no more be separated from inspiration than he can be separated from God, good.

It is not unusual to hear the statement made by those testifying at Wednesday evening meetings, that in overcoming fear they have found that lack of supply has been replaced with abundance and lack of employment with remunerative work.

Our revered Leader, Mrs. Eddy, established the Wednesday evening testimony meetings for a specific purpose. This purpose is to acquaint seekers after Truth with the great fact that the Science of healing, as understood and demonstrated by Christ Jesus, is again revealed through Christian Science, and is available to all. These meetings provide an opportunity for the student to serve as a doer of the Word and not a hearer only. Each one can so fill his thoughts with joy and inspiration that they will overflow into a beautiful and simple testimony of healing which will enrich all who listen.

These testimonies definitely proclaim the fruitage of Christian Science in the healing of sin and sickness. They help to draw seekers to Christian Science, acquainting them with the joyous fact that here is a practical religion, which heals and saves.

"Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

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