THE GOOD FOR WHICH WE ASK

INEZ LISLE SCHOLFIELD

The first chapter of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, starts on the same note as the Bible quotations which head it, namely, the certainty that good exists and is available to mankind now. The Bible quotations include the well-known words of Jesus (Mark 11: 24), "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them," and (Matt. 6:8), "Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." The chapter itself begins (p. 1), "The prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible to God, —a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfed love."

Jesus, with his usual simplicity, said with regard to spiritualized desires, "Believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." Mrs. Eddy, having called her textbook a "key" to the Scriptures, uses that key to show that spiritual understanding and unselfed love are necessary for receiving the answer to our right desires. These are obviously of God; therefore the first thing required is the preparation of the heart to desire only what divine Mind has to give. Thus we shall grow through spiritualization of thought into that unity with God, good, in which the prayer and its answer are one.

It is not difficult to see that the prayer which heals the sick and reforms the sinner is in accord with divine Mind. Therefore the power which heals is inherent in spiritual consciousness. This is a great encouragement, as we are definitely asking for that which by reflection is man's now, and which will be ours in the measure that we understand and demonstrate our true selfhood.

If the water of a pool is calm and clear, the reflection of tree or mountain is perfect and identical with the object it reflects; but if the water is muddy or overgrown with weeds, the reflection is blurred and distorted. To obtain the clear image, we do not do anything to the mountain or tree; but we do clear the water of weeds and endeavor to ensure its purity in order that it may reflect the unmarred beauty and grandeur of the scene.

In the same way, it is never divine Love that withholds the good we desire, but it is the disturbing and impure beliefs of the human mind which seem sometime to prevent our seeing and claiming the ever-presence of good, God.

Christian Science enables us to clear away the weeds and impurities of materialistic belief, which are only false concepts, not real obstacles, and which never touch the spiritual facts of being. Christ Jesus assured us that "with God all things are possible" (Matt. 19:26). Whatever is true can be proved; in fact, its existence is its own proof. Thus the promise of Christ Jesus that all right desires are fulfilled if we believe in or spiritually understand God's allness, is as true now as when he uttered it.

To believe and know that it is always God who heals and reforms, and that man's reflection of Him is inevitable and indestructible, may seem at times to take both courage and patience. These two qualities, however, are indispensable if one is to gain the recognition of man's oneness with God, good, a recognition which brings into our human experience the good for which we ask.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit