Article May 21, 1949 Issue

On how to condition oneself for the challenge of daily life

DAILY OBLIGATION

CHARLOTTE V. ORR

Just fifty-seven years ago The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in its present form was organized by the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, with the loyal assistance of twelve of her students. From this modest beginning the movement has spread until today it is widely known, and countless numbers have benefited by the spiritual illumination it brings.

Mrs. Eddy, who has so blessed and uplifted mankind by her great gift to this age, makes the following request of her students (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 127): "One thing I have greatly desired, and again earnestly request, namely, that Christian Scientists, here and elsewhere, pray daily for themselves; not verbally, nor on bended knee, but mentally, meekly, and importunately."

The request is that we pray daily for ourselves, hold daily communion with God in our own behalf. The prophet Habakkuk says of God (Hab. 1:13), "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity." This being true, when one is in communion with God he is in the presence of One who cannot look on iniquity, because iniquity cannot exist in the presence of God any more than darkness can exist in the presence of light. Therefore, one who holds daily communion with God receives a daily cleansing and purifying of his mental household. Then, when he seems to be confronted with one of error's arguments, he will not have to make so much effort to know the truth. Refuting the error and knowing the truth will through daily practice have become spontaneous.

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