Article February 25, 1950 Issue

WATCHING OUR THOUGHTS

ROY L. HARVEY

"Stand porter at the door of thought. Admitting only such conclusions as you wish realized in bodily results, you will control yourself harmoniously." This statement, found on page 392 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, is a loving directive from our Leader to every earnest seeker for spiritual healing. Obedience to its advice enables the individual to forbid the entrance into his consciousness of errors of all sorts.

A study of the fourth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, verses 1—11, reveals that Jesus overcame the threefold temptation of his wilderness experience by just this method of self-control. Our Master, through his keen spiritual discernment, was able to exclude from his thought the subtle suggestions that came to him to use his great Godderived powers for his own personal benefit. When the devil, evil, whispered to him, "If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread," Jesus promptly met this lie with a quotation from the Scriptures. "It is written," he replied, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." He maintained this vigilance through steadfast affirmation of the truth and further denials of error, until the temptation was completely overcome and "angels," or good thoughts, "came and ministered unto him."

The mesmeric beliefs of mortal mind, which would cause one to become mentally lazy or apathetic, must be guarded against constantly. Eternal vigilance is the only method by which the alert Scientist preserves his peace of mind, his ability to think clearly, and his healing power. Error, being only the absence of truth, never anything real, can always be counteracted by positive, clear knowing of the truth of God and of man, His perfect idea, or reflection.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

CONSCIOUS INTELLIGENCE AND HABIT