Article January 27, 1992 Issue

How are we being influenced?

What we take into thought makes a big difference in our lives. That's why receptivity to the one God is so important.

Joy Dell

One morning I woke up with a severe migraine headache. I had a great deal to do that day and was thinking of myself as overburdened without enough time to do what I felt ought to be done. Some of the things I had to do were in the category of "good works," but what wasn't good was feelings of self-righteousness.

I had already learned from other experiences, however, that communing with the divine Mind, God, does enable us to feel the presence of the healing Christ, Truth, so I began to pray as best I could. As I did, the wisdom of something Mrs. Eddy says in Science and Health became abundantly clear to me. She writes, "In a world of sin and sensuality hastening to a greater development of power, it is wise earnestly to consider whether it is the human mind or the divine Mind which is influencing one." Clearly, unchristly, negative, mental influences had taken their toll, since I had found myself almost unable to get out of bed. But now in prayer a healthier mental influence was brought to bear on the situation.

I pondered some Biblical truths. For example, I knew the Bible tells us that man is made in the image and likeness of God and that God is Spirit. I admitted, then, that I must actually be spiritual rather than material. I considered the fact that God is Love, that He is the only true cause and creator, and that divine Love certainly would not cause distress of any kind. I prayed along these lines for perhaps half an hour, but the headache seemed worse.

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