Article May 1, 1995 Issue

The discipline that forwards healing

Charles Edward Langton

Discipline is generally regarded as, at best, less than pleasant. Having been a career officer in the United States Navy, I am familiar with the various aspects of military discipline. As a student of Christian Science, however, I have learned that the spiritual disciplining of thought can be every bit as demanding as any form of military discipline—and it's of far greater importance to one's well-being.

There is a higher sense of discipline that is realized as we gain a better understanding of God and our relationship to Him. Then we see how important it is to guard our thinking against the intrusion of unwholesome thoughts, thoughts that would deny our unity with God and cause suffering. To perform this "guard duty"—to put out the images of disease, sensuality, and so forth, and let in God's pure thoughts—requires a continuous devotion to that purpose. Such firm commitment, willingly undertaken, requires a discipline of the highest order! And yet the blessings we derive from such consecration are manifold.

Consider the life of Christ Jesus. His uncompromising obedience and loyalty to God enabled him to triumph over every element of fleshly thinking. His unsurpassed healing work culminated in his resurrection and ascension, proving beyond any doubt the efficacy of divine law and its authority. Just as a military person abides by proven military rules to perform an assigned task, so Jesus adhered to divine law, and in doing so achieved unparalleled success in all that he did.

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