Testimony of Healing July 14, 2008 Issue

'I WAS COMPLETELY HEALED'

TERESA J. ALLEN

Sometime during the last few years, one of my shoulders seemed to lose the ability to function normally, painfully restricting the motion of my arm. Ordinary activities became a challenge—unlocking the car doors on the opposite side of my van, dressing myself, reaching for objects in high places. Worse yet was the barrage of fearful thoughts that claimed this condition was "part of getting older," "likely to spread and become worse," etc.

I turned to my knowledge of God, gained from my lifelong study of Christian Science, and applied it through prayer. I understood that age is the product of a human belief in time and limitation, but as children of God we can claim exemption from this belief through understanding that God did not create limitations. God is eternal good; His idea can't wear out, become decrepit, or useless. Age and decay have no power over God or His idea—you and me. So I began praying by firmly claiming my identity as a child, or idea, of God. I denied that any fears could have power over me, and instead filled my thought with good.

Different passages from the Bible comforted me. For example: "The right hand of the Lord is exalted" (Ps. 118:16). Exalted can mean "raised" or "lifted up." It helped me see myself as God's reflection, lifted above matter, or illness. I asked myself, How could my hand, or reach, be lacking or limited, when I glorified God? Another helpful Bible passage was, "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Heb. 4:12). This reminded me that time was not necessary to heal the condition (nor had time made it occur) and that whatever I needed to know in my thought and heart, God would clearly reveal to me.