One of the most powerful , positive forces for change in my spiritual progress in Christian Science has been Primary class instruction, with the annual students’ association meetings and the ongoing student-teacher relationship. These Manual-provided activities have given me an anchor, a focus, a discipline, a structure, and a support in my life.

There came a time in my mid-20s when I deeply desired to know more about God, man, the Bible, and how to heal myself and others. I had a lot of questions about life and its meaning and where I fit in. I knew that this yearning could be satisfied through Primary class instruction—and I wasn’t disappointed. I found that my questions were answered, and I came home with a new spiritual vision of life. The time of class instruction turned my thought squarely in the right direction—toward Spirit and a life of prayer and healing.

Class provided a sanctuary from the cares of daily life in which to probe, ponder, prove, examine, listen, and yield to the grand spiritual truths of divine Science, the Word of God, found in the Bible and the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, which were systematically unfolded throughout the class period. It was a time of great inspiration, but it was also a time for humble willingness to relinquish all in my thought that did not conform to obedience to that Word—a time for laying off the false sense of who I was and putting on the true.

At the end of our two weeks of spiritual education, I was so grateful to realize that the hungering and thirsting to know God better could go on through daily individual prayer, study, treatments; spiritual study projects during the year; visits and correspondence with my teacher; and once a year at association meetings.

I found my life becoming more and more God-centered. I realized I was becoming more alert to measure my thoughts and actions by the plumb line of Principle, to determine if they conformed to the standard of Truth and Love—if they emanated from the divine Mind or from the human mind. My learning how to pray effectively for myself and others naturally continued to develop at this time, and healings came more quickly. I was discovering what Mrs. Eddy wrote of as the essence of prayer: “True prayer is not asking God for love; it is learning to love, and to include all mankind in one affection. Prayer is the utilization of the love wherewith He loves us. Prayer begets an awakened desire to be and do good. It makes new and scientific discoveries of God, of His goodness and power. It shows us more clearly than we saw before, what we already have and are; and most of all, it shows us what God is” (No and Yes, p. 39).

One of the special provisions for our continuing spiritual education is taking part in the annual “spiritual feast” meetings of our association. I found the preparation for these meetings—delving into the assignment from our teacher with an open heart and mind, willing to see and learn whatever I was then ready to learn—cultivated the seed sown during class instruction and prepared it to further blossom and bloom in the years that followed.

At the end of an association meeting one year, after our teacher asked us to pray for the association during the next year, I returned from the meeting feeling inspired and uplifted. I began to pray daily to better understand and appreciate the purpose and mission of my association and my part in it. And it naturally followed that I began to pray daily for myself in a more consistent, consecrated way. 

I began to make “new and scientific discoveries of God, of His goodness and power,” just as Mrs. Eddy wrote (No and Yes, p. 39). Statements from the Bible and Mrs. Eddy’s writings that had been obscure or not understood before became illuminated and clarified. I began to see the Word of God in a whole new way, and became committed to living it in a more conscientious and consistent manner.

After several months of this study and prayer, I realized that this spiritual project was changing and blessing me in ways I had not expected. I saw a dramatic change in my life and my lifestyle. For example, I was watching less television, as I wanted and needed more quiet time in my life to reflect, read, pray, and study. Certain negative character traits were uncovered and corrected, replaced with more patience, tenderness, and unselfish concern. Un-Christlike thoughts and actions were no longer compatible with the newfound spiritual insight I was gaining.

At times, repentance and reformation were no struggle. At other times, it required more discipline, determination, and devotion to yield up some willful thinking. As a result of this yielding, I found that long-held resentment toward a family member was healed, and this healing continues to benefit our family greatly. Workplace relationships were transformed when I responded with love and compassion, rather than reacting to personal sense.

Physical healings followed, too. I was overweight at the time I went through class, and afterward lost a lot of weight through prayer about the situation. My spiritual study also resulted in a complete healing of migraine headaches that for many years had often plagued me (see Christian Science Sentinel, June 16, 2008). A deep desire to help and heal others followed and led me into the part-time practice of Christian Science.

Sometimes it takes great humility and love for God and our fellow man to begin throwing off “the old man” (as Paul refers to in Col. 3:9, 10). However, the blessings that result and the spiritual freedom gained are always worth the sacrifice of a false sense of self. Willingness to be transformed by Spirit will place our feet solidly on the path that leads “from sense to Soul” (Violet Hay, Christian Science Hymnal, No. 64).