The Bible—guide to happiness
On a mild autumn evening, as I walk down 12th Street toward Catharine Street in South Philadelphia (called “Philly” by the locals), I hear laughter in the streets. Gathered together on porch steps, friends and families enjoy the breeze. Nearby, at the elementary school, Hispanic and African American kids play while parents sit nearby. Tonight it’s easy to agree with a recent Harris poll that of the top ten major American cities, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the third happiest city in the United States.
Besides Philadelphia, the survey mentioned Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston in Texas, and Atlanta, Georgia, as the top four in terms of overall happiness. All the cities were surveyed with reference to family, spiritual values, and health. I was intrigued when I read that those surveyed in Dallas/Fort Worth are “among the Americans most likely to say their spiritual beliefs are a positive guiding force to them (75%).” Then I found another poll, this one by the Barna Research Group. Its research lists these four cities as the most Bible reading of the ten major cities on the Harris Poll list.
Is there a correlation? That’s hard to say, and I’m not going to speculate, but what is indisputable to many is the blessing the Bible can bring to anyone, young or old, rich or poor, no matter where in the world they live.
The Bible is an ancient document filled with stories and words of wisdom that date back thousands and thousands of years. Whether or not one believes these stories are literal history, the wisdom in them has stood the test of time. As the Bible says, “Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom” (I Kings 10:8 ).
God’s protection was actually in control all the time.
Mary Baker Eddy, the discoverer of Christian Science, recognized the spiritual importance of the Bible to both mental and physical health. In its pages readers find story after story of individuals who were preserved, even in the darkest calamities, through trust in God. Qualities like humility, honesty, faith, and spiritual understanding enabled them to experience the power of God to save and preserve them. Mrs. Eddy writes in her book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, “The central fact of the Bible is the superiority of spiritual over physical power” (p. 131 ).
This positive guiding force of good or “spiritual power” refers to the invisible power of God, of Love, Truth, Life—synonyms for God—which is always present. More than just interesting stories, the accounts of healing and preservation in the Bible are filled with spiritual truths that give light to any situation where discord seems more powerful than good.
When we heed this light, we gain spiritual insights that shift our perception of any situation toward God’s goodness. This change in thought from the material condition to divine Love’s presence changes the situation for the better. It also heals. Here’s an example:
About 13 years ago I broke my arm when I fell while rollerblading. I had a toddler and a six-year-old, so it was important for me to be active. Yet, when I came into the house after the fall, it was obvious that my arm was unusable. My forearm was not aligned. I sat down in a chair and prayed. For me, the Bible has been a constant source of healing and inspiration, so I opened the Bible and the pages fell to Psalm 91 . The Psalmist’s words provided me with the spiritual thoughts I needed.
The psalm said God’s angels would “bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone” (verse 12 ). I realized that the material condition didn’t define my condition. God’s protection was actually in control all the time. It was an actual fact that God’s angels were there supporting me. Even in the moment when I fell. As I accepted that thought, I felt something shift in my arm, and the pain lessened.
I knew I could wholeheartedly trust these biblical truths as my physician. I was immediately able to care for both of my children. Within a week, all pain left as my husband and I prayed together to see that no power could keep me from witnessing the full promise of these beautiful biblical messages. My arm was completely healed.
I love the fact that people in individual countries around the world celebrate the Bible at different times of the year. This week is Bible Week in the United States, but no matter what time of year it is—or what your religious beliefs are—you too can find truths that heal in the Bible.
