Have you ever been tempted to look merely to persons, places, or changed circumstances for the solution of problems? If so, you may have discovered it's a dead-end road! The answer may indeed appear to be a change of employment, a move to another location, or some other human adjustment. But in Christian Science the correct adjustment comes from first aligning thought with divine Principle, God, and then allowing God's law of harmony to adjust the human situation. Thought thus spiritualized avoids needless and discouraging detours; it puts aside the roadblocks of self-will, mortal maneuvering, and willful human outlining.

But how does one go about aligning his thought with God, particularly when there may be a pressing problem at hand? One of the practical directives given in the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, is, "Immortal Mind, governing all, must be acknowledged assupreme in the physical realm, so-called, as well as in the spiritual." ^{Science and Health, p. 427;} Such a recognition of the absolute sovereignty of immortal Mind requires spiritual resoluteness in turning away from beliefs of material sense. It includes firm denial of the belief of conflicting minds and discordant circumstances.

Wholly unlike mere human will, this resoluteness is firm trust in the unwavering spiritual truth, already bestowed on man by his Father-Mother God. Exercising resoluteness, along with such qualities as self-discipline and persistence, enables us to surrender either an endless and frustrating round of speculative thinking, or a preconceived idea of how things should be worked out. We can pray the enlightened prayer of the Psalmist: "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law" ^{Ps. 119:18;} —with the assurance that our eyes, our spiritual discernment, may be opened to see the solution to whatever needs working out.

The Bible is full of instances in which spiritually-minded individuals have been able to see beyond the aggressive evidence of the physical senses. This spiritual clear-sightedness was superbly demonstrated by Christ Jesus. He completely discounted the evidence of disease and death. His spiritual vision acknowledged the presence of health and harmony; he was able to demonstrate the omnipotence of God and the powerlessness of evil. His spiritual strength and insight enabled him to confidently bring dynamic spiritual facts to bear on human experience with effectual results.

Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, writes, "The confidence inspired by Science lies in the fact that Truth is real and error is unreal." ^{Science and Health, p. 368;} Thus, the right-now perfection, dominion, and completeness of man's true selfhood is already establised even though we may not presently recognize it. Knowing this, we can resist every argument of discouragement. We can claim our ability to perceive spiritual creation in its unpostponed perfection—its hereness, its nowness.

Truly, spiritual creation has no opposite, no opposition. There is nothing in its entire realm that could be out of order, inefficient, unused, or oversupplied. Everything fits. And it fits perfectly. Each idea of Mind is forever fulfilling its unique God-appointed mission and function. There is no reality in any evil influence or animal magnetism that would seem to hide, reverse, or undermine the evidence of spiritual facts. No claims of fear or ignorance need paralyze or weaken spiritual action. No claim of sin need blind us to our spiritual innocence. Mrs. Eddy assures us, "Matter can make no opposition to right endeavors against sin or sickness, for matter is inert, mindless." ^{ibid., p. 253.}

We can claim the presence of divine Principle and the absolute supremacy of divine Mind. However, these truths need practical evidence in our experience. For example, how can one declare such vital facts and not allow joy to take over his thought and actions—his very being and expression? Even if he doesn't presently feel joyous, he can make the effort to lift up his thought, put a smile in his voice, and refuse to act out the part of a discouraged, downtrodden mortal! Loyalty to Truth and expectancy of good assure that we do it.

Joyous confidence and uprightness are accessible to us through Christian Science, and if we are declaring the hereness and nowness of divine perfection, we will find our countenance and voice bearing witness to these truths. We don't wait for favorable human circumstances before expressing honesty, nor do we need to wait for adjusted human conditions before expressing joy in countenance and words.

Declarations of Truth made alive and practical, and imbued with the spirit of Christlike love, heal. They irresistibly adjust human experience, uplifting, redeeming. They awake us to discover Love's spiritual truths, which provide solutions to every problem.

We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28