Mrs. Eddy says that "success in life depends upon persistent effort, upon the improvement of moments more than upon any other one thing" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 230). Among the first problems which confront the beginner in Christian Science is that of mental work. Sometimes error appears to us with the intimation that we do not want to work, or that all work is for the regular practitioners to do. That this is error becomes evident if we remember the Scriptural admonition that we are to work out our own salvation. Paul does not leave us suspended in mid-air with this statement, but supplements it with the assurance that divine Love furthers our every effort in this direction.

When we comprehend that to think of Truth is to think of God, spiritual thought no longer seems narrowing. As we perceive that our concept of home, of humanity, and of all things is objectified in experience, just as our face is reflected in a mirror, we see the necessity of having our thought established on such a basis as to make experience harmonious, and know how impossible it is for others to do our work for us, or even to render us much assistance, unless we keep our own thought receptive by constant effort toward Christianly scientific thinking. How can Christians walk in an orderly way unless they are striving to bring every thought and act into harmony with divine Principle?

We are also tempted sometimes to believe that others are ignorantly or purposely trying to hinder us in our demonstrations; and how often, instead of dispelling this tempting thought, we offer it as a lame excuse for not expressing the truth we know full well that we should. God is conscious of His own children. Intelligence, strength activity, supply, and all good are reflected directly to each individual idea from the one source, omnipresent Mind. Principle is a present positive remedy for any form of error that we face at any time. There is an all-powerful law of God with which to conquer every form that error assumes, and there is no condition, circumstance, or combination of mortal belief that can prevent us from turning to God's law in our thoughts, for thought is something which matter has never been able to imprison.

If we acknowledge God's omnipotence to be true, nothing can stop or even temporarily lessen the steady flow of intelligent activity from God to His child. In truth, we are already delivered; but we must wake from the mesmerism of lethargy and realize Love's activity. Why hold to the belief that we lack for supply, opportunity, intelligence, or understanding to do the work our Master told us to do, when we have an absolute Principle to apply to every state and stage of human experience? On the other hand, if we acknowledge the reality of sense testimony, we are simply forging bands to bind us to discordant conditions. We know the way of the Lord is perfect, and we walk in this way only when our words, thoughts, and deeds conform to Principle. If at one time our thought is scientific and at others governed by material sense, our walking is crooked and intermittent. Perhaps others are uplifted and encouraged when we walk rightly, and if we continue all is well. But if we sometimes walk and sometimes stand still, we perhaps cause others to bend the knee to doubt and discouragement, and they may again wander. On the other hand, if we walk rightly we bless all concerned.

Obviously it is the thought that man can be sick, sinful, disagreeable, or sorrowful, held either in reference to ourselves or others, which makes us unhappy. If for an instant we are sensible of harmonious conditions, for that instant we are happy. It follows, then, that if our lives were continuously concordant, permanent happiness would result. When we have once proved by a single demonstration of thought based on divine Principle that such thinking results in an harmonious manifestation, we ought not to doubt or falter in any instance, even though to sense we may stand utterly alone. In our human moments we sometimes think of the difficulties the Lord Jesus encountered as an evidence of the impossibility of our conquering certain phases of error. Jesus said, "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;" and Mrs. Eddy says, "This Comforter I understand to be Divine Science" (Science and Health, p. 55). If we have even a glimpse of this Comforter, it rests with us to demonstrate its presence and power.

If God is all, then all thought and activity must be of God, and in proportion as we turn away from a false sense of self to the God consciousness, will the divine activity be manifest in us. This is done, not by trying to kill evil, but by realizing the all-presence of good. Paul says, "For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life;" not by taking off an imaginary coat, error, but by realizing that God is perfection in every attribute, and that His image and likeness, man, never was, could not be, less than perfect. Elijah said, "If the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him." If spiritual truth is true, let us use it to dispel every human woe. So long as we believe the control of Spirit to be in the future, so long will the kingdom be far off instead of at hand.

In the writer's early experiences in Christian Science a friend who was a Scientist moved from the city to the country. Seemingly the opportunity for any vigorous work for our cause was rendered impossible, but the writer found on repeated visits that such was not the case. The same activity, the same healing of the sick continued. From this it seems that it is not our surroundings but our own condition of thought that brings forth the fruits of the Spirit. St. James says: "If any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whose looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."