One day after spending several hours in study and prayer concerning a number of church and community problems, a Christian Scientist turned away from her books and said to herself, "Well, now I can think my own thoughts for a while."

"Oh?" came the quick reply of a still, small voice within. "And whose thoughts have you been thinking all morning?" The student was immediately awakened to see her uninterrupted unity with the one, divine Mind. She acknowledged the constancy of God's unfolding truth in her consciousness and affirmed her continuing allegiance to it.

Mortal mind would always attempt to interrupt one's good work. To allow the intrusion is to open the door to all the vagaries of evil. Once having got its foot in the door, mortal mind would try to move right into one's experience and take charge. Wise is the individual who declines the invitation to put his feet up and rest on his past good efforts. Such a temptation is to be resisted actively.

It is characteristic of mortal thinking to be spasmodic and intermittent, to work in fits and starts—indeed to savor interruptions. Our Master, Christ Jesus, taught men the way to overcome the inconsistencies of material thinking. He said, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." ^{John 8:31, 32;} The Apostle Paul reiterated this teaching when he said, "Pray without ceasing." ^{I Thess. 5:17;} Continuing in the Word enables us to know the truth and be free.

Truth itself is uninterrupted. There is nothing spasmodic about Truth, because Truth is God, whose nature is eternal and changeless. We might say that Truth is like a spring of water continually welling up from an inexhaustible source—not like a faucet we can turn on and off at a whim. Being the likeness of God, man is always conscious of Truth. In his real being man is continually expressing Truth. These statements embody laws that are demonstrable in present human experience and bring about healing.

The apparent need for healing in human experience is rightly interpreted as a demand for the human consciousness to yield to the government of divine laws. It is neither God nor His perfect image and likeness that needs healing; rather it is the human heart that cries out for stability, continuity of good, and dependable order in existence. This cry is answered by the Christ, the idea of Truth, which comes to human thought to free it from limitation and fear.

The healing method of Christian Science is explained by Mrs. Eddy in these words: "The physical healing of Christian Science results now, as in Jesus' time, from the operation of divine Principle, before which sin and disease lose their reality in human consciousness and disappear as naturally and as necessarily as darkness gives place to light and sin to reformation." Referring to the healing works, she continues, "They are the sign of Immanuel, or 'God with us,'—a divine influence ever present in human consciousness and repeating itself, coming now as was promised aforetime,

Every truthful statement in a Christian Science treatment is a law that fulfills itself. When one has declared what is true, he has invoked the law of God on behalf of his patient, whether the patient is himself or another. What remains is to acknowledge the authority of this law and rejoice in its unfailing operation. It is not ours to make Truth operate but to acknowledge that it does operate. Healing results through our unimpaired reflection of the operative law of God, good.

While the law of God is supreme and omniactive, mortal mind never ceases its criminal efforts to usurp divine authority and take the law into its own hands. Hence Mrs. Eddy's warning: "Christian Scientists cannot watch too sedulously, or bar their doors too closely, or pray to God too fervently, for deliverance from the claims of evil. Thus doing, Scientists will silence evil suggestions, uncover their methods, and stop their hidden influence upon the lives of mortals." ^{Miscellaneous Writings, p. 114;}

Mortal mind would employ many methods in its attempt to overthrow the government of divine law. These methods include ignorance, blinding mankind to the omnipotence of good; false law, claiming that good and evil rule together; and willful neglect of duty, whispering, "You've done your share of good today. You've earned a rest." In its dogged attempt to overthrow God's government this supposed aggressor we call mortal mind may seem to be a real power to be reckoned with. It is, however, never more than an illusion.

Truth is the only power. And the law of Truth is always the victor over the subtle machinations of evil. To bring out the victory in human experience, mortals must never tire in their efforts to know Truth; they must continue in the Word. While Christian Scientists often speak of "declaring the truth," they understand that the truth of anything is not a mere statement but a fact. The Bible explains, "Thy word is truth." ^{John 17:17.}

Continuing in the Word sometimes seems to involve the mortal element we know as time. This is because human consciousness is often reluctant to give up its belief in evil and must be persuaded by persistent, systematic declarations of truth. How long should we continue in our declaration? Until the light comes! Sometimes it is necessary to take up the question of time and refute it specifically, and to continue until it is seen to be but a mockery of eternal Life. It is helpful to remember that God knows nothing of time; He knows only the constancy of Truth.

Continuing in the word—in our declaration of what is true— even though we may not fully understand it, prepares human consciousness for the light of Truth. As we persist in our prayers, we demonstrate in increasing degree the constancy and omnipresence of Truth. Our demonstration is seen in quicker, more effective healing work. Let us resolve to continue in the word until we ever literally pray without ceasing. Let us consider that a new day is not a demand to begin praying but an opportunity to continue praying. Let us see to it that our metaphysical work is not begun and then ended as the details of living crowd in upon our day, but that it is begun and then continued as each common task presents itself for doing. Continuing in the Word, we will know the truth and be free.