Many people unacquainted with the teachings of Christian Science feel that the wonderful healings accomplished in this religion are due to the cultivation of human willpower or self-hypnosis. This is not the case.

According to Mrs. Eddy, "The human will which maketh and worketh a lie, hiding the divine Principle of harmony, is destructive to health, and is the cause of disease rather than its cure." ^{Science and Health, p. 445;} What is it then that heals? The spiritual understanding of God's will brings health and well-being.

Christian Science teaches that the nature of Deity is best expressed through seven synonymous terms: Principle, Life, Truth, Love, Mind, Soul, Spirit. Basic to its practice is the fact that God could not create anything unlike Himself. Therefore it must be the will of Principle to see law, order, and harmony expressed. The purpose of Mind is to make intelligence and wisdom manifest. Love's will is that mercy, understanding, and health be evidenced throughout creation. In short, the will of God is totally good, and the function of the real man, created in His image and likeness, is to witness to this fact actively. Paul wrote, "It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." ^{Phil. 2:13;}

There are, however, basic, practical steps to be taken before God's will can be demonstrated in human experience. Humility and divine receptivity are fundamental keys to success in this endeavor. These qualities do not confine one to a vague existence but unfold true identity as the distinct expression of God's being. They increase self-knowledge, disciplined control of thought, and a willingness to express freedom from pride and arrogance.

Human will is based on the supposititious belief of a mind or intelligence separate from God. Self-righteousness, conceit, and ignorant stubbornness, basic ingredients of willpower, can only lead to spiritual failure and disease. Strong human opinions, forceful outlining, and tyrannical domination of others are plague spots, and must be corrected by precise examination of our thinking, bringing it into accord with the divine will. Expressing consideration, thoughtfulness, and affection, coupled with intelligence, we know and do what is pleasing to God. Understanding the spiritual fact that we can do nothing of ourselves but that as God's perfect image and likeness we can and must express all good opens the floodgates that let in untold blessings.

But to demonstrate God's will in our experience, it is often necessary for us to persist in applying the truth. To anyone suffering from sickness or trouble of long duration the suggestion may come that he has tried everything and still has made no progress. This is a lie, a subtle diversionary tactic of error, which, if not recognized and courageously resisted, will lead to one of two forms of human will: either to forcefully fighting the difficulty as if it were solid reality or to complacently resigning oneself to the inevitability of disaster. Soul's will for man is that he forever express the beauty of health and harmony. As we valiantly hold to this reality, it must be evidenced in our lives.

The healing mission of Christ Jesus illustrated God's will in action. Understanding that sickness is not, and never was, a part of the divine plan, he healed countless thousands. Knowing that starvation and indifference are never the intent of Love, he fed the hungry multitudes. Yet never did he claim that knowing and doing the divine will was a personal possession restricted to himself alone. As a vital part of what has since been called the Lord's Prayer, our Master taught his followers to say, "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." ^{Matt. 6:10;} Mrs. Eddy interprets this passage in Science and Health as: "Enable us to know,—as in heaven, so on earth,— God is omnipotent, supreme" ^{Science and Health, p. 17;}

This will of God was proven in the experience of a young man who badly injured his back while gardening. He was unable to stand erect, and the pain was severe. The suggestion came, "You had better lie down and try to rest. Then the pain will go away." Being a student of Christian Science, he knew that his first duty was to pray. As he did pray, the answer to his need came in this passage of Mrs. Eddy's: "The real man being linked by Science to his Maker, mortals need only turn from sin and lose sight of mortal selfhood to find Christ, the real man and his relation to God, and to recognize the divine sonship." ^{p. 316;}

It became clear that his need was to awake to the divine will of God for man by turning with authority from the false selfhood expressed in pain, injury, and immobility and claiming his indissoluble connection with omnipotence. He saw that man, created by God, is forever at one with the source of health and well-being. Decided improvement was experienced within minutes, and the student felt inclined to go out and continue his yard work. But the suggestion presented itself, "Why, that would be human willpower, not Christian Science." The scientific retort came, "Just what is God's will for man? It is that he express Him in everything that he does. Pain is not the manifestation of Love, and inactivity is not the operation of omniactive Mind." The Christian Scientist remembered with interest the section of the Lord's Prayer mentioned in this article, and he realized that health, joy, freedom, and dominion are always God's will for His creation right here and right now, and that it was only unenlightened human will that was producing the disorder. With this insight came complete healing.

This experience was not the result of thinking wishfully or of prematurely forcing a healing but was living proof that humility, meekness, and receptivity, as well as courage to claim unity with the divine will persistently, do bring healing. God's will is not to be known only by a few. And His will is never obeyed by resigning ourselves to tragedy or disease. It is human will that would chain us to mortality and sickness. Christian Science healing is never accomplished by wishing that disease or untoward circumstances will go away. Neither is it the result of forcing our opinions on others. It is the outcome of actively knowing and living the divine nature. It is the answer to the prayer, "Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness."^{Ps. 143:10.}