Some years ago a Christian Science practitioner, in response to my appeal for help in overcoming the smoking habit, wrote, "Study these citations." She enclosed in her letter a list of citations from Mrs. Eddy's writings.

An enthusiastic beginner, I had already raced through all of Mrs. Eddy's writings. But I looked up the recommended citations, said to myself disappointedly, "Oh, I've already read these," and set the list aside. My healing did not come until later.

When I was able to have a personal visit with the practitioner who was helping me, I humbly asked, "Do you think I will ever be healed? Can Christian Science heal this habit?" She pointed to a sentence in Science and Health and, looking at me earnestly, replied slowly, "I have taken a sentence like this one, and I have held it in consciousness, day and night, for as long as three or four months, until it ceased to be merely words in a book and became part of my very being."

This method of study brings its reward. By it the Word of God, the Christ, heals sickness and sin in human consciousness, and we are changed. With the continued help of the practitioner and my own study of the liberating truths found in the Bible and in Mrs. Eddy's writings, I did receive my healing in a few weeks. After smoking for twenty-five years, I found the freedom I so deeply desired.

In the ensuing years I learned that when we study the Bible and the writings of Mrs. Eddy to heal our bodies or our lives, we need to fill our consciousness to overflowing with the healing truth they reveal of the power and presence of God, infinite Spirit, and of His goodness and love for His creation, including man. The prophet Jeremiah wrote, "Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith' the Lord." ^{Jer. 23:24;}

Essential to this mental work is the denial of the opposite error —evil, limitation, matter—all stemming from the belief that God is not All. We need also to delve deeply into the meaning of the words we are reading, until our understanding of the perfection of God and His creation transforms our experience. Paul's letter to the Romans contains the words, "Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." ^{Rom. 12:2;}

It has been proved repeatedly in Christian Science that when the truth of man's perfection as God's likeness—clearly revealed in the Bible—occupies thought, the opposing errors of mortal belief are cast out. The divine Mind knows only good. Matter might be called a printout of mortal thought. Holy, Godlike thinking, in harmony with the one Mind, results in improved human conditions because it approaches spiritual reality.

We should, therefore, faithfully and persistently study the truths revealed in the Bible and in Mrs. Eddy's writings, in order to accomplish the necessary deep transformation of thought that will cast out error. In doing so we are not only learning spiritual facts of God and His creation; but in eliminating obstructive errors from our thinking and purifying our motives we are also opening a channel for the healing Christ, which Paul describes as "the power of God, and the wisdom of God." ^{I Cor. 1:24;}

In Unity of Good Mrs. Eddy says of Jesus, "He demanded a change of consciousness and evidence, and effected this change through the higher laws of God." ^{Un., p. 11;} In replacing errors of mortal belief with immortal facts, we too are invoking God's law.

This is the healing method of Christian Science. It brings about an awakening to spiritual reality. It follows the Scriptures and has nothing in common with ancient and modern forms of occultism, which cling to the supposed reality of matter. Christian Science is the final adventure, the journey heavenward, in which all material limitation disappears.

If there is something we need to learn, our study of this Science of Life will reveal it and cause the light of Truth to rout the darkness of ignorance. If elements of fear are in our thought, study will bring the light of Love's allness into our consciousness, and the fear will be eliminated, because it is unknown to God, who is Love. Should some ungodlike emotion such as envy, revenge, or hatred be arguing for acceptance as part of our being, faithful study will show it up as a lie and cause it to disappear. We are dealing with mental qualities, and our human lives are tales involving those qualities we accept as real. But God is Love, and the only true Mind.

Sometimes a problem seems to result just as we are learning and accepting the truth. This is error's attempt at survival, but our opportunity to make Truth permanent in our understanding. In dealing with a problem we need not condemn ourselves or ask, "Oh, why did this happen to me?" Our Way-shower, Christ Jesus, who perfectly understood his true being and his relationship to the Father, still faced temptations. We can follow his example, using trials as stepping-stones to higher understanding of heavenly harmony.

There are occasions when one is healed through the prayerful work of a practitioner, a relative, or a friend. This often occurs early in our experience; but sooner or later we realize that if we are to find our way to the reign of divine Mind and see the reality of God's creation, we ourselves need to study and pray and live what we learn. This promised kingdom cannot be reached by way of another's demonstration. Our individual regeneration and purification are the outcome of our own work.

Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health, "Final deliverance from error, whereby we rejoice in immortality, boundless freedom, and sinless sense, is not reached through paths of flowers nor by pinning one's faith without works to another's vicarious effort." ^{Science and Health, p. 22.}

Persistent study, prayer, and practice will overcome all thought and conduct that does not reflect the divine, and will mold us in God's likeness.