Have you ever considered the significance of the words "said," "say," and "saith"? The Bible and Mrs. Eddy's writings stress the importance of listening to the divine directives introduced by these words. Such directives impel spiritual growth and serve as a monitor to the listening ear.

At the age of twelve Jesus listened and asked questions of the learned scholars in the temple. He continued to listen to God, ever conscious of his at-one-ment with the Father. Jesus knew evil had no divine authority with which to assert itself. Totally conscious of God's kingdom, he was able to heal all manner of disease and sin and to raise the dead.

Mrs. Eddy had a strong desire to understand how Christ Jesus healed, to heal as he did, and to give to the world this healing truth. Jesus was the Way-shower. His life and his example became Mrs. Eddy's model. She continued to work, watch, pray, and listen for God's guidance. She has acknowledged the Bible to have been her only authority in the path of Truth (see Science and Health 126:29-31). The entire world has been enriched and benefited by Mrs. Eddy's discovering of Christian Science. Mrs. Eddy recognized the importance of listening. She says: "The effects of Christian Science are not so much seen as felt. It is the 'still, small voice' of Truth uttering itself. We are either turning away from this utterance, or we are listening to it and going up higher." ^{Science and Health, p. 323;}

There are examples in both the Old and New Testaments where prophets, disciples, and apostles surmounted stupendous hardships and trials by prayerfully listening to God. For example, Joseph listened to God. His obedience to listening and his faith in God saved from famine not only his entire family but also the whole land of Egypt. Generations later, Moses turned aside in the desert to behold the burning bush and listen to God. And when God appointed him to lead the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt, he knew from experience the value of listening in order to follow God's guidance to the Promised Land.

Is one who may be laboring with a delayed healing listening to God or listening to erroneous suggestions? What law is he applying to himself—so-called medical law, human opinion, or God's law? He can pray to have the proven faith that James spoke of when he said, "Shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." ^{James 2:18;}

Each day he should honestly ask himself, "Have I listened to God to direct my thoughts and actions? Have I taken a firm stand for the truth? Have I filled my thoughts with love for all mankind?" If he can honestly answer yes, he can be sure he has recognized the operation of God's government.

But if he has been bogged down with doubts, fears, and discouragement because his healing has not come, perhaps he has permitted error to entangle his thought. Error's challenge is a warning indicating that he has been listening to the wrong message. Right now he can listen quietly to God and wake to realize that God is in complete control at all times. God is governing him, his home, his church, and the world, and he can do his part to prove this. By reversing erroneous thoughts he has prepared himself for a brighter tomorrow. Mrs. Eddy tells us: "The way to extract error from mortal mind is to pour in truth through flood-tides of Love. Christian perfection is won on no other basis." ^{Science and Health, p. 201;}

The writer had a holy experience one Sunday morning when she was serving as Second Reader in her branch church. Upon wakening she discovered she had no voice. It was futile to attempt to call a Christian Science practitioner for help, as her voice could not have been heard. But she knew that her healing could come through Christian Science if she would only listen to "the 'still, small voice' of Truth uttering itself";so she prayerfully read the Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly several times. Each time the words "said," "say," or "saith" appeared, she paused to see the spiritual meaning. She drove to church, and when she walked to the desk for the first hymn, she still could not utter a sound; but when she looked out on the congregation, an overwhelming sense of gratitude and love filled her consciousness for each one in the congregation, for they, too, had come to hear and listen.

These words from Mrs. Eddy were like a beacon light: "Man's privilege at this supreme moment is to prove the words of our Master: 'If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.'" ^{ibid., p. 428;} She knew that this applied not only to overcoming death but to her much smaller problem, and she rejoiced silently, "This is my supreme moment, I am free now." When she began to read the Bible her voice resounded clearly, and she felt the mercy and warmth of God's love for her and for the entire congregation. Truly she felt on holy ground, because she had listened to what He, God, said.

In proportion as one seeks spiritual understanding and listens for the voice of Truth, he can rejoice in the words of the Psalmist: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." ^{Ps. 23:6.}

Blessed, is the people that know
the joyful sound: they shall walk,
O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.
In thy name shall they rejoice
all the day.

Psalms 89: 15, 16