Christian Science healing is taking place every day all over the world. Christian Scientists find it natural to turn directly to God in prayer—sometimes with the assistance of Christian Science practitioners—to handle every sort of challenge. Practical and effective as it is, however, such prayer isn't thought of as just another tool for making human life easier. Nor is it just another way to remove whatever thwarts human will. Healing prayer involves not only acknowledging but yielding to God's complete control over all, in spiritualization of character.

The spiritual growth that characterizes true Christian Science healing involves progressive awakening to the reality of God—His nearness and nowness—and of the total spirituality of His creation. It means uncovering and forsaking all consciously or unconsciously cherished beliefs in a power apart from God. This awakening doesn't come all at once in a blinding flash, and it doesn't come without meeting mortal mind's resistance. It comes in degrees commensurate with our present spiritual understanding and Christian practice.

Attempting to outline the results of Christian Science treatment is just another form of wishful thinking. Treatment includes nothing less than the acknowledgment of the complete perfection of God and man. We don't, for instance, make it "easier on God" by asking for a partial healing ("Father, I'll accept the cold; just make my nose stop running!"). We can't restrict His power or modify it to fit human specifications or limitations. The Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, tells us, "Prayer can neither change God, nor bring His designs into mortal modes; but it can and does change our modes and our false sense of Life, Love, and Truth, uplifting us to Him." ^{No and Yes, p. 39.}

God's universe is already perfect and complete. Aligning ourselves with this fact, we do not merely accept an "incomplete healing." A healing may take place in stages, and it may even take a long time, but if we persist in correctly applying Christian Science, we will inevitably realize the complete removal of discord through the full restoration of harmony. We must, therefore, be willing to go all the way to complete understanding.

Trying to anticipate the exact form in which a healing will be accomplished can lead us to expect—and experience—less than a complete demonstration. (For example, one may think he needs a new job, but perhaps a deeper appreciation of one's present usefulness as an idea of God would lead to contributing more satisfyingly to one's present job.) Being open to God's will leaves us ready to receive and act on the impulsion of good, even if it seems too radical, or too conservative, for our taste.

Christian Science teaches that thought determines experience. Erroneous, ungodlike thought leads to troublesome experiences. The more our thought is in harmony with divine Truth, the more dominion we feel, even though we still face challenges. We can be grateful that all error is subject to Truth because error is only a misstatement about Truth, a material hypothesis whose only destiny is to be destroyed by the very Truth it is a distortion of. We can, therefore, expect that whatever would allege either God's absence or inability, or man's lack of completeness and harmony, will ultimately be eliminated from our experience through spiritualization of thought.

Such healing is thorough. It rights all the wrongs in a situation, leaving no trace of the former problem. Christ Jesus assures us that our desire for complete healing will be answered. He asks, "What man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?" and answers, "How much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" ^{Matt. 7:9, 11.}

When progress seems slow, when our studying, pondering, and praying don't seem to result in the complete demonstration we know is possible, it is worthwhile to review our motives and our methods deeply and honestly. "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts," ^{James 4:3.} the Bible warns. Are we seeking a physical healing only to be relieved of pain or inconvenience? Are we seeking a healing of relationship difficulties mainly to make our life more peaceful? Welcome as such results are, they are still but the signs of having achieved a much higher goal: an increased consciousness of spiritual reality and a lessened belief in the reality of matter or evil. Otherwise we ask amiss," and failure is a signal to purify our approach.

Sometimes the obstacle to healing is a secret reluctance to give up some aspect of materiality. Perhaps unconscious elements of pride, selfishness, or fear need yet another ray of revealing spiritual light, and yet another stroke of resolve to expose them in their hiding places so that they may be destroyed. Commitment and persistence are required. Returning again and again—and yet again if necessary—to the fundamental spiritual facts of being as expressed in the Bible, and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mrs. Eddy, points us in the right direction. That direction is toward completeness, wholeness, perfection.

As our expectations become greater, as they move toward the infinite, then the Christ, God's pure manifestation of Himself, breaks through and illuminates thought. In that illumination we will see our healing.