Most people believe in God, but how much do they understand of Him?

Each glimpse of the Father, each moment of understanding Him, is, in and of itself, the most glorious experience one can ever have. But as this understanding grows, one finds remarkable, practical benefits resulting. Understanding God makes what appears to be a sick body healthy! It makes what appears to be a sick business healthy! It makes what appears to be a sick personal relationship healthy! Therefore if we're experiencing any unhealthiness, what we need is a deeper, clearer, more meaningful understanding of God.

Health means wholeness, and health we eternally have as the real man, the whole idea of divine Mind. Our true being is as perfect as God is, since it is the very expression of Him.

So, to understand Deity is to be aware of His perfect wholeness and simultaneously of the health of our own true being in Him. This recognition shows itself forth in outward harmony.

A beautiful testimony entitled "Born again" is recorded in the chapter called "Fruitage" in the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health, on pages 667 to 669. The testifier explains how she opened the book to this statement of Mrs. Eddy's: "If God were understood instead of being merely believed, this understanding would establish health." ^{Science and Health, p. 203.} Then the writer tells us: "I saw that I must get the right understanding of God! I closed the book and with head bowed in prayer I waited with longing intensity for some answer. How long I waited I do not know, but suddenly, like a wonderful burst of sunlight after a storm, came clearly this thought, 'Be still, and know that I am God.' I held my breath— deep into my hungering thought sank the infinite meaning of that 'I.' All self-conceit, egotism, selfishness, everything that constitutes the mortal 'I,' sank abashed out of sight. I trod, as it were, on holy ground."

Each of us can individually experience the same glorious light of spiritual inspiration, which deepens into understanding as we diligently pursue it.

Such sacred moments are moments of discovery of man's real, Christly consciousness, which Jesus labored to reveal for all mankind. Laying aside mortal beliefs and accepting this newfound insight into Christianly scientific being place us on higher ground. Such moments, then, are moments in which we too are "born again." But these moments must be pursued through the days, months, and years; pursued and consistently lived. Our hungering for and partaking of the truth will positively result in a growing understanding. Gradually we will perceive that we already have complete understanding because in our real being we are at one with Mind. In scientific truth we are God's very manifestation, expressing the substance of Mind. The dawning recognition of this is the new birth we are seeking and must continue to seek.

Of the new birth Mrs. Eddy says, "It begins with moments, and goes on with years; moments of surrender to God, of childlike trust and joyful adoption of good; moments of self-abnegation, self-consecration, heaven-born hope, and spiritual love." ^{Miscellaneous Writings, p. 15.}

About seven years ago while I was struggling with a debilitating illness that hung on for a long time, I was forced to grow in my understanding of God and of my own true being as I never had before. I continued at my place of business each day and was beautifully sustained by the prayerful treatment given me over a period of time by a Christian Science practitioner.

But the struggle seemed tremendous. There were many wavering moments of fear and discouragement to overcome. Each challenge, however, was met with renewed resolve to strive for a complete healing in Christian Science. As Paul says in his first letter to the Corinthians, "My beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." ^{I Cor. 15:58.}

The high points of progress fairly catapulted me to new and higher ground. Probably the most memorable took place in the very early morning hours one day as I was struggling with deep discouragement. I reached out to God, perhaps as never before. All my years of studying and relying on Christian Science were on the line. In desperation I sought the Father. I can never do justice in words to the glorious feeling of God's presence that came over me. I felt a warmth, a joy, an uplift, beyond description. This glimpse of the magnificent reality of my oneness with divine Love opened the door to a greater understanding of God and boosted me on toward my complete healing.

Since then I have been compelled to study all Mrs. Eddy's writings from cover to cover many times, hungrily drinking in this wonderful Science. All aspects of my life have become healthier as a result of this growth.

Actually none of us need to seek and struggle for physical health as such. What we really need is to strive to see better our true, already perfect being. This perception, of course, brings to light our real health.

As we more clearly understand God to be perfect, divine Life with all its vitality and joy; perfect, glorious Soul with all its beauty and harmony; perfect, divine Principle with all its power and law, we are also in effect seeing ourselves as God's perfect outcome, emanation, expression. We are seeing more clearly our own true, perfect being. And as we do, all aspects of our daily lives become healthier. Science and Health says, "When spiritual being is understood in all its perfection, continuity, and might, then shall man be found in God's image." ^{Science and Health, p. 325.}

Yes, we believe in God. And thanks to the unparalleled example and teaching of Christ Jesus and God's revelation of Christian Science through Mrs. Eddy, we can grow in our understanding of the Father.

Let's keep diligently at it moment by moment, day by day, month by month, year by year. The rewards are tremendous!