LAST YEAR I moved house when the real estate market in Britain started to fluctuate. I'd wanted a smaller home, closer to work and to my church. The desire wasn't just about sizing down, but especially about gaining a more magnificent and spiritual sense of home itself.

Science and Health teaches that we can resolve "things into thoughts" and replace "the objects of material sense with spiritual ideas" (p. 123). I began cherishing the spiritual qualities of home and endeavoring to see them as a present blessing from God. Thinking about these qualities, I drew up a list of what I wanted in my home, such as freedom, peace, contentment, comfort, joy. These were mental, not physical, attributes. I accepted the fact that it's everyone's right to experience these qualities of home. Then in prayer I set about claiming each as already mine. I saw that I could express them by being content in my current house, at work, driving, shopping — everywhere.

It was becoming clearer that a consciousness filled with love and contentment truly defines what home is. And this concept of home necessarily includes the surrounding "neighborhood"; all of God's creation is naturally housed in divine qualities.

My house went on the market at Easter, and in two weeks there were three offers for the full asking price. As I'd just begun my own search for a new place, it seemed best to sell to a family not in a hurry to move. We agreed to exchange contracts, binding us both to a sale on the 31st of October.

I looked at many houses, but none seemed just right. Praying to see God's qualities everywhere enabled me to identify and appreciate the good qualities in each house. Since God is all good and made all, everything must be good and a blessing, and with this recognition I gained a better appreciation of home with each visit.

Summer drew on, and the market changed quickly. The credit crunch had begun. Fewer houses came on the market. Economic uncertainty and fear increased. Many people felt that the economy would plunge into disaster, taking all of us with it. I found this verse from Psalms really helpful: "Keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me" (19:13). There was a choice — go along with the "presumptuous sins" of fear and doubt, or trust God. At moments it seemed like a leap of faith to trust in Him, but as I and many others had already proved, God is an unfailing guide. In the presence of His power and grace, the fear of lack or limitation has no place. No presumptions allowed! I gained, and kept, my dominion over fear, and could really appreciate something Mary Baker Eddy once wrote: "I leaned on God, and was safe" (Message to The Mother Church for 1902, p. 15).

Then the surveyor whom the buyers had engaged reported several problems in my house. I rectified as many as I could. Yet this report caused them to reduce their offer significantly. It had become a common practice for buyers to reduce their offer just exchanging contracts, to take full advantage of the changing market.

As I turned wholeheartedly to God, it was clear that this was an issue of integrity, which is a spiritual quality and must be in evidence because God is All. I couldn't be fooled into believing otherwise — or feel threatened or vulnerable. Though I was advised to accept the new offer and not risk losing the sale completely, it didn't feel right. And in a week the buyers came back with a higher offer, representing only a small price reduction from the original. We exchanged contracts.

By then it was late September, and I still hadn't found a place for myself. The imminent move date seemed more like a threat than a promise. It was then that a verse from Genesis became so relevant: "Come in, thou blessed of the Lord; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels" (24:31).

As I read that verse from Genesis, I laughed at the idea of "room for the camels," thinking wryly, Well, I never go without my camels here in Britain! But then I saw how powerful it was. Camels are beasts of burden. They carry the load. When we trust God, we don't have to carry burdens. As a practical example of this, one of the great difficulties many people find is that there are inadequate car parking facilities. Although we don't ride camels in Britain, we do need a home where the parking is adequate. In God's design, there's always room for whatever is needed.

No longer did I feel responsible for finding a house. I knew, too, that market fluctuations were powerless to interfere.

The very next day, an estate agent phoned. He'd been asked to put a house on the market, the first such request in some time. He was aware that I had to be out of my house by the end of October and wanted to help. As much as I appreciated his concern, I knew I had to be sure that my motive for viewing the house was directed by God. Action based on a human standpoint is limited. However, when action is based on the impetus of divine Love, it blesses all involved.

As I prayed, I realized it would be good to see the house. It was warm and welcoming. I felt at home straightaway. It had many qualities I'd wanted in a home, and several I hadn't thought of. When I went around the garden, I laughed with joy. In my existing garden there was a pear tree and a fig tree — and so too in the new garden. (Also, there was good space for my car.) I made an offer which was accepted. Guess what? The sellers needed to move by October 31, too. Everything dovetailed.

Since the move, things have worked out in a gentle and natural order. I'm no longer surprised when my day-to-day life is effortless, probably because I'm more at home in myself — or rather, more at home with God. I've come to trust His goodness as fact. I don't so much expect good but take it as the natural state of being, for me and for everyone. CSS