DESIRE ONE THING

David writes in Psalms 27 “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.” The temple of David’s desire is a holy state of consciousness where the problems of personal relationships, human positions, individual and national affairs are replaced with a sense of the power and presence of divine Love, the consciousness of divine Life, Truth, Mind, Soul, Spirit, and Principle – God. “In divine Science, where prayers are mental, all may avail themselves of God as “a very present help in trouble. (S&H 12:31-1)”

When we enter into this temple, we are leaning on Principle. Life is expressed as gracious living, Love becomes universal, Soul is anchored in spiritual happiness, Mind is recognized as always knowing. “To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings. (S&H vii:1-2)” We no longer lean on the shallowness of selfish, material illusions; instead, we are dwelling (leaning) forever in (on) the house of the Lord and inquiring in His (Truth) temple.

PRAY WITHOUT CEASING

Paul commands Christians to “Pray without ceasing. (I Thessalonians 5:17)” What is our concept of prayer? Is it limited? It doesn’t have to be. The first thing a new Christian Scientist must overcome is the time and place for prayer dilemma. Praying before we go to bed, or when waking up, eating, drinking, on Sundays, in church etc. This is a limited sense of prayer and not what Jesus, Paul, or Mrs. Eddy expected.

Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health (pg 15:16) “The footsteps of thought, rising above material standpoints, are slow, and portend a long night to the traveler:” So we slowly close the door of the erring senses, silence the lips and have audience with Spirit (S&H 15:16-22) We must constantly affirm Love’s presence, and our unity with Love, and manifest this unity and presence through demonstration. This is the unceasing prayer that conforms to no ritualism, it does not withdraw itself from the world, but is fully engaged. We must daily be about Love’s business, healing the sick, comforting the sorrowing, redeeming the sinner, and raising the dead. “Rejoice evermore. (I Thes 5:16)”

THE END

In Matthew Chapter 24:13 we read Jesus’ prophecy about the end. “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” How many Christians today are predicting the end? Everyday, modern day televangelists are prophesying about the end. The popular Left Behind series is currently being made into a series of movies. Old and modern day theology is saying in effect that we should put up with and in some cases hasten the signs that will bring the overwhelming cataclysm they think will reveal the Christ! Through our studies of Christian Science we are able to grasp the true meaning of Jesus’ statements. “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. (Mat 24:7)” We are taught in Christian Science that there can be no end to anything that really exists. Mrs. Eddy writes that “These disturbances will continue until the end of error, when all discord will be swallowed up in spiritual Truth. (S&H 96:18)”

The only thing that really exists is the effect of Mind. Truth remains Truth, and is the only cause. Because, Mind, Truth remains unchanged by the self-destruction of error, man, Mind’s effect, also remains unchanged and continues to exist untouched. “During this final conflict, wicked minds will endeavor to find means by which to accomplish more evil;” Christian Scientists must stand in opposition to the lie until the lie comes to an end. “but those who discern Christian Science will hold crime in check. They will aid in the ejection of error. They will maintain law and order, and cheerfully await the certainty of ultimate perfection. (S&H 96:31)”

MASTER

In the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health (p419:16) Mrs. Eddy writes, “Meet every adverse circumstance as its master.” Do we understand as David did, that God, good, is the only power? “David perceived that the Lord had confirmed him king over Israel, for his kingdom was lifted up on high… (I Chronicles 14:2)” When we perceive and then demonstrate that man is tributary to God, Spirit, and to nothing else and that God is infinity, freedom, harmony, and boundless bliss (S&H 481:2 paraphrase)," we can courageously deny and refute any so-called law which seems to have a bad effect on us mentally, physically or morally. Through these denials “We should master fear, instead of cultivating it. (S&H 197:16)”

PRESERVER

Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health (pg 331:11) “The Scriptures imply that God is All-in-all. From this it follows that nothing possesses reality nor existence except the divine Mind and His ideas.” The divine Mind expresses itself only in spiritual ideas. Can you conceive of an idea separated from Mind? No, idea and Mind are inseparable. The Scriptures refer to man as made in the image and likeness of God. Another way of stating this concept is to say that man is the idea of Mind. Because man is idea, never separated from Mind that is conceiving it, man is governed, sustained, protected and preserved by Mind.