Each of us has always existed in the eternal now as God's perfect and harmonious idea. The extent to which this is not being realized and expressed is the extent to which sin and aggressive mental suggestion occupy thought. Through prayer the righteous overcome sin and its attendant demons of fear, disease, and death.
Christ Jesus and Mary Baker Eddy admonish us to enter our (mental) closets, close the door, and pray to our Father in secret. The door, we are told, shuts out sin: sinful sense, the physical senses, the erring senses, the material senses (S&H 15: 4, 7, 10, 16). Those false senses, facets of personal sense, blind us to everpresent God. The door must be shut, not just pulled to, since being even slightly ajar will allow sin and false belief, which can never perceive God, to enter. Then prayer becomes a wrangle with error instead of a communion with God, and tussling with error can have the effect of making its claims appear more real and formidable. In that event what was intended to be standing in God's healing and uplifting presence devolves into a kind of mad hatter's tea party.
It is more important that our prayer be a knowing of Truth than a denial of error. We also cannot permit sin to enter the closet with us to be purged there from our thinking, like Clark Kents entering a handy restroom to emerge as spiritual supermen. Nor is the closet a portal, like the storied magic wardrobe, through which one passes into some enchanted kingdom.
Why must we pray in secret? Secret is being used in the sense of unseen, private, removed from sight. "The Student's Reference Dictionary", explained in previous entries, also gives this inspired definition of secret: "Known to God only." Daily growth in grace will enable us to pray more effectually, but the specific steps each of us takes will of necessity be the result of individual spiritual unfoldment. Then we shall not just read, but know, that "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High [abides] under the shadow of the Almighty."
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14 comments:
Love what you bring out in the first paragraph about our pre-existence as God's perfect child. One of the most helpful things I've found in my study of divine Science is Mrs. Eddy's statements about our eternal existence--both before this belief of being born into matter as well as life that goes on and on forever. This, needless to say, Jesus knew and proved for us.
Thanks so much...
Like the previous commenter, I, too found your first sentence inspiring. Oh, the benefits to us of understanding our pre-existent state as God's own child! Mary Baker Eddy says in her Prose Works that Jesus' knowledge of pre-existence made him mighty, and just think of the blessings we experience as we gain some understanding of our unbroken oneness with Jesus' Father and ours. This alone would be worth one's time and effort in investigating Christian Science, in my opinion.
Thanks, too, for uplifting thoughts on prayer. This entire blog is sure to help many of your
readers.
Most helpful thoughts on the vital topic of prayer. Thanks a lot, friend! (Which is the way I think of you after reading many of your blogs.)
A Christian Science practitioner who helps me from time to time told me about your blog. So glad he did. This one has two helpful themes, to me. Interested in what you might do with a fuller discussion on man's continuing relationship to God that you start off with. Why not do a blog on this subject, being that you are obviously a deep thinker?
You've gained a reader!
California
I came upon your blog in a roundabout way: happened to see under a blog from Ames, Iowa some references to other blogs on Christian Science. Checked out "For love of Christ and Christian Science", read some of the comments, found yours was recommended by someone, so tuned in.
Glad I did, as you are obviously like me---dedicated to following Christ Jesus and Mary Baker Eddy's inspired teachings.
Thanks!
Omaha, Nebraska
This is wonderful! So encouraging to us who dearly love the Cause of Christian Science and yearn to see more depth in those who write about it. To me, your blog is evidence of God keeping us in His everlasting arms, and I do thank you!
A friend just emailed me about a blog I had to check out, and turns out worth my while. Came away from your entry with bread--not skim milk. Wish the Sentinel had things like this.
Keep up the inspired giving!
An uplifting posting! Really enjoyed seeing this, and look forward to more of your thoughts so well expressed.
D.K.
A very worthwhile blog you're managing. Bound to be helping far and wide. Picking up on something the first commenter said, I am so grateful to Christian Science for bringing out to me what Christ Jesus knew so well, that man not only belongs to God--but that he always has! This has opened up new channels of thought for me, and I intend to keep gaining more understanding of my intact state as God's spiritual child.
Thanks!
Along with the previous commenters, I as well got a lot from your new blog post.
God bless you!
Where would I be without Christian Science! Not here that's for sure. So grateful for all those who are working to keep its teachings strong and pure--like you!
Best wishes from Florida
So glad I've stumbled onto (or been led to) this website. Very lively thinking going on here. Have been reading some of your previous posts, and will just say in this comment, well done and keep up the much needed work!
Just want to say, God bless you for all you are doing (and doing well, I might add) to get the message out about our wonderful Christian Science!
Want to wish you the merriest of Christmases before I go off for a visit with relatives. You have given me such inspiration, and I look forward to catching up on your blog after the holidays.
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