Part of exercising dominion over the human experience is to be wise about what thoughts we act on.
Thoughts come to us all day long. Hopefully, most are good thoughts, but there are times when harmful thoughts come begging for admission at the door of consciousness. And we decide whether to admit them or not.
It helps to remember that just because a thought comes knocking on our mental door, doesn’t mean we have to let it in.
If walking through the kitchen and feeling an urge to reach for a bag of junk food, and over indulge, doesn’t mean we have to act on that thought. We can reject it.
If in conversation with a person we don’t care for, and tempted to say something critical or mean, feeling justified in doing so, doesn’t mean we need to say something mean. We can reject that malicious notion and speak with love instead.
If a suggestion comes barreling into consciousness that we’re going to get sick because we were exposed to another sick person, doesn’t mean we need to get sick. We can arrest that suggestion, neutralize it with spiritual truth, and keep it out of our mental household and body.
We don’t have to act on every thought that comes our way! We have dominion and authority to be selective, to reject harmful thoughts, welcome in healing truths, and live a happy healthy life.
Mary Baker Eddy wisely counsels, “We should become more familiar with good than with evil, and guard against false beliefs as watchfully as we bar our doors against the approach of thieves and murderers” (Science and Health, p. 234:9–12).
“Be wise as serpents” (Matt. 10:16), Jesus counseled. Be wise about what you believe and act on. Better choices bring better results.
A very helpful reminder, thank you Evan!
Yes, we do need to “stand porter at the door of thought” as Mrs. Eddy warns us., so that we are not
taken in by material suggestions, sometimes very subtle, and are not fooled.
The foolowing words also from Mrs. Eddy
substantiate this warrning:
Cleanse your mind of the cobwebs which spurious “compounds” engender. Before considering a subject that is unworthy of thought, take in this axiomatic truism: “Trust her not, she’s fooling thee;” and Longfellow is right.
(Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 271:13)
I like this artice about making wise choices.
https://sentinel.christianscience.com/shared/view/yrdli6w752?s=copylink
Thank you for this article Maggie. I’ve saved it into my notes as it comes to me just as we are arranging a long journey to visit a son living abroad. God will be the ‘’sat-nav’❣️
Beautiful decision making ideas – guided by “the power of the Spirit” and “Love inspires, illumines, designated and lights the way”
We are doing the same, BarbaraUK but I suspect we’ll be travelling in opposite directions. I will love using these ideas, thank you, Maggie.
Great inspiration! Thank you all. Love from the article,
“That to-morrow starts from to-day and is one day beyond it,
robes the future with hope’s rainbow hues” –
(Mrs. Eddy, Misc. Writings) = Beautiful!
Some other thoughts I’ve come across to ponder (not sure of author)
“When the devil keeps on asking you to look at your past, there must
be something good in the future he doesn’t want you to see”. (Of
course we know there isn’t really a “devil”.)
“Before you speak (or act), let your words (or thoughts) pass
through 3 gates: Is it True? Is it necessary? Is it kind?”
“Ships don’t sink because of the water around them. Ships sink
because of the water that gets in them. Don’t let what’s happening
around you get inside you and weigh you down”.
Love the quotations, Carol. Thank you for sharing
Aww ,,, Thank You, dear Maggie, for all of the loving
ideas you always share.
THANKS, Carol, I am grateful to have read about the 3 gates asking the important questions to answer when surrounded by what could be a self inflicted prison. It touched the reasoning behind, LET GOOD GUIDE YOUR THOUGHTS; BAR the door against the DEVIL, trying to trick you into doing evil. VERY GOOD ADVICE
Thank you for your insightful comments Maggie, and for sharing this wonderful article with us.
A good post Evan…and it reminds me of how often my mum used to say, “Just because you CAN, doesn’t mean you SHOULD”..this also relates to taking on false responsibility for things that others should be doing themselves instead of leaning on you. Often, constantly doing things for other people prevents them from progressing or becoming independent.
A practitioner recently pointed out to me that when unhelpful or negative thoughts pop in, to be sure not to identify them as “ours” (coming from us), but rather to know they are coming TO us …and that is the point at which we get to choose to shut the door on them (or act on them)…the reasoning was because WE are not the creators of anything .. God creates and we reflect and manifest that goodness and intelligence. Anything else is just mortal mind beliefs and opinions. We do not need to identify with or own them, but also not see evil actions and words as belonging to others either!
Thank you Diane , here it is the major points in CS you are describing. Just simple thoughts but so powerful!
I will share it today if the opportunity comes!
Thank you Evan. Many thanks to Diane W. for pointing out that we are not creators,but that we do reflect only all good from God. This is helping me so much today.
I’ve had issues the last couple of days with lis t ending to linked articles here. even though I subscribe to JSH-online, and am logged into it, when I follow the link in SV I am limited jn what I can hear and asked to subscribe,but can’t get to the article. is anyone else having this problem?
Thankyou Evan, Spirit View is such a Blessing, it gives one food for thought to put into practice everyday. love it.
Maggie’s article was perfect for today’s topic. In searching for an article, I came across this lecture and was intrigued by the title. *It’s long and print may be too small to read on an iPhone, sorry – probably best to read on a laptop.
Christian Science: The Simplicity of Its Healing Method By Will B. Davis, C.S.B., of Chicago, Illinois:
https://www.cslectures.org/davis-will/cs-the-simplicity-of-its-healing-method-will-davis.htm
I have now read the article J, and it is excellent. As Truus says, very helpful for world
problems,, and also for every single problem that we encounter.
The article brings out to me how simple the laws of C.S. really are – just
as the example shows with the healing of a child who accepted the truth
so quickly. Also the absolute conviction of his parents and the simple way they
explained it to him was so good.
If we could only become as simple and open as a little child, we should not allow ourselves
to get tied up with all the material beliefs which would seem to make
it difficult to be rid of. .
Thank you, dear J, fro your comments on my contributions. I have printed out the Lecture you have sent, and will
look forward to reading it. a bit later on.
Very good lecture. So helpful for correcting one’s thought about material problems of today’s world.
Thank you for posting.
Thank you all for your comments. I especially liked Diane W’s comment –“A practitioner recently pointed out to me that when unhelpful or negative thoughts pop in, to be sure not to identify them as “ours” (coming from us), but rather to know they are coming TO us ”
I look forward to reading the lecture before I go to bed tonight.