A lesson that can be learned from watching the war play out in Ukraine, is the vital importance of maintaining a strong defense against one’s enemies.
A strong defense is a deterrent from enemy aggression and provides means to protect oneself from enemy attack. It’s a rule that not only applies to countries, but to metaphysicians.
Mary Baker Eddy wrote, “Evil thoughts, lusts, and malicious purposes cannot go forth, like wandering pollen, from one human mind to another, finding unsuspected lodgment, if virtue and truth build a strong defence”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 234).
“Virtue and truth” build a strong defense against lack and loss. They keep our thought in a healthy spiritual place that is immune to evil suggestions. They gird our thought with confidence in God, that in turn, defeats fear of evil. They fill our thought with moral and spiritual sinew that keeps us from getting detoured by sin and temptation. They guide our decision-making down a progressive spiritual path that bodes us well.
Don’t depend upon something unfortunate to happen to spur you into action. Be proactive. Build your defenses today. Study, pray, and stay inspired with spiritual truth! The truth you know and the virtues you live will keep you in a safe place.
Excellent guidance on how to stand porter at the door of thought. Thank you for this reminder to be active sentinels, not only as a protection for ourselves; but, for the world. We can do this.
What a very helpful reminder! Thank you, Evan
Thank you, thank you, thank you 🙂
A lovely instructional picture. The pretty little flower knowing nothing in
its way to grow and come into bloom. It reminds me of when we had a
tarmac driveway, and lily of the valley plants grew and came into perfect bloom
right through the tarmac, knowing nothing about any obstruction to fulfilling
its purpose in showing forth its beauty..
We can build a strong defence for ourselves by letting God cause us to grow and
blossom spiritually,, and by understanding that material beliefs are not a substance that can
block our way in glorifying God. We can refuse to let any erroneous aggressive
mental suggestion. prevent us from coming into perfect bloom according to
God’s purpose for us.
Hi dear Maggie, that is a wonderful comment and it comforts me a lot.
I thought the same nearly that this sweet innocent little flower is knowing nothing about an obstacle for it`s development to bloom and prosper. Oh is that a comforting lessong for me today, as somebody says something that bothered me and what seems dangerous to my God-like thinking. That happened this afternoon, when a neighbor told me something negative about my other neighbor. And then he wished me all good. That whole talk bothered me.
In the afternoon the freeing thought came to me, that only God can give me and everybody all Good, as also Mrs. Eddy says in one of her writings. And knowing about the innocence about all my neighbors and that no criticism in the neighborhood is neccessary, I think, expresses virtue and truth and builds a strong defence. How wakeful must I be to shut the door before unwanted visitors (thoughts).
Thank you Evan that you awaken us so very lovingly to stand porter at the door of our thinking!
Our need at his hour is to be mindful of what is happening in our thoughts regarding aggression, hate, revenge, malice, and all the subtle ways of detraction.
We need to keep our thoughts on peace if we are to be of any help to all concerned.
Peace begins with us and moves outward.
Agreed Linda. I heard a comment recently that It’s impossible to create peace if you’ve never experienced it. We can cultivate Peace within ourselves and in others by recognizing it as a natural quality living in the hearts of God’s children, all of God’s children.
As Evan explained, the so-called enemy is wrong material beliefs and our strong defense is spiritual understanding, which “defeats fear of evil.” Reminds me of the line in Psalm 23, “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.”
Love to everyone, good to feel the presence of all of us praying and holding to Truth of God’s power and presence.
Sorry, meant Lindalou.
Thank you Rose for the comforting verse from Psalm 23! 🙂
Thanks Evan for that reminder. i really needed to be remided of that statement. Stand porter to the door of thought, so that we do not allow any evil suggestions to enter.
Spirit God, gathers thoughts into thier proper channels; and unfold these thoughts even as He opens the petal of a holy purpose inorder that purpose may appear.
I remember my father, a World War II veteran, telling a few stories of his years in the European Front. He was in a supply unit, so he saw more the devastation after the fighting than being in the fighting himself. He was protected by his Army assignment true, but he also recognized his protection by God through his study and practice of Christian Science to love all men as his neighbor. He was grateful to be a citizen of the United States of America. never under a dictatorship. In God’s divine view there is no evil controlling an army of destruction. We can liberate the Ukranian people as well as the Russian people in thought knowing our loving God is with them providing a strong defense against evil.
I also find it beneficial to pray that Vladimir Putin grow in compassion, as well as his generals, all the army officers and Russian soldiers. Growing in compassion is a powerful thought!
I believe that every time we grow in compassion, a bullet misses its mark, artillery misses its mark and Ukraine is a safer place for it. May we all grow in compassion!!!
Thank you Evan for a reminder. I would suggest that everyone listen to this week’s Sentinel Watch. It is an interview https://sentinel.Christian Science.com/shared/view/2p6p1kw4zrs?s=e
titled “Biblical Solutions to the war in Ukraine-really? With Madeline Maupin.
Yes i agree! Listened to it yesterday. Uplifting and practical
Thank you Evan and thank you ALL for your inspiring comments this morning! (And everyday!)
A practitioner recently pointed out the following in We Knew Mary Baker Eddy series 3 page 42 what Mrs.Eddy said,”The first thing I do in the morning when I awake is to declare I shall have no other mind before divine Mind, and become fully conscious of this, and adhere to it throughout the entire day; then the evil cannot touch me.”
One Mind only is in control, no ugly mind, no aggressive mind, no angy mind, no revengeful mind.
All God’s children reflect the one loving, peacegiving,intelligent Mind. I have posted this on my mirror as to never forget who is in control.
Many thanks to you Evan for this blog. You are amazing!!!
We can certainly pray that leaders, like Putin, are very capable of standing porter at the door of thought.
I was watching a video of a Silverback who was making a display of dominance but then he slid on the grass and did the splits in front of the ladies. Oops. ;). Sometimes those displays of dominance can be humbling if we do not guard thought.
“ The truth you know and the virtues you live will keep you in a safe place.” Well said Evan.
Thank you very much , Evan for this reminder and all the truth comments.,it woke me up to follow and obey what God is telling me to do.Give God the glory due to his name and adore one GOD.
I clicked on the link in a comment above and couldn’t get it to work. Hopefully this wine does.
Biblical solutions to the war in Ukraine—really?
https://sentinel.christianscience.com/shared/view/2onkc49a9xy?s=e
Thank you Trista for the link to the Sentinel Watch. It opens wonderfully. And that is really worth and helpful listening to!
‘The Strong Defense of Virtue & Truth’:
https://sentinel.christianscience.com/shared/view/1f8bjx6gxxa?s=e
Excellent article Angie! Right on point! Thank you! 🙂
Very helpful message. Thank you. I am so thankful for all the opportunities our church provides for our spiritual path. From private, quiet studying alone, to attending Services, to committee work, membership meetings and most of all to keeping our thought in the right place, we are blessed.
Thankyou Evan so helpful
A big AMEN on this week’s Sentinel Watch…also, I hope many were able to be tuned into the CS Monitors talk on the Resilience in Ukraine with Mark Sappenfield and the 2 Monitor journalists in Ukraine.
I don’t know if there will be a replay, but it was outstanding!!!Hooray for the Monitor!!!!!
Re the quote from Science and Health, I looked up “virtue” to understand better what our Leader meant by the word. The 1828 Webster lists “The radical sense is strength” Also “bravery; valour; moral goodness; acting power; something efficacious (these last two are illustrated from the Bible, “Jesus, knowing that virtue had gone out of him,…”); efficacy without visible or material action; ……”
Thanks Evan. A good reminder
Thanks Evan, Reminding me of the door of thought,very important in our daily life.