What images are you holding in thought? Are they healthy images? Are they ideals you wish to live out?
Mary Baker Eddy writes, “We possess our own body, and make it harmonious or discordant according to the images that thought reflects upon it” (The People’s Idea of God, p. 10).
In this age of media barrage filled with images of disease, pain, and suffering, one must be extra vigilant to be sure none of those images become our thoughts.
To stay healthy, it is imperative that we take responsibility for what we think. If an image of disease comes knocking at the door of thought, we are free to keep it out. We can say “No!” We can choose to welcome in only beautiful images of spiritual truth and heavenly harmony. We can choose health over disease.
Thanks Evan:
It is very important to keep focus on good thoughts, by so doing we experience wonderful results
Thoughts of health; inplace of sickness.
Mrs Eddy in her writing in Science & Health
with key to the Scriptues show us how.
She said stand portal to the door of thought.
Thank you Evan. This is exactly the message I needed today.
Thank you!! Just exactly the message we needed here in this precious home today!
There’s an article titled “IMAGES OF THOUGHT” by Helen Wood Bauman I read last night that is aligned with this refreshing Spiritview post today. Bauman says one way to attain correct images of thought is in Mrs. Eddy’s spiritual directive: “By lifting thought above error, or disease, and contending persistently for truth, you destroy error.”
Some truths the article includes to contend persistently for which may be helpful:
* mortal life is a counterfeit of real life—that the physical body is false identity, which perversely reflects the thoughts and mental states of the so-called carnal mind—God’s opposite.
* one’s identity is not fleshly, but is spiritual consciousness, incapable of distortion and deterioration.
* An important element in the destruction of fears that would outline disease pictures on the body is the vigorous insistence that since all matter is illusion, it cannot make actual conditions.
We are really spiritual consciousness, not a physical body which is a false identity. Man = spiritual consciousness is a succinct definition of man. Thanks for the helpful Spiritview posts.
Sounds good, Lindajane, thank you. So here is the link for everyone>
https://sentinel.christianscience.com/shared/view/21t4eyb0ysi?s=copylink
Thanks Maggie! I wasn’t sure how to do that.
I have just read it, Lindajayne, and it is really helpful to me right
this moment for things that seem to be going on here, but obviously
are not in the eyes of God. So thank you once again. Maggie
We must say NO to the wrong mortal thought, but we must immediately say YES to the right thought of spiritual existence and peace. The Scientific Statement of Being starts with the negative but immediately continues with the positive reality of being. Denial of the unreal must be followed by affirmation of reality!
Thank you Carol, I do exactly agree with what you say here, wonderfully clear and true!!♡
Thank you very much, Evan!!
What some already said here, it’s just what is needed for me to walk with God today!! ♡
This is such a clear way to think about unhealthy images that are constantly being projected on TV and media. Thank you this is a wonderful reminder of a peaceful way to think about this. I wish I could make this pop up on my cell phone as needed.
Thank you so much Evan and all! As I was praying this weekend, using the ideas in today’s blog, two words suddenly came to thought: mesmerized/hypnotized. It was definitely an angel message (the Christ speaking to our consciousness) as it changed the direction of my thought and prayer. I found this article very helpful:
“The only lie is mesmerism” by Steve Summerlin:
https://sentinel.christianscience.com/shared/view/1iuegyzz6m4
Thank you, J. it is a very good article.
When I think about the story of Moses mentioned in this article taking
the serpent by the tail, I always wonder whether he really felt the confidence that
God was imparting to him, before he did take it by the tail. If not, it would have
taken great trust in God to obey the instruction if he was still feeling
very fearful. But he trusted in God completely nevertheless, and acted in direct
opposition to what the material senses may have been trying to suggest to frighten him – i.e. it might suggest that it would be foolhardy and unwise to do such a thing, as the serpent would surely turn around and bite him! His complete trust in God rewarded him, and he came to a
greater understanding of God’s complete protection of his children, and enabled him to carry out the huge task set before him with confidence that God was with him.
I have found when I have been very fearful of something, that I
had to really trust that God would never allow anything to harm me,
and at times I have had muster up the courage to defy the material suggestion
and do whatever I needed to do with trust in God. Nothing as
severe as Moses, of course, but nevertheless it builds up more
confidence in God’s ever-presence. We can go forward keeping in mind
the beautiful images of thought, trusting that God only made
things that are good, useful, and beautiful.
Thank you, Evan, for this topic, and thanks to all contributors – all so
helpful.
Thank you, dear J , this article is great! I love the way the correct representation
of the world being round was described. Why would we need to pray for it to
be round when we already Know it to be round? But yet mortal mind’s mesmerism
and erroneous beliefs — seeming to be real, like the turkey decoy and the snake – –
– all appear to be what they aren’t until we look up to a much higher viewpoint and
see God’s Perfection. Lovely!
Wonderful comments Maggie & Carol. 🙂 It’s so interesting to realize that everything that the carnal mind presents to us is actually a decoy. We are especially deceived when it comes to fear, pain, etc. I also re-read Daniel Jensen’s article with the story on page 7 & 8, where he says, “Likewise, we must recognize material sense to be illusory — even when we’re standing knee-deep in it. We must, as our Leader says, admit the facts of divine Science even though
they are not supported by material sense”. (S&H 471 13;17).
If anyone hasn’t had the opportunity to read this, it’s compelling:
“Practical Wisdom” a talk by Daniel L. Jensen, C.S.B.:
https://danieljensenassociation.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/DLJ-Practical-Wisdom.pdf
Thank you so much for this, J. – It is really, really wonderful. I have only read a part of it as it is so long, but I recognise a few things from way back in my Class Instruction – i.e. the
bit about bathing the doll… I will look forward to continuing to read it tomorrow, as iI can’t finish it right now.
I wanted to make sure of thanking you, because it is wonderful, and I thoroughly recommend it to everyone who has not read it.
I just finished reading this really clear and helpful article and thank you so
much for sharing it, dear J . Some thoughts I particularly liked and have often
used … “matter doesn’t matter”. It Doesn’t! All that there is, Really… is Love’s
expression. Love, True expressions are Spiritual thought. Like in the article
where it brings out about God being ever-present, the thought of, belief in,
commonly held illusion that “Santa” brings presents to everyone around the
world on the same eve is almost like in believing God to be a human-like
figure. It just couldn’t be.
Now… God, Spirit can be and IS with us all at the same time, bringing us gifts
of Love and everything Good, constantly. That is a great thought to hold to.
Other thoughts brought up about illusions, like the supposed reality of the
watermelon, reminded me of when my car was totaled. mortal mind would
say that it was very real. But the situation at the time actually seemed Very
Surreal. I just wanted to get back in the car and drive off. It seemed that
Unreal. I couldn’t according to material “belief” but the way the tow truck
driver just “happened” to be very near behind me, there were witnesses
who came forward in their seeing the girl who hit me, looking at her cell
phone and going through a red light, so her insurance paid for half of my
new (different) car and most of all, no one was hurt… all proved
that Mind/God was in control and after mentally complaining to myself a bit
before the seeming ‘accident’, I ended up with a better car that suited my
needs at the time. God works in mysterious ways, but I look back at it as a
wonderful demonstration. So many experiences have taught me so many
life lessons that seemed like real challenges at the time, but were only
illusions and have helped to understand more in putting Trust in God.
This really is a good article in adding clarity to understanding the Principles
of what is really True.
“Immortal Mind feeds the body with supernal freshness and fairness, supplying it with beautiful images of thought and destroying the woes of sense which each day brings to a nearer tomb” (S&H 248.5)
I Love this message and the smiling flower lady! Thank you, Evan, whomever chooses
the graphics and everyone. I should just sit back, because what the other Carol above
(Hi and Thank you, Carol) .. ; ) … has written is exactly what I was thinking. LOL I have
learned to do that throughout my life where limiting falsities of mortal mind would tempt
us into believing certain things, but they are not true and we don’t have to live by them or
have anything to do with mortal mind, because it isn’t real. Spiritual thoughts bring home
the ideas of Truth and Love, completeness in All of it’s sweetness and we can have a garden
of happy thoughts coming from within to shine and share.
.
There are two Carols here?
Apparently, Kay. (One of the “regulars” responding here now.)
We are All children of God… All individuals though.
I would like to thank the members for posting such wonderful articles within there replies. they are a joy to read.
Yes to all the Truth expressed today. This is the day and every day that God, divine Mind has made for us. ❤️ Love to all.
Thank you Evan and everyone ❣️ This is so helpful to me !!!