Are you a people pleaser? The type of person who is willing to bend over backward to keep people happy around you, even willing to compromise your principles to maintain peace with others, if necessary?
There is merit in learning how to work with other people and be a team player. Demonstrating oneness of Mind is greatly needed in this world today. But it can take a discerning heart to know whether we are truly demonstrating the one Mind in action or acting out a mortal mind plan that brings bad consequences.
One time, Jesus’ disciples urged Jesus to go into Judea and preach. Jesus refused to go because he knew there were people lurking to kill him. “My time is not yet come,” he replied (John 7:1-9). He did not listen to what others around him wanted him to do. He followed Mind’s direction instead, which kept him on track to fulfill his mission on God’s terms.
To make good decisions, we too must sort out whether we’re hearing God’s direction or personal opinions from others that might not be well informed.
Sometimes we have to say “No” to the desires of others around us that don’t see things the way we see them. But that’s okay. If we’re listening to the voice of wisdom and being influenced by the one Mind, we’ll make a good decision that brings the best outcome in the long run for everyone.
See, think, and know what God made to see, think, and know when to say no to any thing God did not make as He made all that was made and called it, VERY GOOD.
Perfect! Thank you!
No is a very important concept in divine science. There is no reconcilliation of truth with error. Appeasment is not scientific.
I needed this thank you so much Evan
Thank you Evan !I needed this !
I truly appreciate this message, Evan! It goes with Eddy’s, A Rule for Moves and Acts” where Eddy states . “ neither animosity nor mere personal attachment shall impel the motives and acts of the members of the mother church. In Science, Divine love alone governs man…”
The was a A Rule for Motives not moves!
Beautifully said and so clear!
Thank you for this reflective topic, Evan. When I first read this title, I saw
it as (in pleading with – ) .. Please, divine Mind, not mortal mind. That is what
we endeavor to do, isn’t it? To Please Divine Mind – not mortal mind. But what
if little “mind’s” direction seems contradictory to what we perceive as “Mind”?
The way I understand it … Mind, Divine Mind/God supersedes manmade/
man perceived/ mortal mind. The One Mind or God is Truth – the Only Mind or
God/Truth – whereas mortal or manmade mind is many minds –
counterfeit to Truth, or which can be seemingly corrupted in erroneous ways.
Interpretation sometimes tries to get in the way and tries to cause conflicting
viewpoints. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish what some’s perception is
to what is right and/or how God would interpret it. To me, Mrs. Eddy describes
God as being Mind, Love, Truth, Soul, Spirit, Life and Principle … All Good, from
Genesis in the Bible … before and not the Adam dream, where the apple from
the tree of good and bad was presented to mankind as being real and to be
seen with mortal sense as being correct. Just my humble opinion.
Thanks, Carol. For the distinction we must make: do we live in Spirit or only fragmentary?
Thanks, Evan and all Trurh’s lovers at SV
Thank you, dear Pp. I think it is important to be like Jesus in the
example Evan gave above, as best we can, according to our
principles and understanding … who was in “this world” but did
not become part of the other’s direction they were trying to sway
him to. His reluctance saved him from going a route that would
not be beneficial to him or those, even to this day, who follow
his teachings. His thinking remained cautious and he was aware
of the erroneous thinking of those who would try to do him harm.
There are many ways of expressing ourselves that don’t entail
compromising our values, as we try to demonstrate our Spiritual
being.
Oh, this is such a good reminder, especially at this time of year, when there can be so many demands on our time. God first, always, and let Thy will be done. Thank you!
If in doubt about what is right regarding what people are asking us to do (or about anything), we can get quiet and call on God, and wait and listen for guidance. On a Daily Lift last week (which was a part of a Sentinel Watch episode), Kevin Ness, a CS practitioner said that when he was a teenager in the CS Sunday school his teacher asked the class one day, “Do you want to know God’s telephone number?” That got their attention and they all said, “Yes, please.” She answered, it is: ISAIAH-6425. She was referring them to the Bible verse Isaiah 64:25, which reads:
“And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” (King James Version)
“I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking to me about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!” (The Living Bible translation)
Thank you Evan. I wish I’d heard this wisdom years ago!! However it is still helpful today, since wanting healing and reconciliation and to be loving and because I was trained by CS parents to discount my innate discernment, so as to “Honor my father and my mother…” I had recently contemplated again contacting family who have lied and stolen and defrauded me and shown no interest in reconciliation. When you wrote about Jesus not going to Judea, that struck me strongly as applicable.
I was trained to be a people pleaser and to obey and serve my dad’s mortal mind plan for me. This took me away from where I had felt called to live and caused much good experience, and much suffering and difficulties. ”However, since God is omnipotent, nothing happens outside of God’s Will, so that was my destiny…..and must have been God’s plan…
I now think that discernment is my intuition and is from divine Mind. And it’s about honoring our Father, not our parents. As Jesus said, “Call no man your father upon earth…
Thank you for sharing. I find it, difficult and confusing at times, to discern situations and communications with others. I, also, often forget to turn to Mind/God/Father-Mother for direction. I question my intuition and don’t trust it yet move forward sometimes reacting rather than responding. However, I am beginning to see more clearly. and listen to the voice within.
LOL, I, too, have been seemingly wronged by someone years ago,
according to mortal mind’s “past”, but like you, have gone the way of a
humble Jesus…sticking to my values, but had always wanted to “keep the
peace.” Another instance, a family member seems to continue to see
my choices as being contradictory to their plans, also. I need to keep
thought protected from thoughts of harm, mental malpractice, because
his anger seemed very real years ago and am very glad I didn’t listen to
his advice, but trusted in God’s plan to get where I am today. God’s plan
is always the best. Sometimes that “still, small voice” is difficult to hear,
but directs us in to heavenly ways, even at times it may not seem that way.
Thank you Angel. I appreciate your support.
Thanks Evan and CB.
Everyone should have the right to say no without any repercussions, but sometimes it doesn’t always play out that way with others.
“The healing power of forgiveness. Setting free those we feel we can’t forgive sets us free to feel the love of God. by Jill Gooding, from the February 2000 issue of The Christian Science Journal:
https://journal.christianscience.com/shared/view/2ccqzbu6mpy?s=copylink
Thank you J for this excellent article, with the amazing story of the Polish man in the concentration camp, perhaps the best I have ever read on forgiveness.
It seems right to stand up for truth, honesty, righteousness and justice, as I was educated to do and when that is not met and there is no reconciliation desired by a rich person who lied, cheated and defrauded one and tried to take everything, it is difficult to come to a feeling of total forgiveness, though I have been trying for some time.
This is an excellent article on the power of forgiveness, J . Thank you so much. It really
shines a light on feeling God’s Love that helps heal anything that would try to impair our
divine tranquility and peaceful harmony. Leaving behind any and all ill will lets us move
beyond anything that would try to deter our progress.
Thank you Evan and all for sharing this inspirational: A true blessing and foundation to move me forward spiritually! Like Hymn 82 promises us: “God is working His purpose out, As year succeeds to year.”
Thank you, dear Evan for this important theme, to please God instead of a human. For me it is like “God first”. And thank you CB; I do agree fully with your comment that Evan’s. message goes with Mrs. Eddy’s “A rules for motives and acts” from the Manual of TMC.
And I am very grateful to several further comments which are very helpful, too, for instance the healing words from hymn 82 and J’s article and the loved Bible verse from Isaiah 64: 25 mentioned by Rose.
With Gratitude and Love – it’s all so comforting which I do need !
“To make good decisions, we too must sort out whether we’re hearing God’s direction or personal opinions from others that might not be well informed.” Well said Evan!
“He who understands in a sufficient degree the Principle of Mind-healing, points out to his student error as well as truth, the wrong as well as the right practice. Love for God and man is the true incentive in both healing and teaching. Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way. Right motives give pinions to thought, and strength and freedom to speech and action.” pg. 454:14-21