If God were understood instead of being merely believed, this understanding would establish health.
~ Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 203
To find the best results from prayer, it’s in our best interests to seek an understanding of God, rather than letting faith rest on the level of belief.
Belief in God can have a positive effect, but it can also be shaky. When faced with trial, belief may waver and wane.
Understanding God is rooted and grounded on the rock of Truth that holds one’s faith steady in place when the temptations of evil stares us in the face.
Understanding does not budge from its position for understanding knows what is real and what is not real. Understanding is steadfast.
Understanding conquers ignorance, fear, and false belief.
Understanding remains where belief flees.
Understanding demonstrates truth.
When in college, a friend majoring in Physics was helping me prepare for a Physics test. He said if you just memorize the formulas, you’re prone to forget them under duress, but if you make sure you understand them, they’ll always work for you, no matter how tough the problem may at first seem. Today’s SpiritView was the perfect reminder I needed! Thanks.
When I taught advanced geometry, I had my students take a sheet of paper and they could write all the formulas on it so that when they took their exam, it was right there. But, I told them if you don’t understand when and how to use them, the formulas will mean nothing. Don’t get stuck in the mechanics, it’s understanding the concepts that are meaningful.
Add-on to the comment above: I just remembered he also said, they’ll often give you extra information you don’t need. Don’t feel obligated to use or accept all the so called data you’re presented with. Likewise, the world today is bombarding us with a lot of so-called facts or data or information that we simply don’t need to pay any attention to. We can ignore, reject or rebuke that which isn’t useful or helpful to us.
thank you for your comments. I was going out of my mind. lost in all this required Data and under pressure, obligations.
Thank you!
And, the Scripture informs and ensures us that it is Spirit, God, that gives is the gift of understanding.
When I was in high school, long before I knew of Christian Science, one day my Geography teacher made a statement that profoundly impacted my life. Out of the blue, it seemed, he stated: “Don’t study to memorize, but study to understand.”
Of all he subjects to make such an assertion!
Nevertheless, it resonated with me.
My entire approach to academia changed forever.
From that point forward, I vowed to express the integrity underpinning this principle. and my grades reflected this higher approach.
Later, in college, I remained steadfast to this ideal and when I found Christian Science, I was inspired to stick with this principle as the basis of demonstration.
Later, I learned more clearly that it’s not a PERSONAL ownership of comprehension that overcomes temptation. Instead, it’s the Science and art of SURRENDER.
There’s nothing like the value of becoming guileless as a child-heart is. This isn’t naivete when it is understood to be an allegiance to ONE power; ONE presence; ONE intelligent understanding.
As Mrs Eddy teaches in an article titled “An Allegory” in Misc Writings, — the baggage of personal sense has to yield to the meekness of 100% dependence on Spirit, not matter, — including personality.
What I have discovered is that it’s a relief to let go. And I’m still learning with every so-called healing that what’s most important is what God reveals as divine wisdom rather than what I personally seem to know through accretion.
What a blessing to know the God that the teachings of Christian Science reveals.
There’s no lid to the good of Infinity, and I have seen convincing proof of this idea bring fruition to every aspect of living when it is obediently accepted wholeheartedly.
That is a lovely comment Carrie – so relevant ! I love what you say about the importance of yielding a personal sense of things to the ‘ unerring sense of God’s direction ‘ it’s this getting one’s own sense of personal ‘doing’ out of the way that brings that deeper sense of comprehension /direction . The Allegory in Misc Writings is such a wonderful lesson for us all – thank you – everyone .
Wanda thanks for mentioning “getting one’s own personal sense of doing out of the way”. My husband and I are leaving on a trip to Los Angeles tomorrow to visit our daughter, and he and I have both been acting like “doers,” rushing to prepare, get packed and all the little details that need to get done before leaving. We were stressing each other out and getting on each other’s nerves. Glad to be reminded that we can trust divine Mind to be the knower and doer and controller of all, and to fully rely on Him. That’s a relief.
Understanding is rooted and grounded on the rock of Truth – Love that Evan! Thank you..
and Carrie… your teacher’s statement to study to understand, rather than study to memorize,
was very profound. So often, students memorize to get through or get by, to pass a test or
get a grade, but don’t truly understand, so all is forgotten. But like a child, we must have a willingness to grasp the understanding with sincerity and then the Truth sinks in and becomes
a part of us…. as you wrote, Carrie -” ONE power, ONE presence; ONE intelligent understanding.”
ONE divine Mind in control, not little manmade intelligence that is swayed and biased into
believing what mortals “think.” Have a great God’s day of understanding, Everyone!
Wonderful comments today. Thank you. Understanding is the armour God endows us with for protection against error.
Brilliant, Understanding over belief, Perfect Another example of seeing things as they really are
A fantastic spirit view this morning it hit the target with me thank you everyone
A fantastic spirit view this morning it hit the target with me thank you everyone
Thank you Evan, and thank you all – wonderful comments!
I wrote down this quote, but not the author:
“Understanding God will set you free from that which has nothing to do with God.”
UNDERSTAND, BE FIRM, AND YIELD! by Barbara Vining (AUDIO):
https://journal.christianscience.com/audioplayer/shareview/22fwswc92g
Thank you, J, for sharing that article. And thanks to Evan and all for your insights.
Dearest “J”, that article by Barbara Vining was exactly what I needed just now! It’s clear metaphysics is very understandable and gives me a lot. It’s very nice, we can calmly listen to what Barbara has to say.
Dear Evan, thank you very much for today’s SpiritView. Understanding God is much more than how I learned it in Sundayschool. Regrettably I did not read the weekly Lesson Sermon during my Sundayschool time. That was really a fault. However the more and thoroughly I study the lesson today. With this I want to say that merely learning the Bible stories and not going deeper into CS payerfully doesn’t let us truely understand God. I understand that through prayer and inspirational study and listening we are on the right way to understand our loving Father-Mother God much better.
Am I grateful for Evan’s SV Blog and for the wonderful Christian Science!♡
I want to ad this.
The right way is the Christ, as Jesus said: “I am the way ..” and he understood God fully as he knew his oneness with his divine Father-Mother God!♡
That’s an excellent article. Would a kind subscriber please add a link to the written piece too?
Thank you, J, for posting it.
Here is the link from JSH Online. It’s a wonderful article J and thank you for sharing! To read as well as listen.
https://journal.christianscience.com/shared/view/2wxcoi0fn6?s=copylink
Thank you very much!
THANK YOU, J, FOR THE LINK TO THE ARTICLE BY BARBARA VINING.. I HAVE JUST LISTENED TO IT TWICE. IT IS OUTSTANDING’AND JUST WHAT I NEED. I AM SAVING IT SO
I CAN CONTINUE TO BE INSPIRED BY HER MESSAGE.
Dear Evan:
I am so happy to find you again. I used to go to your lectures and listen to your reports on my computer. I’m so glad a friend just sent me your website…We need all the information that’s available with our studies, TYTYTY
I’ve signed up for both and Annual Meeting is coming up…so looking forward to this year to and the Wonderful Title.
Sindcerelym