With the invasion of Ukraine, my prayers in support of peace led me to this quote by Mary Baker Eddy:
“Mankind must learn that evil is not power. Its so-called despotism is but a phase of nothingness. Christian Science despoils the kingdom of evil, and pre-eminently promotes affection and virtue in families and therefore in the community”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 102).
Aw, the solution for world peace is found in these words.
Christian Science is all about practicing and demonstrating the omnipresence of Love that unites all of creation in one grand harmonious whole. Jesus Christ led the way with his supreme example of the power of Love to defeat the attacks of evil that tried to destroy him but utterly failed. The influence of his teaching and example continues to grow around the world, even today.
And it shall be for centuries to come. Evil is not the power it claims to possess. It’s phases of despotism, at times horribly ugly and foreboding, are doomed for failure.
Evil cannot assault, defeat, and destroy what is right, moral, and spiritual. The spiritual will always triumph over the material. Good always triumphs over evil. God’s reign will always have the final say.
The seeming despotism of evil is illusion and can only self-destruct and disintegrate without a trace left behind. The sooner mankind learns this truth, the better for everyone!
Helpful message! thank you Evan.
INDIVIDUAL ABOLISHMENT OF WAR
https://journal.christianscience.com/shared/view/1km7j2zqffi?s=e
Very applicable. Thanks for finding this article from 1935. Good research.
Excellent ❣️❣️
Thanks Evan for reminding us. Evil has no power, than what we give to it.
it’s nothingness is never effective.
Thank you Evan and Martine for the eye-opener thought and perfect article for this peace topic. My part to play in securing world wide peace is more clearer.
Thank you Evan and Martine. The article is a powerful affirmation of God’s love and omnipotence. After seeing distressing images of the destruction in Ukraine last night I am truly grateful for the truths shared on SV.
With love, Helena
Thank you Evan and Martine for all this spiritual direction regarding prayer, needed so much right now. The daily lift today is very powerful too.
We must never let go of the truth of our circumstance, personally and collectively. Error destroys itself as Love takes its place in our consciousness as the only , ALL.
‘ and the wolf shall lie down with the sheep, and a little child shall lead them ‘
Thank you Barbara, for this timely reminder to “never let go of the truth of our circumstance, personally . . .” as I don’t always remember to pray daily for myself, as Mrs. Eddy tells us.
Evil cannot assault, defeat, and destroy what is right, moral, and spiritual. We can see this in the reports that come thru the nightly news which is being expressed by the Ukrainian people their resilience their resolve their love of family and country are united in their belief of Truth.
Around the world the Truths that what is right, moral and good is being expressed in their stand of solidarity with the Ukrainian people. We must look higher than what is being pictured and know that the spiritual is there and intact. We take our stand and know that God governs all.
Thank you Evan! Evil destroys itself .!
Evan thank you so much for your clear thoughts how to pray. Evil destroys itself
Thank you Evan and Martine!
I really appreciate this statement in the article.
“How humbly we (I) should pray, and how firmly we (I) should resolve, that the mental atmosphere we (I) exhale shall be wholesome, cleared of fear, suspicion, animosity, or any other quality which may reach our brother and cause him to offend.” Thanks to all for your helpful comments and prayers!
During the Spanish and American War, Mrs. Eddy had a 24/7 prayer vigil continually praying till it was resolved.
We are kind of like that as a group of dedicated and prayerful thinkers.
Thanks for your consecration and vivid example of the ultimate power of Love.
Stay the course. We are one body. This mountain will be removed and cast into the sea.
So interesting on Mrs. Eddy’s prayer vigil. Thanks for sharing it David.
I recently came across a couple of quotes I love:
– Prayer, in a word, is AWARENESS. Cultivating an awareness of God means we are never helpless, never alone. And this awareness is UNCEASING PRAYER.
– If you’re overwhelmed by the fact that there’s nothing you can do except pray, you undervalue the greatest weapon.
Thanks Evan, and everyone else here. So many wonderful insights shared in this group. I’ll definitely be reading “Individual Abolishment of War” today.
I’ve been sharing your posts in the FaceBook group, ‘Christian Scientists for the healing of the nations’, where we’re devoting time each day to pray about a specific topic that needs to be met in the Ukraine war. (We’ve addressed having no enemies, dwelling in the kingdom of God, harmony among the nations and leaders, safety for the frontline soldiers and civilians, no loss of home, jobs, security, etc, no foundation for war, no stumbling blocks in negotiations.)
If anyone here would like to join us in the group and share your insights, that would be great. (Please make the request from a computer or tablet so you can see and respond to the required questions.)
Praying with you all!
The March 20 Bible Lesson entitled Matter is powerful in addressing the “kingdoms of this world.” This citation from Psalms has become my cornerstone for praying about peace. “Be still and know that I am God: I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us.” (all the nations of the world-words in parenthesis are mine)
Prayer is powerful. Thank you, Evan and commenters.
A prayer virgil, what a wonderful idea.
https://journal.christianscience.com/issues/1982/3/100-3/evil-no-portion-nor-right-nor-memorial
https://journal.christianscience.com/issues/1953/12/71-12/disarming-evil
Carolyne thank you for the articles, I really needed disarming evil today
I did a bit of reading to get a better understanding of despotism. I found an article (not CS) about a talk given by an Australian professor on the topic of despotic regimes around the world. He said that a characteristics of these regimes is that they “understand that consent of the people is the source of their continued hold on power….and they employ tools which give the illusion of democracy without ceding any real political power to the citizenry. They are ‘phantom democracies’; like phantom pregnancies, people experiencing them think they’re real.“
People are waking up to the lie of phantom democracies around the world. Also there is an analogy to the way error tries to operate in our individual consciousness, it needs our consent and hopes we won’t wake up to see and turn to the Truth, that God is in control and God is all good.
Thank you everyone for wonderful shares on Peace, our true state. It helps so much when I seem pulled into negativity and feeling the despair in the world. Blessings to all!
Thank you for sharing this important perspective on phantom democracies, and for your clear insights Rose.
This blog IS a prayer vigil!. Here we are of one accord, one intention, one Mind. Here we unite in knowing the irresistible, unstoppable, provable Truth. Prayer by prayer each of us contributes to the great awakening of mankind to spiritual reality that is going on in human consciousness. This blessed fellowship edifies our faith, strengthens our convictions, and reinforces our commitment to uplifting world thought and action. What a privilege to be a part of this vigil. Thank you all.
I have been remembering what Mrs. Eddy had to say about the thoughts of the healer: “good must dominate in the thoughts of the healer, or his demonstration will be protracted, dangerous, and impossible in Science.”
I seem to be having a small challenge moving beyond the denial phase of a Christian Science treatment to the affirmation phase. I find it easy and liberating to deny the aggression, oppression, despotism, etc,
Getting to affirming the reality of what is actually going on in Mind, where we ALL live, move, and have our being was a bit more difficult. I reversed the error; ok – what next?
I made a list of what I imagine is going on in Mind. Dancing, singing, celebrating, infinite good unfolding, creation ever appearing in new and fascinating ways, feasting, worshipping – and then I responded to the question Mrs. E asked us – “have you ever pictured this heaven and earth, inhabited by being under the control of supreme wisdom? Yes!
So I’m trying to let good dominate my thoughts by picturing building, planting, harvest festivals like that. It’s fun!
This statement of truth from S&H is also comforting:
The wicked man is not the ruler of his upright neighbor. Let it be understood that success in error is defeat in truth.
God reigns and the only power there is ,No evil because it is not power,There is no door through, which evil can enter, and no space for evil to fill in a mind filled with goodness.