Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
If the temptation to get angry comes knocking at your mental door, you can choose to love instead.
If the temptation to resent another’s abrasive action sweeps into thought, you can choose to see infinite Love in control of your thinking, rather than another’s apparent lack of love.
If the body starts to feel ill, you can choose to feel health coming from Spirit instead.
If you’re feeling down for no apparent reason, you can choose to look up, to look up to the infinite blessings of Love flowing your way and present to brighten the day.
There is nothing imperative about evil. It’s often sponsors a big show, but its claims pale compared to the grandeur, power and presence of God.
Turn from evil, side with good. Side with God and live free.
What a wonderful reminder! Just what I needed!!!
Wonderful explanation for overcoming temptation from evil.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil;
And God leadeth us not into temptation, but delivered us from sin, disease & death.
Thank you so much Evan
Thank you for this wonderful explanation!
I truly wish that it was so easy:-)
Of course Evan, your last line makes me think of the rousing hymn #296 in the Christian Science Hymnal, especially the chorus line: “O side with God, and win!” The hymn and your post go so well with this week’s Bible Lesson with so many encouragements to take action/demonstrate/do the works/love one another/do good deeds/be established “in every good word and work”! Thank you Evan for another inspiring, rousing post! Below is the 1st verse the chorus and the 3rd verse.
“Rouse ye, soldiers of the cross, And lift your banner high; Servants of a mighty cause, Put sloth and slumber by.
Rouse ye, rouse ye, face the foe, Rise to conquer death and sin; On with Christ to victory go, O side with God, and win!
Rouse ye: long the conquest waits For valor’s act supreme; Rouse ye, rest not, do the deeds That break the earthly dream.
“No evil power” by Irving C. Tomlinson. From the August 1912 issue of The Christian Science Journal:
https://journal.christianscience.com/shared/view/15gbjrcegko?s=copylink
Thank you very much, dear J for this and all your so duitable articles! Will read this in a suitable moment and am looking forward to it!
Dear Evan, thank you so very deeply for your healing, comforting and blessing SpiritView Blog including the comments from which I also can lesrn very much!
Here are so wondercful comments today, thank you.all very very much! ❤️
Thank you Evan for this post and yesterday’s. I
liked your explanations of evil’s falsity and. God’s
presence and truth, reality. Your examples and
, for instances have helped me to further understand what spiritual living is and how it blesses all of God’s children.
Why is it so challenging to do this??
I’ve been praying to see others as God sees them and all I keep attracting is more challenging people.
I try very hard to love, to the extent that I am not respected. The world would see me as a “people-pleaser”.
Where is the door out of people pleasing and into self-respect?
This morning I listened to a CS lecture titled “Step Out of Your Story” (Jon Benson). The lecturer explains how focusing on our (human) history runs counter to worship. I feel held captive by my automatic people pleasing habits. When I do try to assert myself, I feel rude and fear abandonment or judgment and innocently fall back on being “nice, polite”.
There are days when I feel I’ve never learned a thing in CS. Today is one of those days. I have wandered from the flock, feel lost and afraid, and eagerly await the gentle tug of the shepherd’s hook around my neck. That much I can be sure of.
I’m grateful for this SV daily guide.
Gratitude is the first line of defense in any healing.
Today I will listen for my Father’s voice.
Beyond “people-pleasing” motives By Elaina Simpson. From the May 18, 2020 issue of The Christian Science Sentinel:
https://sentinel.christianscience.com/shared/view/iexkbe0fg4?s=copylink
Excellent article, J! You always find and contribute what is relevant to the day’s SV. Thank you!
So kind of you to say Cheryl, thank you. xo
Thanks a lot, dear J for this inspiring article!
For me the .most important thought is “above all please God, our dearest Father-Mother Love!” ❤️
“And Jesus answered him, The first of all the com‐
mandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one
Lord: 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy
heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and
with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment
greater than these.”
Dear Good Man,
I appreciate your candidness about your challenges. What I see in Jesus’ commandments is first, to listen, as you are doing. Then to love God, your Shepherd, divine Love. Then, to love yourself, as Love’s reflection. Be assured that you are not the only one who feels the need for feeling self-respect. I’ve found it helpful to remember what Paul says in Romans 8, that nothing can separate us from the love of God; what Jesus said in John 10, that no man is able to pluck us out of our Father’s hand; and what Mary Baker Eddy says on page 304 of Science and Health, that divine Love cannot be deprived of its manifestation, or object, — in you or any one of us. Your Shepherd is beside you, and nothing can you lack, in Hymn 148. Ask, seek, knock, as Jesus told us.
‘Know o child you have sovereign power to think and act clearly and nothing can separate you from your divine heritage nor trespass on Love.’ S H.
This from Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures came to thought when in an extreme moment of despair I randomly opened our textbook and sighted this.
I feel for you.
Divine Love God is walking with you and He holds you in His arms and leads the way.
I too recently lost my way but am coming through .
This Spirit View has been an added blessing.
I love the one where we are asked what do you see? The pathway to life or the pathway to death. I was on the wrong path for sure what an awakening. It is challenging but not not achievable.
The thoughts from Hymn #443 come to mind,
” Be gentle, be pure. Since Spirit keeps all secure, No pain or fear has power
Be gentle, be pure; Love guards, Love guides this hour. Love guards, Love guides this hour.
Be tranquil, be free. Since Life holds both you and me, We know what Life has wrought.
Be tranquil, be free; Infirmity is nought. Infirmity is nought.
Be watchful, be still. Then listen for Love’s clear will, Which keeps us safe, at ease.
Be watchful, be still; Assured your God you’ll please. Assured your God you’ll please.
Be joyful, be calm. As Soul’s own melodious psalm, Each day you’re sung anew
Be joyful, be calm; Know well that God loves you. Know well that God loves you.”
So helpful with BC local and provincial election coming up and the smear campaigning that seems to taking place. Love is in control whether mortal man recognizes it or not.
Another time, in 1903, I was called to Mrs. Eddy’s study and given a fine lesson on watching. She asked me if I had been watching. I replied, “Yes, Mother, I have been going over the Lesson-Sermon and getting much out of it.” She looked at me sternly. “Did you think that was watching?” she asked. “Now I will tell you what it means to watch. To watch is to become conscious of your danger. I recently found this from We Knew Mary Baker Eddy Vol. 1 Expanded Edition. Page 262.
It really opened my eyes to praying and watching.❤️
Thank you, Evan, and thank you, Rita. Very interesting about “watching”!
Thank you all for encouraging forward motion and for reassuring me of the fact that All truly is well, despite my wandering out of the Kingdom.