Spiritual resistance

HAVE you ever had a whole day totally upended by the need to cancel important activities because you felt too ill to cope? Most of us have, but there's certainly nothing routine about the experience. And maybe we need to ask an important question, such as, Should we consent to the notion that because some disease has shown up in our bodies, there's nothing we can do but let it run its course? Christian Science shows that contrary to such consent, there's plenty we can do. I proved this for myself some years ago, and the experience has stood as a beacon light for me ever since. At three o'clock on a particular afternoon I had an important appointment with a friend. But by one o'clock I was feeling so ill that I had no hope of even getting out of bed, much less making the appointment.

But just as I started to telephone my friend to cancel, I thought, ``Wait a minute. This is the perfect opportunity to demonstrate at least one small part of what I've been learning in Christian Science.'' So instead of calling my friend I began to pray.

I knew that God is man's loving Father. Christ Jesus said so, and proved it over and over again. When we turn to our Father, humbly asking for His help, He doesn't fail us. The Bible teaches that man was created in the very image of God and that everything He made is good. This doesn't include disease, weakness, fever, aching limbs. I reasoned, then, that all the miserable conditions that had laid me low were definitely not from God and therefore didn't need to be given in to. I had God-derived spiritual power right then to resist and destroy them.

In the Bible we see what wonderful results are possible when we yield to the Christ-power and resist evil. ``Resist the devil,'' we read in the book of James, ``and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.... Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.''1

I surely did need lifting up -- and not just to keep from having to cancel the appointment. Certainly there are times when rescheduling some activity is the wise thing to do. But my purpose in this instance for wanting to prove man's unity with God and freedom from discord went far beyond getting well enough to simply meet with my friend. I wanted to be on solid ground for further spiritual growth.

I found the guidance and encouragement I needed in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, who discovered and founded Christian Science. In one passage she writes: ``Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good. God has made man capable of this, and nothing can vitiate the ability and power divinely bestowed on man.''2 What a strengthening thought that was!

So what other power is there? I reasoned. Either I accept the false concept that this particular disease has a certain course to run and I'm stuck with it; or I yield to the spiritual truth that I have God-derived ability and power to destroy through prayer whatever would hinder any worthy endeavor. I felt so sure of my divine right that I got up, dressed, and drove to where we were to meet.

The sickness didn't disappear right away. But that's why this experience stands out for me. I got up in spite of the misery, resisting ``in the strength of Spirit'' all the pain and fever, which were so ``unlike good.'' And I did it because I trusted God. I knew He loved me, that He saw nothing unlike Himself in His perfect offspring.

All the way to the appointment I prayed, thanking God for His infinite goodness and care. And by the time my friend and I met, I was healed. Not just better. But healed, absolutely free. This was the proof I needed -- and have recalled many times since -- that we never need to give in to disease or discord in any form. We have God-given ability to resist spiritually everything unlike Him.

You can prove this too.

1James 4:7, 8, 10. 2Science and Health, p. 393.

You can find more articles like this one in the Christian Science Sentinel, a weekly magazine. DAILY BIBLE VERSE: God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. II Timothy 1:7