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Obedience to God

God is always speaking to us in peaceful and empowering ways. And listening to those messages opens us to healing. 

  • By Kathryn Jones Dunton

Christian Science Perspective audio edition
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The pain was excruciating. The cramp in my leg caused me to cry out desperately for God’s help. For a moment, I felt helpless, but quickly the message came, “Go wash the dishes.”

To me, this clear command meant, “You are OK. Move forward.” And it came with the peace of God. I understood the message to mean that I shouldn’t dwell on the material picture of infirmity, but instead claim my freedom as a child of God, spiritual and perfect. As I trusted and followed God’s direction to move forward, I was immediately and completely freed from the pain.

Pondering the unexpected directive and its healing result, I thought about Jesus’ healing of the man at the pool of Bethesda (see John 5:2-9). To no avail, the man, who had been an invalid for 38 years, was waiting for the water to be troubled, which was believed to indicate it had power to heal the first who stepped in.

When Jesus saw the man, his heart went out to him, knowing how long he had been suffering, and he asked, “Wilt thou be made whole?” After the man explained that he had no one to put him into the pool, Jesus said, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.” The man didn’t question the directive. He just picked up his bed and walked.

Like the man, I realized that I had unquestioningly obeyed the divine message that had come to me and was healed. By performing a task that, a moment before, had seemed impossible, we had both turned away from what the material senses were reporting. Both the man and I were receptive and responsive to a healing idea.

In the case of the man, beyond simply standing up, clearly he was able to let go of the limiting concept of infirmity that he had entertained for so many years, to embrace at least a glimpse of his true identity as God’s reflection, able and whole.

In truth, each of us is made in the spiritual image and likeness of God. Because we are God’s image, we reflect all the qualities of God, including health and freedom.

Over the years, through my study of Christian Science, I have learned to know myself as God’s perfect idea. This understanding enables me to recognize and release negative concepts that are not in line with my true spiritual identity. We can all learn to listen intently for God’s “still, small voice” of truth and obediently heed God’s direction.

Thus, we become more able to differentiate between God’s helpful, calming, persistent guidance and the pushing, erratic messages that lead nowhere good. God’s guidance has a sparkle of inspiration that dull, fearful, repetitious thoughts lack.

We can quiet fearful thoughts in order to hear God’s omnipresent guidance, which leads to harmonious, good results. That is what happened on the evening that I recognized and heeded God’s loving message, “Go wash the dishes.”

Obedience to God’s inspired messages always brings healing!

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