Just thinking about all the people who have been taught to pray for God's help in overcoming sin, but how few rely on Him to heal sickness. Christ Jesus, our Lord and Master, our forever great Teacher, turned constantly to God, and he healed pain, disease, deformity. And he restored life. And Jesus told us to go and do likewise, commanded his followers to "Heal the sick."
I will forever be grateful to the teachings of Christian Science that have enabled me, in a measure, to do this. It is right to seek God's help in sickness, in my view. And it is efficacious, as well.
The Bible certainly backs this up. The Old Testament states: "And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness." (Deut. 7:15
The woman who discovered and founded Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, writes: "To ignore God as of little use in sickness is a mistake. Instead of thrusting Him aside in times of bodily trouble, and waiting for the hour of strength in which to acknowledge Him, we should learn that He can do all things for us in sickness as in health." (page l66 of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures)
Christian Science has shown me not only how to ask God to deliver me, but how to do so in confident expectation of healing. Its teachings, which are in accord with the inspired message of the Bible, reveal the Christianly scientific prayer that Jesus practiced so successfully. Jesus counseled, "Ask, and it shall be given you." (Matthew 7:7) To me, this is more than a human request for the Father's help. It implies a need for a spiritual conviction of our true nature as the loved offspring of God--the beneficiary of His all-powerful care.
Before Christ Jesus raised his friend Lazarus from the grave, he spoke this prayer of spiritual affirmation: "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always." (John 11:41, 42) The human picture portrayed hopelessness and grief. Yet the Way-shower thanked God for being all-powerful and ever-present! This may have seemed startling. Jesus didn't turn to God in mere optimism, just hoping He would hear; he knew He would. His understanding of man's unity with the creator, divine Mind, gave him absolute assurance that God answers every call.
Someone may be saying to himself right about now, "If only I could have God's help for my many health problems!" Believe me, you can. Learning to pray as Jesus prayed will save one from asking in vain. Mrs. Eddy points out, "The Christlike understanding of scientific being, and divine healing includes a perfect Principle and idea, -- perfect God and perfect man, -- as the basis of thought and demonstration." This is found on page 259 of the book mentioned above.
And speaking of Science and Health, I would say to any man or woman reading my blog for the first time, this is a book that will bring to light for you God's ever-present goodness, His awesome love for you, His ever-available power to heal you. It will show you how a change in your concept of God and man can bring healing and regeneration in your life. It will show you how the Bible's promises of health restored are fulfilled.
