The Bible states, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” (Matt.) Many times people misinterpret this quote and use it to excuse bad behavior, wrong values and morals, and so on. But what this verse is talking about is judging unfairly — or even going around with a superior attitude and condemning people according to some selfish views.

There does come a time when many of us are finding that we must surrender all, our self, our careers, relationships, homes, children, to that perfect plan of God. I know that when we do that, we find peace. Peace because finally we have made God absolutely in control in our lives.

When we learn that God is only good, we also must know that no wrong thought can come from a loving Father-Mother. Instead of accepting negative thoughts or ignoring them we must rather ask, “Is this thought from God?” The answer should be simple because no wrong thought has its origin in God, good, and must be rejected instantly.

Purely trusting God is an imperative quality we must have or cultivate in our journey spiritward. If we trust God we can be more confident in our reliance on God. If we trust Him we can trust leaving things in His hands, and know that He will only unfold what is good.

In John 1:1 it says that “the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” If we come to our studies, or listen to a practitioner, or any source of this Truth, with the attitude of just listening to some words, how much we miss and do not benefit from! They are not just some words. This is God speaking. It has power, and whatever increases our faith, conviction, and reliance on God, is essential in helping us find ourselves, feel the power at hand, and realize our salvation.

’Tis what I know of Thee, my Lord and God,

That fills my soul with peace, my lips with song;

Thou art my health, my joy, my staff, my rod;

I lean on Thee, in weakness I am strong.

Someone likened meekness to how water takes the form of everything or anything that it is poured into; in other words, complete conformity, the absence of any resistance. This has given me a vivid understanding of meekness. Through self-immolation, self-abnegation, we allow God to mold us and use us in the way of His choosing.

We need to choose and walk on that narrow way, stay in that secret place and let God’s love shelter us. We do not make heaven with our thinking, but how glorious it is that we can feel ourselves in heaven when we change our wrong thinking of selfishness, resentfulness, revengefulness and self-righteousness, which only block our view so that our view can be clear enough for us to see the heaven that we all seek and that it awaits us.

We hear a lot today about food being an affliction. Mealtimes which should be a time of gratitude and happiness, have become a time of anxiety, and pain afterward for many people. This lie starts by making you afraid of eating something, so you eliminate that, and then the next thing, and then the next thing. Through Christian Science, we see that this is just one more way that mortal mind would keep us slaves, to be afraid of eating.

I have learned that a change of thought, the change of base of thought, doesn’t come in a few weeks or so. It's a matter of persistence in the Truth, our love for God and man, and the Truth that is telling us that we are spiritual beings, not material beings. That our thought must be like the thought of the Christ, and this, we can claim every day and persist in it.

I feel that we should often examine ourselves, and be honest with ourselves, to what extent, and in what way, am I loving God? He loves us, yes, but in what practical ways, am I loving Him? Am I obeying these commandments? In Mrs. Eddy’s article “Ways that are Vain” (Miscellany, page 213) we read “Watch your thoughts, and see whether they lead you to God and into harmony with His true followers.”

The Webster 1828 Dictionary says, “equanimity” is “evenness of mind; that calm temper or firmness of mind which is not easily elated or depressed, which sustains prosperity without excessive joy, and adversity without violent agitation of the passions or depression of spirits.”

Coveting is ardently desiring what belongs to another. If indulged in, it can lead to the willingness to take an action that will deprive your neighbor of what is his.

This was the most peaceful flight I have ever had. It gave me an idea of what it must have been like when Christ Jesus slept undisturbed during the raging sea storm.

I love the understanding that we are under the government of the All-knowing, All-seeing, All-acting and All-wise God, who is merciful and just. He alone can confer the peace that cannot be disturbed. His promises are kept, and we can call on them every moment of the day or night.

When I started to study Christian Science, I had this fearful sense of lack. There was no basis for it because at the time I was making “pretty good money,” and yet the fear of not being able to meet my obligations tormented me. And I must say, I don’t know how else I could have completely overcome this, except through my study of Christian Science, which assured me that God loves me.

Before finding Plainfield Church, I was a wreck going somewhere, but not knowing where. I knew something was wrong when the truths I was being given did not help me overcome one of the most disturbing habits I had — the habit of rushing around.

There was a time when I expected something to go wrong whenever some good came my way! We could be on a vacation “having fun,” and lurking in the back of my thought would be the aggressive silent arguments that something was going to go wrong.

A few years ago I used to drive about 40 minutes to work. At the time, one of my enslaving fears was being in a car on the road, whether I was driving or someone else was. Many negative thoughts would come which made me very fearful. Large cargo trucks, that would come so close sometimes and pass by so fast, had me on edge most of the time.

This week I was inadvertently led to watch a worship song on YouTube. I don’t know how I got there, but I got there. I was so grateful that such a song is being played on a platform such as America’s Got Talent. The song talks about “I am no longer a slave to fear.” It touched me because I used to be a slave to fear, for so long, and it is this Love of God that heals.