Divine Love Will Meet All Your Needs
This week's Lesson Sermon Subject: Substance
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Morning Prayer
PRAYER FOR ONESELF — I thank Thee, Father-Mother God, that neither ignorant, fraudulent, nor malicious mortal mind can reach me, affect me mentally, physically, financially, or otherwise; and I know it, for God is the only power; that I am not the victim of aggressive mental suggestion, nor the target of M.A.M. claiming to operate through any channel whatever, but I am the blessed legal child of God, spiritual, immortal, all-harmonious, perfect, happy, healthy, pure, sinless, free, and fearless and diseaseless, and deathless, expressing the substance of all good.
Hold yourself constantly and consciously under God’s eternal law of blessing, of happiness, harmony, health, peace, joy, power, progress, protection, abundance; there is no other law, — only a contrary mortal mind lie which you are awake and alert to, and not under.
from Divinity Course and General Collectanea, (the "Blue Book"), by Mary Baker Eddy, page 63
Daily Watch
406 — WATCH that you realize that as you work for God, He cares for you; if you do His work, His reward is sure. No financial need should ever cause us to feel that we must leave God’s work, in order to work for man, since the right demonstration of doing God’s work carries with it all the support needed. It is true that God loves us with an unchanging love; but it is helpful to feel that we must earn that love, in order to have it expressed.
Prayer should not be regarded as an effort to jog God’s elbow, so that He will remember us; it should be our effort to remember God, to know that He is caring for us in every way, and to determine to live up to what He expects of us. It is our confident trust in Him and our effort to serve Him, plus the expectancy of all good, that brings a continuous daily inflow of His love and care into our lives, and meets all our needs.
Discussion points
Too soon we cannot turn from disease in the body to find disease in the mortal mind, and its cure, in working for God.
from Miscellany, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 343
Substance
“Spirit means substance. Spiritual means substantial. In this light it is important that we become more sure each day of actual substance.
Spirit signifies self-existent substance. Nothing is ever destroyed. There is not a single material object in the universe. All is spiritual. Principle, Mind, Soul, Life, are the cause of creation, and they are wholly mental, spiritual, tangible substance…
S&H 468:16-24
“You cannot do a thing to Mind, because it is substance. Harmony is then an essential quality of substance. The counterfact to discord is harmony. Harmony is the evidence of substance. Healing is proof of substance. Love is a proof of substance; Mind, Principle, Soul, and Spirit are the substance of things hoped for by Christian Scientists. As one grows in understanding, he grows in substance, and what he gains is incapable of discord and decay.
…” You and I have the same substance, the same Mind, the same Soul, the same Spirit, and no one robs another of his substance. No one misses his substance, because another cannot have it. Both are satisfied. Both are complete. We have things by reflection. Substance is God, Power, Presence, immutable, immortal, harmonious, indestructible, unchanging perfection.”
Excerpts from 1937 College by Bicknell Young
Golden Text: Luke 15 : 31
“Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.”
What is the difference between Mrs. Eddy and her followers?–– exactly the difference between the revelator and the disciple of that revelator. The revelator receives the revelation directly from Mind as a purely spiritual or Mind impartation, while the disciple receives, to start with, the revelation as a statement of fact, which he gradually begins to assimilate and so make his own. In other words, the revelator goes from the Spirit to the letter and the disciple goes from the letter to the Spirit––exact opposites of approach. The former can never be wrong, so far as his revelation is concerned, whereas the latter can go badly astray if his letter is in the slightest degree twisted from the original revelation, as stated by the revelator. Hence the great need for the disciple to start always from the exact statement of the revelation––which, in the case of the Christian Scientist, means Science and Health––and never from his own idea of what Christian Science is.
from Christian Science, Its Clear, Correct Teaching, by Herbert Eustace, page 953
I Thessalonians 5:21
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
II Corinthians 3:6
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
Signs of the Times
Rev. Arch. Alexander, M. A., B. D., as quoted in the Hampstead & St. John's Wood Advertiser, London, England, from the August 14, 1926 issue of the Christian Science Sentinel
"Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine." In his picture of the father in this story of the prodigal, Jesus is revealing his thought about God, what He is like, what His attitude is to His children, even to such an unamiable one as the elder brother. He contrasts this prudent and mercenary son, clutching all he can for himself, niggardly even of pity and forgiveness, with the father, entreating that unlovable fellow to realize that all that he has is his! That is Jesus' inner thought of what God is like. That was the image of the Father in heaven that lay always in Jesus' heart—a God who puts all He has into our lap, and says: Use as much as ever you can, it is all for you. Is that how we think of God? If He is as willing and gracious as that, have we, as yet, made a much better use of the offer than the elder brother in the story did? Riches that we have never yet possessed, nor even believed we had, riches we have not even tried to measure, so little do we trust the Father's good will! What a thought that is for the beginning of another year of life! The peace of God, for example—an uncharted ocean of it, passing all understanding, and He wants our lives to be filled full. The power of God, so that in every service and every need we are partners with omnipotence, and can have all that we require. The riches of His grace, to forgive, to heal, to meet temptation, for health and sickness, for home and business, for the critical hours and for every day. There is no limit to what God's grace can do. And Jesus says that God bends over us like a father, with all that in His hands, and says, "Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine." What a picture of God! God longing to give, to give the best, to give all that He has!
“Once Mrs. Eddy made the following statements, which she may have been led to formulate, when she found the students indulging a tendency to make Science wholly a matter of cold, scientific argument: 'We must talk more closely with God, bring Him nearer to us, more like the old style of praying. We must feel and know that God is what we live in, like the atmosphere or the sun light. It is all about us. We must rest more in God. When we have a patient, do as well as we can, and let God do the healing. If your children need treatment, do not sit up all night and treat, but treat yourself, and go to bed and to sleep. Give up error to God. Ask for our daily bread, enough for today. A child with its mother does not ask all the time if it will have clothing tomorrow or next week, but runs along happy and trusts its mother’s care. So must we do. Have that trust in the one Father-Mother God, and without fear. If we suffer, suffer it out. The true thought brings the error to the surface, and if we fear not, it will pass off.' … 'We must look where we would walk, and we must act as possessing all power from Him in whom we have our being.' (S&H 264)”
from Watches, Prayers, and Arguments, as given by Mary Baker Eddy, page 23
Matthew 19:21
Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
1. Isaiah 55 : 1, 3, 9, 11
1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
II Kings 25:30
And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.
"I shall not want" by Katherine English
from the May 9, 1931 issue of the Christian Science Sentinel
How many sore hearts have been comforted and strengthened by the words of the twenty-third Psalm, which has come down to us through so many centuries! Yet a deeper sense of its beauty and power is gained when we study the simple interpretation which Mrs. Eddy gives it on page 578 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." This interpretation shows the tender light with which Christian Science illumines even the best-loved portions of the Scriptures, as the spiritual concept of God supersedes finite material belief.
"[Divine Love] is my shepherd; I shall not want." All the world is crying out for Love. But it looks for it in every direction except the right one; it accepts the poorest substitutes in its ignorance of the true nature of Love. Mrs. Eddy's own character manifested unselfishness and loving-kindness. Her tender heart had been so purified by constant prayer, so enlightened by consecration to divine service, that she was fitted to give to the world the wonderful revelation of Truth and Love which she reverently called "Christian Science." The spiritual interpretation of this Psalm, so much beloved by all Christian people, shows clearly that the teachings of Christian Science take away nothing spiritual or true which the student possessed before, but give, rather, a still deeper, broader, and more intelligent understanding of spirituality and Truth.
"I shall not want"! Materiality is always in want. Its hourly cry is, I want! No sooner does it get what it wants than it wants something else or something more. It is never satisfied, never content. Whether living in extravagance or squalor, it is pursued by a wretched, stifled sense of lack, of unfulfilled desire, unstilled longing. It tries one form of amusement or pleasure after another, only to find in each the same monotonous dissatisfaction. Not until thought begins to turn away from materiality to purify its desires, to recognize something of man's true spiritual selfhood and the folly of self-will, does a sense of tranquility replace anxiety, depression, and fear for the future. Most people can bear the ills they have at the moment; it is the thought of their continuance that seems unendurable. To have expectancy changed from the perpetual apprehension of impending want to confidence in divine Love's ample provision has healed many a hopeless case of disease.
No more peaceful picture can be brought before the thought than that of a shepherd and his flock. A sheep is so gentle and inoffensive, a lamb so innocent, so light-hearted, with the shepherd caring wisely for them, night and day watching and providing, guarding against dangers of which the flock is ignorant! If the human shepherd is thus careful and vigilant, what assurance of safety comes with the realization of divine Love's infinite care for His whole creation! How foolish it would be for one of the sheep of a flock, or for a little lamb, to become disturbed as to whether there would be another green pasture available when the present one was used up, or whether or not water for to-morrow's need would be found! The shepherd knows just where to lead them, knows what waters of comfort are waiting for them. Nothing is asked of the flock but that it should follow in orderly fashion where it is led, not allowing the panic of fear to stampede it.
Perhaps at the beginning of our study of Christian Science we are apt to take the assurance of supply as applying largely to material things, such as food and raiment; but later we come to understand that far more necessary still are the things of the Spirit. If we are obediently following divine Love, then we can lack nothing—neither wisdom nor strength, inspiration nor courage. Love does not overdrive us, nor overwork us, when we are wearied with the way. Love makes us to "lie down in green pastures," makes us rest awhile "beside the still waters," gives us more inspiration, quietly leading our infant thoughts and refreshing us with the pure, invigorating truth. If fear and sorrow have dimmed our sense of joy, let us remember the assurance, "[Love] restoreth my soul [spiritual sense]" (Science and Health, p. 578). The spiritual sense of God and man is quickened anew, and our wandering feet are brought back to the plain path. We see the error, gladly abandon it, and again walk humbly with God.
Even if we seem to walk through the dark "valley of the shadow of death," we shall find that death is not substance, but only shadow, and that there is nothing to fear in passing through this shadow out into the light again when Love is with us, when Love's rod is there to guide our footsteps and Love's staff is there to lean upon. The Comforter is with us and with all, leading us on to the final overcoming of "the last enemy."
What if we still have foes in ambush, still have errors not yet destroyed? Divine Love always provides our sustenance so that we can be strengthened to go on. The oil of gladness is poured out on us, and our gratitude overflows. Even if we are harassed and pursued by erroneous thoughts, they cannot really disturb our harmony, for "goodness and mercy" are following us, and Love goes on ahead as well as beside us. To dwell forever in the consciousness of divine Love is harmony, heaven, where Love is supreme.
To gain this beatified consciousness, we must obediently follow the Good Shepherd, the Love divine that cares for even the smallest spiritual idea; and step by step we shall be able to declare with faith and confidence, "I shall not want." We shall be satisfied, fearing no experience on our earthly road, knowing that we are being led to find all that we need for the development of the good which God's children are created to express. Out of the depths of her own experience, Mrs. Eddy wrote for our encouragement (ibid., p. 494), "Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need." Can we ask for more?
Signs of the Times
from the October 12, 1929 issue of the Christian Science Sentinel, from "A Family Doctor," in the Richmond Herald, England
My sermon is short, but, I hope, to the point. It is simply this: I believe that if you could once be brought to escape for a brief space from the turmoil of the world and its cares, and walk by yourself under the trees in the calm and quiet of the eventide, and say with sincerity and conviction, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want," your nervous symptoms would vanish like mists before the rising sun.
"Still Waters" by Effie Valo Bair
from the May 1929 issue of the Christian Science Journal
ONE of the best-known passages in the Bible, and perhaps the most quoted, is that beautiful song of David, the twenty-third psalm, which begins with the lines: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters."
On page 93 of "Retrospection and Introspection" our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, says, "The best spiritual type of Christly method for uplifting human thought and imparting divine Truth, is stationary power, stillness, and strength."
We cannot demonstrate the allness of God by evading the problem that confronts us, by fleeing before the frightening sense-evidence it may present, or by running around in circles, seeking the answer in a change of material conditions. There is no record that Daniel did any of these things when he was told he was to spend the night with hungry lions. We are prone to think that Daniel's demonstration was his coming out of the den the next morning, when, in fact, the real test was his ability to endure through the long night in that situation; to remain there quietly and trustingly, holding his peace, keeping his mental stillness intact, his sense of joy active, in spite of the presence of the lions. One could easily walk out of a den of lions were the way open; but to be calm in such a test one would need to find the "still waters" of Spirit, to quiet the temptation to give way to turbulent, fearful thinking.
So it is in any demonstration of the truth in Christian Science regarding a claim of sickness, sin, poverty, or even death. We do not find our answer to prayer merely in a change of material evidence, in walking out of a den of lions, but in the spiritual ability to know the perfect idea of God right where we are, in spite of the material evidence.
Stand beside a pool of water blown by the wind, and see how distorted the images of the overhanging trees become. Just so, it is impossible for us to know God's ideas clearly until thought is still. Now, if thought is to be still, we must not allow the mortal opinions of those around us, who do not understand our problem, to agitate our thought. What if seeming poverty or physical inharmony does maintain its outward show of discord for a time, and we find ourselves obliged to face every day the disparaging, condemning, critical, or even mistakenly consoling remarks and thoughts of those around us who are waiting for the material evidence to change, and are judging our progress solely by that evidence! None but ourselves can know of the changes going on within our thinking, where the demonstration really takes place. Many times our thought is kept in a state of irritation by our distress over the condemnation of our associates, or by our fear of what people will think, because that which we are outwardly expressing is not in harmony with what mortal belief outlines as harmony. The consciousness of spiritual wholeness and joy is both health and riches.
Jesus had to face the misunderstanding of the entire world in the working out of his problem. He had not come to establish a worldly kingdom, to attainly earthly honors — in other words, to exalt matter in the way that those around him were expecting: he had come to show mortals how to live independently of matter; how to reverse so-called material laws; and, eventually, how to dissolve the belief of material existence entirely. "The foxes have holes," said he, "and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." And the writer of the epistle to the Hebrews says: "Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city."
Mortal mind would try to keep us constantly endeavoring to accumulate material holdings. It would destroy our peace, our joy,—in other words, deface the perfect reflection of divine Mind, in which is the only satisfaction,—in the endeavor to get more of matter. In order to listen to God we must be still. But we cannot be still if we are absorbed in seeking material riches or pleasure in matter. It is a common mistake to think that a demonstration of supply is the influx of money into one's coffers, and that human needs are thus satisfied. An inevitable effect of true spiritual thinking is the meeting of human need, but the real demonstration is the maintaining of our peace, our poise, our happiness, our quiet trust in God, good, even when there may not be any sign of immediate relief.
An earnest student of Christian Science once found herself stranded in a city without funds, and unable to obtain employment of any kind. There was only enough money in the purse to cover a supply of food for a few days, by careful management. Beyond that seemed to yawn the fearful chasm of poverty and disgrace. One day it suddenly came to her that what she thought she needed, and what she was hoping to receive, was money. Maybe that is, primarily, not my need at all, she thought; what, then, do I need? Then came to her the line from the twenty-third psalm, "He leadeth me beside the still waters." "Still waters"! Why "still waters"? Because waters must be still in order to insure a perfect reflection. Searching her thought, she found anything but stillness there. Stirred by fear and anxiety, it was like a high sea in a storm. At once she began to relax and to silence the turbulence in her thought, until she was perfectly quiet. In this deep silence, she became aware of the bursting ecstasy of a bird's song outside her window. A great surprise came to her. Why, she thought, I have never thanked God for the songs of the birds! With gratitude taking possession of her thought, she arose and went out into the unfolding beauty of a perfect day in May in all of its serene loveliness. She walked down the avenue, which was blooming with beauty and melodious with birds' songs, and thanked God for the sunshine, the flowers, the grass, the trees, the sky, the birds, as she had never thanked Him before. She dwelt in this beautiful stillness for several days, satisfied and happy, rejoicing in present good. Then, quietly, like the coming dawn, the human needs were met; not, however, with money, but in an opportunity to serve, to carry this spiritual calm into a turbulent corner where it was needed.
Thus, when any temptation or belief of disaster threatens us, let us pause and refuse to be disturbed by material sense evidence; for God, good, is the only real power; and the only thing we can ever lose is the erroneous belief in the power and reality of evil. And who will say he does not want to get rid of that? On page 454 of Science and Health our Leader counsels: "Wait patiently for divine Love to move upon the waters of mortal mind, and form the perfect concept. Patience must 'have her perfect work.' "
If our patience has to extend over a long period, if it be active the reward is inevitable, the only one worth seeking: the perfect reflection of God in the "still waters" of divine Science. The perfect, whole, and complete idea is only waiting for thought to be still enough to reflect it. Mrs. Eddy says (Science and Health, p. 445), "Christian Science silences human will, quiets fear with Truth and Love, and illustrates the unlabored motion of the divine energy in healing the sick."
Mrs. Eddy Interviewed
from the June 29, 1899 issue of the Christian Science Sentinel
A Reporter for the Boston Journal gives an Account of his Visit to Pleasant View.
The Chicago Inter Ocean on Sunday, June 18, published a sensational article to the effect that Christian Scientists of Chicago are seriously in doubt as to whether Mary Baker G. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, is really alive and on earth.
The article is based on what purports to be an interview with an unnamed "member of the South Side Society." This mythical person is made to declare that Mrs. Eddy did not appear in person at any of the recent meetings in Boston, during Communion week, and that the address at the Annual Meeting was read by another person and handed out to the reporters under the false pretence that it was delivered by Mrs. Eddy herself.
The Boston Journal upon receiving the Chicago paper instituted an investigation of the matter, with the result that a reporter personally interviewed Mrs. Eddy at her home in the city of Concord, N. H., Tuesday evening, June 20, and the interview was published in the Boston Journal of June 21. The following is an abstract of the interview.
Concord Depot, N. H., June 20.—"Am I alive? Why I haven't felt more sound for forty years."
These are words which will set at rest once and for all the reports which come out of the West with resistless regularity that Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy, the Mother of the Christian Science faith and the counsellor of its interests the world over, is dead and has been in the grave for several years. It was the forcible and picturesque response to the question of a Boston Journal man as Mrs. Eddy tripped lightly into the parlor of her beautiful home in this city last night at an hour when many younger persons are in bed. The Journal man had come from Boston to deny or affirm the reports of her death, with particular reference to a purported interview in a Chicago paper with a prominent Christian Science worker there, who says emphatically that all evidence bears out the conclusion that Mrs. Eddy is dead, and that her death is being kept a secret by interested people who fear that knowledge of such a fate would be disastrous to the cause. This same gentleman is alleged to have made a statement that Mrs. Eddy did not deliver an address at the recent National Convention of Christian Scientists held in Tremont Temple, Boston, but that a woman who was made to pass as Mrs. Eddy spoke that day.
To a Journal man to-night Mrs. Eddy took notice of these declarations. It was the real Mrs. Eddy and nobody else, with whom the Journal man talked for half an hour; the same Mrs. Eddy whom the reporter saw alight from her carriage in front of Tremont Temple two weeks ago when she entered the building on a Tuesday afternoon to deliver her address to two thousand and more persons assembled. As Mrs. Eddy came down the front stairs with the agility of a maiden and tripped lightly across the parlor floor the reporter's eyes bulged as he thought of a woman of eighty who has worked hard and thought deeply all her life.
She was charmingly dressed in black satin, black waist with purple front; her snow-white hair combed gracefully from the middle of her head was held by side combs studded with brilliants; her complexion like pink satin, clear and unflecked by furrow or wrinkle, and her eyes bright and glistening, were no uncertain evidences of health and contentment.
"It is only an impulse that I talk with you to-night," she said. "I see no reporters, and, as my time is so thoroughly taken up by my work, it is not possible for me to entertain callers. I came to Concord for seclusion. Yes, it was way back in the seventies that the reports were first given out that I was dead, but here I am, and in good health. During the ten years that I have been here I think I have missed but three days for my daily drives. I go out summer and winter, rain or shine. There were two days last winter when the streets were almost impassable during that most severe cold weather that I did not go out driving, and one other time in years past that I could not go out, but for ten years I have missed but three days. One day last winter, when the wind blew frightfully, I drove about the city; coming home it seemed as if the carriage would be blown away from the street, and the driver expected it, but we arrived home safely, and I felt no bad effects from the experience."
"What are your working hours?"
"I arise at six o'clock in the morning," replied Mrs. Eddy, "and work all day. I retire to my room at nine o'clock. but not always to sleep. To-day, I have answered about twenty letters. I take ten minutes for every letter of four pages, read it thoroughly, consider it, and then write or dictate the answers to my private secretary. Of course, there are hundreds of letters that I never answer at all; to-day I have entertained letters from Congo Free State, from several European countries, and answered a letter from the wife of our minister to China."
"Your time is occupied in other ways?"
"Yes, from all over the country I am besieged with requests for messages and counsel. Whenever a new church is opened the people think I ought to mail them some words of cheer and comfort if I cannot attend. So all these things take my time. I cannot go to Boston. I have not the time, for there is so much that requires my attention here every hour of the day.
"During the recent convention I felt that it was a call from God to speak to our dear people. I was there all day, and after running up and down stairs, holding receptions, and speaking words of cheer here and there, I rode back at night. There was a couch in my car, but I did not lie down. I did not feel tired, although it was a pretty good day's work."
"I suppose the fact that you are to a great extent inaccessible to those who wish to call on you gives rise to many of these rumors of your death."
"Yes," replied Mrs. Eddy. "I reluctantly turn away many more from my door than I see. It is impossible for me to entertain the hosts who wish to see me. For years I have been trying to discourage hero-worship. Here is an incident. It was the first time that I ever uttered a reproof to anybody on such an occasion. Many people were tarrying at my gate when I got ready to take a drive one day after the recent convention; they had come from all parts of the country. I stopped my carriage at the gate and spoke to these people, then I drove away. But when I came back one woman had remained there two hours, waiting for me to return. I stopped and said, 'What are you here for?' 'For spiritual help,' she replied. 'Have you no God?' 'Yes,' she said. 'Then never come here again to see me. Depend on yourself—go into your "closet" and pray that He may guide and counsel you.' "
"You leave home but rarely now, do you not?"
"Yes; I am trying to extend this idea of God-help instead of my help on all my people. My heart is with them all, but they cannot expect that I can leave my work that is somewhat apart from theirs."
"Age has descended lightly on you, despite your years of thought and toil," remarked the Journal man.
"I never boast of my health, or speak of the to-morrow, but when I was driving recently, I was stopped by one who, after inquiring about my health, remarked, 'Mrs. Eddy, you look to be about forty years old.' Farther than this, I do not know what people think, but I really do not feel older than forty years.
"As I toil on I am comforted by the Scripture: 'Ye shall run and not weary, walk and not faint.' "
"Do you find that your faith is flourishing?"
"Oh, very much so. In England there has been a great advance within the last four years; and in Germany, France and other parts of Europe, the work is in a very flourishing condition."
Hero worship is weakness; individually and collectively it tends to rule out of head and heart Science and Christianity; finite person can neither heal the sick nor save the sinner.
from Essays and Other Footprints, (the "Red Book"), by Mary Baker Eddy
Final Readings
Plenty by M. Bettie Bell
from the September 14, 1907 issue of the Christian Science Sentinel
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.—St. Paul.
It is a demand of Christian Science that we "work out" our own salvation, and when our work is well done we are rich in mercy, gentleness, peace, honesty, and spiritual plenty. A thought of poverty should never be admitted as a reality, any more than a thought of sickness. The Master said, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." The door of plenty is not closed to us if we knock with vigor. Plenty comes through industry, obedience, faithfulness, understanding, and demonstration. Plenty is the hope of spiritual sense, and the fruit of salvation worked out. If we have plenty of wisdom, love, charity, forgiveness, and humility, we are rich in heavenly treasure, equipped for spiritual work, clothed with the garment of salvation, and filled with the ripe fruit of righteousness. God will give us plenty, and more than plenty, if we daily work, watch, and pray for the Mind to be in us "which was also in Christ Jesus."
In the Lord's Prayer is the plea, "Give us this day our daily bread;" in one of the psalms of David is the assurance, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want," and in Proverbs is the promise, "He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honor." Together with this plea, assurance, and promise, we are to know there is no gaunt want or famine in the house of God. We as God's children are enriched with the bounty of the Word. We must cleanse our thoughts from the desire of material plenty, be willing to surrender self-longings, give up our idols of self-expectation, release our hold on self-demands and "lay hold on eternal life;" then will divine plenty pour into our consciousness and fill it with the riches of God. To talk and express poverty is an evidence that we are reflecting the errors of sense and have not found the golden ore that bespeaks true riches and plenty. When we think plenty we will talk and reflect it, and poverty is dismissed from thought as plenty is realized.
It should be our daily and willing duty to keep the search-light of Truth busy until every presumptuous sin is overcome. Then will our consciousness be so clean and pure that we shall express and reflect the plentifulness of divine Mind. The wisest man said, "He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough."