My what important words! Together they are such a simple yet profound prayer of humility. When heartfelt, there’s a recognizable power. As one yields to this statement, one can feel the authority of divine presence within one’s being. Confident trust freely flows within consciousness.
Am I doing God’s will each day?
I’m the first to admit I’ve not done so consistently enough in my life. Yet it is so important to raising and supporting a family. It’s essential in my work at Wide Horizon. It’s vital to the practice of Christian Science nursing.
Is our faith completely in God and His plan for us?
Well, there have been times when my faith wavered (whether personally or professionally), when I clearly was not listening for His plan; therefore, following a humanly constructed plan. Yet I believe God, divine Love, is the supreme supplier of all human needs when we completely trust in Spirit. I believe God directs our plans as Principle-Love, provides us counsel and guidance as divine Mind, secures our health and safety as Truth, enables and purifies us as Spirit, inspires us as Soul, strengthens us as Life, and assures our success in divine Love.
It is evident to me that any seeming dilemma or challenge, any decision or topic, any false belief or erroneous claim against mankind must be addressed with the humility and certainty of our Master, Christ Jesus. His character, nature and thought are what we need to emulate and express – to do the best we can. He stated in the Lord’s Prayer and also at a moment of great need, “Thy will be done.” (Matthew 6:10, Luke 22:42) I believe Jesus knew that our heavenly Father met every true need – of his own, of all God’s beloved children, of those who turn to Spirit, Love. The Master’s Sermon on the Mount contains all that we need to know in dealing with the human experience. It is filled with the richest guidance for daily living. I think Jesus humbly showed and taught that every thought must be brought into the obedience of Christ, as indicated by Apostle Paul, and therefore must put others before self.
I think God’s will for us is to love one another – even our so-called enemies – and to love God with all our heart, mind and being. I feel we need to love God’s spiritual man who is made in His image and likeness. (Genesis 1:26) To affirm that this is the true man – female and male in Spirit’s pure likeness. To learn and practice greater lessons of love in our lives. To move with compassion towards those in need as did Christ Jesus – our Way-shower in true Christianity.
Yet Jesus, who (as the Gospels indicate) fed multitudes, raised those from dead, stilled storms, walked on water, and healed the sick and sinning, said himself, “I can of mine own self do nothing.” (John 5:3) It is God who works with us when we do His will. This work can be and is remarkable. So ultimately “thy will be done” always must be good, must always express divine Love, whether in action, speech or prayer. If we desire to do God’s will, we therefore need to pray often “Let that mind be in us [me], which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5) This desire brings peace.
Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer of Christian Science and a devout follower of Christ Jesus, informs her readers how important it is to have one God, one divine Mind. She tells us that “the starting-point of divine Science is that God, Spirit, is All-in-all, and that there is no other might nor Mind, — that God is Love, and therefore He is divine Principle” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 275).
On this solid foundation, we can work, pray and study. We can expect healing. We can handle all that comes to us individually, for “with God all things are possible.” (Mark 10:27) We can see more clearly this spiritual fact of God’s allness. This may include knowing God as the only Mind, the only Life, the all of Love. It may lead us to a deeper recognition of the unlimited source of God’s providence as Spirit being all substance. It may enable each of us to be better spiritual thinkers and thus healers.
As the Leader in Christian Science, Mrs. Eddy stated, “Follow your Leader only so far as she follows Christ” (Message for 1901, p. 34). This was so important that a year later she restated, “I again repeat, Follow your Leader, only so far as she follows Christ” (Message for 1902, p. 4). We too can follow Christ in doing our Father’s will. In loving one another. In healing mankind. If we are doing better Scientific spiritual healing, we will see our communities, our churches, our world both prosper and be more harmonious. We will gratefully recognize and acknowledge God’s bountiful blessings. We’ll see the realm of the kingdom of heaven as limitless. We’ll feel boundless heavenly inspiration. And, the Christ within us, enables us to hear God’s voice – affirming Mind’s intercommunication is evident to each of His ideas.
I know my work at Wide Horizon has blessed both me and Wide Horizon most when I’ve humbly prayed “Thy will be done”, when I’ve followed God’s guidance, when I’ve followed Christ. When I work to humbly to do our heavenly Father’s will, my work is more consistent and disciplined, yet spontaneous and inspired. And, I know the blessings of this desire, of this prayer, will never cease. Yes, “Thy will be done!”
You can do and know this too!
D. Brian Boettiger
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