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Listening for divine Love’s promise

When we turn to God’s uplifting messages about the truth of our being, we discover our innate freedom, as a man found after he had a bad fall. 

  • By Bruce Butterfield

Christian Science Perspective audio edition
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How often do we wake up in the morning and wonder what the day will bring? Sometimes, if we listen to the news media, things can appear daunting – even hopeless. But if we start by quietly listening to God – staying tuned in to divine Love’s promise of joy – we find that the good outshines anything else and we’re better equipped to deal with challenges.

In the Bible there’s a description of the patriarch Jacob wrestling in thought, struggling with a demoralizing sense of sadness and fear. Suddenly, his thinking opens to let in an angel message from divine Love, which is another name for God, and he is uplifted into joy and healing (see Genesis 32:24-30).

This happened to me during college. One day, joy, freedom, energy, and peace seemed to be demolished and taken from me in an instant. I was leaving the gym after baseball practice and slipped on a patch of ice, falling hard on the stone steps leading down to the street. I was stunned and unable to get up. In the immediate moments that followed, I felt a bit like Jacob – struggling with a disturbing situation but having a hopeful glimpse of divine Love’s promise.

I knew from my study and practice of Christian Science that in order to tangibly realize this angel message, I needed to turn to God and listen. I slowly got up and walked up the street to my dorm room, where I closed the door and began to pray, turning wholeheartedly to God to understand my true selfhood as divine Father-Mother Love’s cared-for child.

At first, this was not easy, but I started to pray by thinking about some Bible-based synonyms for God. I acknowledged God as the only true Principle or cause; as divine Life, ever present and perfect; and as changeless Soul, maintaining my true, spiritual identity. In essence, my prayerful thoughts affirmed God as All-in-all and acknowledged that I always reflect this divine good.

The joy, freedom, energy, and peace mentioned earlier are spiritual qualities of God and can never be stopped or destroyed. They are part of our true spiritual identity, and nothing can make this otherwise. With this realization, I began to feel encompassed by Love – and healing took place immediately.

Every day we can quietly reach out to get a glimpse of divine Love’s promise of ever-present goodness. Nothing can rob us of health, comfort, and joy. Dwelling in the perfect atmosphere of Love, we are refreshed, inspired, unburdened, and joyfully free.

This is divine Love’s promise!

Adapted from a testimony published in the June 26, 2023, issue of the Christian Science Sentinel.

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