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A guest post written by Anne Stearns Condon
The time is urgent for new ways of thinking and acting. Mental and physical health are increasingly out of balance in far too many lives, and the effect on society has become devastating.
Centuries ago the greatest teacher and practitioner of sound minds and healthy bodies was Christ Jesus. He came to earth to bring salvation to the world, that is, freedom from sin, sickness, and death. He fulfilled his mission gloriously and told his followers that, if they believed on him, they too could do the same healing works (John 14:12).
But today is there much faith in the ability of Christ’s words and works to transform how people think and act? Are fear and unbelief the leading factors in a world that seems too chaotic for ancient teachings to do much good? Each one must ultimately decide.
I made my decision years ago when my children were small. I realized I had two choices. I could cultivate faith in the power of God to protect the children from mental and physical harm, or allow fear of what could happen to them to rule the day.
I took my cue from the pages of the Bible. I discovered that God is Love, Life, Truth, Spirit. Studying Jesus’ life, I learned how his expression of God’s unconditional love and compassion healed the sick and the sinning. The spirit of God was always with him because he was always with God. I taught these spiritual truths to my children throughout their formative years..
An example of God’s protection shared by my daughter and me happened when she was a teenager and away from home. One night I awoke in extreme fear for her safety. A verse from a poem entitled “Mother’s Evening Prayer” by Mary Baker Eddy came to thought.
I prayed diligently with these words: “O gentle presence, peace and joy and power; / O Life divine that owns each waiting hour, / Thou Love that guards the nestling’s faltering flight! / Keep Thou my child on upward wing tonight.”
I still remember how God’s presence and power began to gradually envelop me. I grew confident, knowing that His love was guarding her, no matter how faltering her steps might be. I soon felt peaceful.
When she returned home, she asked if I’d prayed for her at a specific time. The following is her side of the story, which indeed coincided with my prayers:
She found herself alone in unfamiliar surroundings and suddenly enclosed in a circle of young men. A moment of terror gripped her but quickly thinking of God, she humbly asked for deliverance from fear. She stood quietly. Then in a calm voice she said, “Please don’t do this.” Without a word, two men opened the circle and she walked away safely.
God is all powerful. This experience proved to me that absolute faith in Him can dissolve fear, and it can demonstrate His infinite power in daily life.
About the author
Anne,
Thanks for this great blog.
Thanks Ann that experience certainly shows the power of God to quell fear and to avert danger. I have had several similiar experiences where turning to and trusting God has changed the picture and/or circumstance. I am so grateful to Christ Jesus for showing us the way to have sound minds and healthy bodies. Great blog.
It doesn’t get any clearer than that. The great thing about relying on prayer when the suggestion of a problem comes to us is that It Never Fails to bless us all.
Thank you for sharing.
Great to have evidence of powerful prayer. Thanks!
I have heard of many instances similar to the one you related. “Perfect Love casteth out fear” as John wrote in the Bible. Thank you for another confirmation of the power of God (Love) and the power of prayer. Awesome. <3
Thanks for sharing such beautiful thoughts about protection. It’s a wonderful lesson for all of us.
Dear Anne! What a beautiful article, sharing what it is like to make the decision to raise our children in the moment-by-monent trust in God’s all powerful ever-presence: infinte divine Love. The following statement stood out to me last Friday, on an errand for church (listening to Miscellaneous Writings on CD’s while driving).
“Also, the last chapter of Mark is emphatic on this subject; making healing a condition of salvation, that extends to all ages and throughout all Christendom. Nothing can be more conclusive than this: ‘And these signs shall follow them that believe; . . . they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.’ ”
(Miscellaneous Writings by Mary Baker Eddy, page 192, lines 24-30)
It can be found in Christian Science Reading Rooms.
Thank you for sharing – what a door of hope to open for those looking to an alternative to fear when raising children. Divine Love always wins.
Thank you so much for sharing this article and experience.
Thank you Anne for taking your time to give this evidence of such practical protective care.
Wow! This is a beautiful proof of the all presence of God’s loving care. So grateful that you set an example so strongly to your children that your daughter knew she could turn to God in any circumstance with expectancy of good. And you didn’t need to be physically present to be able to help her. How dear! Thank you for this blog!
The power and presence of God’s unconditional love bringing blessings to Anne’s daughter as well as the young men! Everyone was protected and felt His/Her Presence whether they knew exactly what is was that changed the situation or not. It shows how our listening to God’s love delivers us from sin, sickness , disaster and death. Thank you for sharing this example of the power of Goodness.
Such a wonderful example of the partial words from Hymn 49 “In simple trust……”
The young men were also protected.