"Precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little and there a little." Isaiah 28:10
"Precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little and there a little." Isaiah 28:10
Two years ago a red mark appeared on my face which eventually became an ugly eruption which would not heal in the usual way. I have very fair skin and have suffered sunburn several times, and I became fearful about the medical opinions being publicly expressed.
I contacted a practitioner who prayed for me, and felt inspired for a while. However early in the morning I would wake full of fear. I found great comfort in Hymn 317, Still, still with Thee when purple morning breaketh, When the bird waketh, and the shadows flee. Fairer than morning, lovelier than the daylight, Dawns the sweet consciousness, I am with Thee. I resolvd to stay in that divine consciousness each day.
I also looked up the word ‘face’ and found Ps 17:15 As for me I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied when I awake, with thy likeness. I resolved to look for God’s face in righteousness each day. I remember encountering a scruffy looking man shambling along the street, and as he approached me his vacant look was replaced with a beautiful smile which lit up his face.
After about 18 months it seemed there was still no progress. At this point my face became infected and was very noticeable. I used to envy new students of CS who seem to have such quick healings. My grandchildren asked why my face wasn’t getting better, and a work colleague recommended I should go to a doctor. I had never talked about CS at work, but felt it was time to acknowledge openly that I was a student of CS and was having help from a spiritual healer, and knew I would be healed in this way. I found my friend accepting and interested.
One weekend my granddaughter was coming to stay and I had promised to take her out. I felt very unwell and dizzy, and although this persisted all day I went forward in the strength of Mrs Eddy’s encouraging words, Whatever it is your duty to do you can do without harm to yourself.
The next day I was due to attend a members’ meeting. It was a round trip of one-and-a-half hours, and as the dizzy spells had not eased I felt it might be dangerous to drive. But I read the above statement again, and then, suddenly, I felt aware as never before of a strong sense of the presence of God. I felt protected, nurtured, and safe, and armed with this feeling I drofve confidently to my meeting. For the whole three hours of the meeting I didn’t once think about how I felt and suffered no more dizziness. On the way home I felt such gratitude for the healing and realised what a powerful experience this had been.
This marked a crucial turning point in the healing of my face. All the fear and anxiety of what might be fell away. Within a few days the area dried up and my skin became smooth and normal again.
I know I have grown in my spiritual understanding from this healing, and learned the importance of being still, refusing to be impressed with fearful images, and listening to the calming messages God sends us. But best of all, I know I have truly felt the presence of God.