Freedom from the 'common cold'
It is often lamented that in this age of scientific advancement there is still no cure for the ''common cold.'' But such lamenting overlooks a very important source of comfort and healing: the Bible.
Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, writes in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,m ''The Bible contains the recipe for all healing.'' n1 This recipe calls for an understanding of spiritual truth and its application.
n1 Science and Health, p. 406.
The unparalleled healing success of Christ Jesus was undergirded by spiritual truth. Through inspired reading of the Bible and prayerful listening to God for guidance, this truth is just as available to us today as it was to Jesus and his followers centuries ago. And we can prove its practicality in our own experience. ''Ye shall know the truth,'' Jesus promises us, ''and the truth shall make you free.'' n2
n2 John 8:32.
The Bible reveals God as infinite good, and man as His image and likeness. The first chapter of Genesis records the divine standard of perfect creator and perfect creation. Isn't this truth of God and man the basis of Christian healing as Jesus practiced it? As we bring our thought, through prayer, into line with spiritual reality and reject dis-eased thoughts such as fear, depression, and expectancy of suffering, the body invariably responds. Jesus proved this countless times. When people came to him for healing, he addressed their need for spiritual awakening; and physical healing and moral regeneration followed.
Certainly an infinitely good God would not make colds or make man susceptible to them. In the reality of God's allness a so-called common cold is an impossibility. There is nothing common to God's children but good. Furthermore, God is the only lawgiver, and His law maintains man's health and well-being. So there is really no lesser law to necessitate colds or their recurrence, and we can prove this truth.
As divine Love, God, is omnipresent, it could be said that infinite Love is our real atmosphere or environment. Dwelling within His allness, we cannot possibly catch or take in anything that is not good.
Prayerfully knowing, or realizing, the truth of God and man is not simply an exercise in positive thinking. To the extent that our prayer is inspired by divine Mind and based on unalterable spiritual facts, it has a potent, healing effect, as the following experience shows.
For years I got colds at the most inopportune times - just when I had a lot of work to do. It's interesting, I remember thinking once, that when I feel my work is backed up, I also feel physically congested. This alerted me to my real need: a prayerful approach to the problem.
Turning to God for direction, I felt led to ponder certain spiritual facts relative to this situation. For instance, I reasoned that surely there could be no congestion in the infinite Mind and that as an expression of divine Mind I reflected its perfect activity.
As I held to the spiritual facts and refused to feel burdened despite a hectic schedule at times, I accomplished what I needed to without the usual anxiety. And I experienced fewer colds. Eventually I found more complete freedom and even immunity from colds as I realized that no disease, however common it may appear, can withstand the power of divinely inspired truth-knowing.
The Bible offers healing inspiration. Its sacred pages record timeless spiritual facts that will, when understandingly applied, meet any human need. So we can find freedom - even from the common cold. DAILY BIBLE VERSE Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases. Psalms 103:1-3
