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Listen. What do you hear?

Tuning in to God’s healing, strengthening inspiration lifts us out of the “static” of frustration, fear, or anger.

  • By Karin Heath

Christian Science Perspective audio edition
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When I was in middle school, I had a little yellow radio that I’d listen to when I went to sleep at night. Each week I’d hear the “American Top 40” countdown and listen to Casey Kasem play the hits. In order to get the clearest signal, I’d turn the dial until I got to the station I wanted. And there were plenty of stations to choose from!

This is a useful analogy when it comes to the thoughts we’re tuning in to, or welcoming in our consciousness. I’ve found that the spiritual thoughts that come from God are the most valuable – the ones I really want to hear.

Those thoughts remind us that we’re good and intelligent and have everything we need at every moment, because we’re each the spiritual expression of God, made in His image. This all-good, infinite God is the one divine Mind, so thoughts about our true, spiritual nature and value are coming to us all the time. They give the clearest signal, if we’re willing to tune in.

So what kind of static is trying to draw our attention away from those thoughts? Maybe it’s fear, impatience, anger, frustration, or selfishness. But just like a radio, we can choose to change the channel and let God’s thoughts take priority in our consciousness.

The founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, had a lot to say about thoughts and the impact they have. In “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” she wrote, “Stand porter at the door of thought. Admitting only such conclusions as you wish realized in bodily results, you will control yourself harmoniously” (p. 392).

A porter is a doorkeeper – someone who stands guard and lets people in or out of a building. In the same way, we can stand guard at the door of our thought. That’s a job each one of us can do.

Time and again I’ve experienced that the more we listen to the thoughts that come from God and convey the spiritual facts of being, the more we see the good around us instead of giving in to the static, and the more tangibly we experience God’s healing, strengthening love. Yielding to these thoughts can make a profound difference, for us and the world around us.

Adapted from the Jan. 6, 2023, Christian Science Daily Lift podcast.

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