Building self-confidence
As a college freshman, I had trouble with my English composition course and barely managed to pass it. May already low self- confidence took a nose dive. For years afterward I scarcely wanted to write a letter. To go from no confidence in writing to thoroughly enjoying it required a big change -- not simply in writing style, but even more basic: in my feelings about myself.
Over the years I had grown accustomed to thinking of myself as the originator of thoughts and actions, and I didn't always like what resulted. Although I wanted to be better and do better, the question was how. Thinking of myself as personally resonsible for my life left me depressed.
However, learning in Christian Science that one God means one Mind, I began to find my way out of the problem. The first commandment tells us to "have no other gods before me." n1 I learned this meant to accept only one Mind, the divine, as source of all true thoughts -- to strive to admit no thought or impulse except that coming from Mind. I took the commandment as a command,m not just a statement. This meant: Do something about it. Accept one God. Understand what this means and put out the "other gods."
n1 Exodus 20:3;
Getting rid of "other gods" signified, for me, getting rid of the belief that I ran the show myself or that I was inferior or lacking in any way. How could I be? After all, like everyone, I am actually created by God and reflect infinite intelligence. I am spiritual, not mortal. God is the true source of my being.
Seeing this fact opened a whole was world view, in which I acknowledged Mind's power to direct people and events. I began to catch true glimpses of myself and everyone as, in reality, reflections of God. Confidence in myself as Mind's expression replaced inferiority feelings.
As we put faith in Mind, open our hearts to Mind's direction, whatever guidance we need comes our way. We learn to work with the good thoughts that come to us, and we have a standard for knowing what to reject. We find we no longer need to accept every little concept that pops into our heads. Mind gives goodm thoughts. Confidence in God destroys suggestions such as: You're no good at that. You haven't got what it takes. We can replace such false beliefs with this kind of thought: I can do whatever needs to be done, for Mind gives the intelligence to make my life productive.
Knowing there is only one God makes it impossible to have "other gods," to put anything in the way of God's omnipotence. "Having no other gods," writes Mary Baker Eddy, n2 "turning to no other but the one perfect Mind to guide him, man is the likeness of God, pure and eternal, having that Mind which was also in Christ." n3
n2 Mrs. Eddy is the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science;
n3 Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,m p. 467.
DAILY BIBLE VERSE I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Phillippians 4:13