The source of true power

ONE early morning, watching the approaching dawn, I realized that nothing for one moment could halt the breaking of day. Doesn't this point to a source of power far beyond the human -- the might of omnipotent Spirit? We sometimes feel that the only resources we have are our own, and that when these are stretched to the limit we can go no further. Then we yearn for a higher source of strength. Perhaps there are decisions to be made, steps to be taken, or sickness to be healed. Now is the time to consider the nature of God and our relationship to Him.

Just how do we think of God -- as a far-off deity, unable to help us, or unwilling? Or do we recognize Him as divine Love, our Father-Mother, who knows and loves His children? God is our all-powerful creator, and we should no more doubt His love than we doubt that day will follow night.

The Father's love was incomparably expressed by Christ Jesus, who showed through his works that divine power is equal to any challenge. He brought to light -- through healing -- man's true nature, his wholeness and purity, as the image of God. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, writes: ``There is no power apart from God. Omnipotence has all-power, and to acknowledge any other power is to dishonor God.'' 1 And the Bible tells us, ``The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.'' 2

Acknowledging and revering one supreme and infinite God, we align ourselves with the source of true power, which redeems, heals, and strengthens us. There cannot be two supreme powers, and our part is to know that God alone is governing. Circumstances can never overpower omnipotent Spirit any more than they can stop the sun from shining or the tide from turning.

We need to relinquish the false sense of ourselves as helpless mortals and begin to recognize our identity as beloved offspring of divine Love. We can do this through prayer and purification of thought, following Jesus' example. Does this sound impractical, when the difficulties we face sometimes seem so formidable? It's the most practical thing we can do. When we enter a dark room, we can either grope in the gloom or switch on the light -- the choice is ours.

Mrs. Eddy gives Biblically based terms for God that describe His nature: Life, Truth, Love, Mind, Soul, Spirit, and Principle. When we start to think of God in these terms, we are drawing on the true source of power. For instance, if we understand God as Life itself, and ourselves as His reflection, we realize that true existence must be harmonious; that every aspect of our real being expresses the perfection of Life. And this understanding heals. The understanding that God is infinite Love enables us to overcome hatred, to recognize its actual powerlessness. Because God is Spirit, supreme over matter, we can find healing of physical troubles through divine power.

When our thought is aligned with the power of God, difficulties inevitably start to yield. Of course, selfishness, deceit, hatred, and so on tend to separate us from feeling divine power, but we can refuse to be governed by these negative states of mind.

There is a power far beyond the human -- the might of ever-present divine Love. This supreme power is available to heal and bless us, right now. 1 Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 228. 2 Proverbs 9:10.