A Christian Science Website

2008

         OVERCOMING means conquering an enemy, opposition or temptation; gaining the victory; winning.

         Overcoming addiction, temptation, or any error of the human mind involves yielding to the divine Mind; it involves learning and adopting a spiritual thought process; and it involves a struggle for self-control. Each small victory opens the way to a greater victory, until freedom is attained.

         Overcoming is serious business. It requires a commitment strong enough to endure however long it takes and whatever challenges are involved. Every mistake, every failure, every setback we experience — viewed rightly — should prompt us to strive more earnestly for a better life.

         Mary Baker Eddy wrote, "The devotion of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible. Exceptions only confirm this rule, proving that failure is occasioned by a too feeble faith." ("Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," p. 199)

         If you truly desire success in overcoming, how far are you willing to go in the "devotion of thought" to it? How far are you willing to go, and how thorough are you willing to be, in the "devotion of thought" to self-control?

         A false appetite is any desire that is harmful to your well-being or reflection of God. False appetites promise false pleasures, dream sensations, illusions, — not spiritual realities.

         An old proverb states, "The eating will give you the appetite." To avoid becoming slaves to false appetites, we should avoid even tasting that which leads to them.

         Chains of enslavement will dissolve as we awake from the dream of sensation in matter and realize that the only real pleasure is in the consciousness of God.

         Every negative behavior is rooted in self-justification. Instead of stopping the behavior, we find reasons for it, defend it, argue for it, make excuses, tell ourselves, "Just this one time, and then I'll stop..." To counteract this error, our constant prayer should be, "Not my will, but thine [God's] be done." (Luke 22:42)

         Our efforts to overcome negative behavior are sometimes helped, or hindered, by the company we keep. Therefore, we should be wise in choosing our company. It is better to be alone with God than to be surrounded by friends who resist our spiritual progress. When we put God first in our life, a higher sense of companionship will unfold to us.

Basis for Companionship "If my friends are going to Europe, while I am en route for California, we are not journeying together. We have separate time-tables to consult, different routes to pursue. Our paths have diverged at the very outset, and we have little opportunity to help each other. On the contrary, if my friends pursue my course, we have the same railroad guides, and our mutual interests are identical; or, if I take up their line of travel, they help me on, and our companionship may continue." Mary Baker Eddy "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," p. 21

         The World Health Organization estimates that nearly one million people died from smoking-related diseases in the year 2000. The smoking habit illustrates the self-destructive nature of what the Bible terms the "carnal mind." This so-called mind would suggest false appetites to us and then destroy us through those appetites.

         Christian Science reveals that God is our real Mind and He is imparting to each of us the strength and ability to resist, and rise above, every temptation of the carnal mind.

         Alcohol is classified as an addictive psychoactive drug, a central nervous system depressant that poisons the body. In the new and higher advent of the Christ, Truth, now dawning on humanity, alcohol is to be left behind as a thing of the past. "The spiritual status is urging its highest demands on mortals..." ("No and Yes," by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 45) These "highest demands" involve self-denial and self-sacrifice, divine requirements for spiritual progress.

         Gambling offers an addictive false stimulus, excitement, leading away from spiritual life. In an article titled, "For compulsive gamblers, losses mount quickly", Gary Rotstein wrote, "As is the case with alcohol addiction, it's difficult for any compulsive gambler to indulge for moderate pleasure. They usually must stop cold..."

         When we look to chance or luck to supply our needs, we miss the mark. Christian Science reveals God, divine Mind, as our loving Father-Mother, supplying our needs through divine law, — and not through games of chance.

         The quality of your life is determined by the quality of your decisions. Mary Baker Eddy wrote, "Your decisions will master you, whichever direction they take." ("Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," p. 392) You alone are responsible for your decisions. Overcoming means choosing real happiness instead of false pleasure, good instead of evil. Real happiness comes from attaining oneness with God and is found in living a consecrated spiritual life.

"Choose you this day" "Choose you this day whom ye will serve ... As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua