"Attempt nothing without God's help." So counsels our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, on page 197 of "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany." In my own experience I have proved many times the wisdom and efficacy of this admonition. At the time I took up the study of Christian Science I was greatly overweight. This condition had resulted in a feeling of inferiority, self-consciousness, and timidity. I had tried many times to diet but never accomplished the desired results.
It was pointed out to me by a Christian Science practitioner, of whom I requested help, that extremes are not in accord with Christian Science, and she assured me that this problem could be met in Science. I was asked to study all that Mrs. Eddy has to say in her writings about ideal, model, form, outline, beauty, grace, and joy.
A complete study of these references was made, and I determined to lift up the Christ ideal in my thought whenever I was tempted to think of myself as a material, mortal person. There were many false concepts to be uncovered and destroyed, but gradually a sense of dominion, peace, confidence, poise, and true self-consciousness was gained. The material picture also began to change. My clothes became too large for me, and approximately forty pounds of excess weight disappeared. During this time I made no attempt to diet, but false appetite was overcome through knowing and declaring understandingly that the Word of God was my food. I saw too that material food cannot create an effect, since Love is the creator.
During this period it became necessary for me to take a civil service examination in connection with my work. At that time I was a typist, but I desired to enter the stenographic field, although I had not used my shorthand training since graduating from high school approximately three years previously. Through help from a Christian Science practitioner and my own understanding, I took the test in perfect confidence, poise, and assurance. When the papers were returned, I found that I had made a grade of one hundred on the shorthand test. This experience opened up a new and fruitful field of employment.
Another blessing which accrued as a result of my asking for God's help in daily affairs occurred when my husband and I applied for a loan to buy a house. We were told that it was useless to apply for the loan because my husband was a college student and only employed part time. However, at our insistence, the necessary papers were prepared.
Some months later my husband received a message that the loan had been disapproved. When he told me that evening what had happened, it did not matter to me at all, although until that time I had been very desirous of this human footstep. I saw that our true home was already established in divine Mind and that nothing could interfere with it or remove it. The next morning I received a call that the loan had been approved after all. During the period of waiting we had been able to save the necessary money for the down payment through the understanding that our true supply is in right ideas and that true substance is Spirit.
For Mrs. Eddy's revelation of God as our ever-present help, for membership in The Mother Church and the opportunity to serve in a branch church, and for the wonderful privilege of class instruction, I am humbly grateful.— Fort Worth, Texas.
