The human yearning for good causes mortals to seek something higher than the materiality which seems to surround them. Then with sincerity the human individual often turns to God in prayerful petition for a light to guide his footsteps.
In searching the Bible for God's answer to our humble right desire, we find this comforting message: "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps" (Prov. 16:9). As the first human footstep, having a humble heart will permit us to seek further light, and God gives it to us through His divine idea, the Christ.
Christ Jesus, in his Sermon on the Mount, gives mankind explicit instructions in how to gain spiritual understanding. He lists the Beatitudes and points to other graces of righteousness and tells us to pray in secret. His teaching includes this injunction: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matt, 5:48). Mrs. Eddy in the textbook, Science and Health, brings this command closer to human comprehension through this comment (pp. 253, 254): "The divine demand, 'Be ye therefore perfect,' is scientific, and the human footsteps leading to perfection are indispensable."
