When something good is spoken about a person, a place, or an event, sometimes a voice is immediately raised to dispute part or all of what has been said. Disputing voices often seem to be present to discredit and resist what seems good in human experience. In the same way, within one's own thinking one may find subtle and sometimes hidden forms of material sense dulling receptivity to the good news, which Christian Science brings, that his true being is wholly spiritual, is the constantly harmonious, perfect likeness, or expression, of divine Spirit.
Mrs. Eddy has given us many rules that, when followed, defend us against either personal or impersonal disputants of Truth. She writes in the textbook, Science and Health, "Self-abnegation, by which we lay down all for Truth, or Christ, in our warfare against error, is a rule in Christian Science."Science and Health, p. 568; Self-abnegation enables us to pause, become quiet, let our hands drop in our lap, so to speak, and then listen prayerfully and expectantly for God's voice. When we realize that error, evil, is unreal and powerless, we can feel divine Love present with us, guiding, governing, and sustaining us.
Before becoming more spiritually disciplined, a person may seldom listen for God's messages, perhaps because he is too involved listening to the monotonous monologue in his own personal consciousness. Part of the monologue may go like this: "I've read and studied and prayed. So why doesn't my healing come? I've done all I know how to do. I am trying, I am faithful, I am knowing the truth."
