The terms understand and comprehend are often used interchangeably. But one dictionary points to a distinction. It says that ". . . understand implies a result, and comprehend a mental process of arriving at a result." In the practice of Christian Science, the result of understanding God is healing. Spiritual understanding consists of what Mind, God, knows, which is unchanging good, all true being and reality. This understanding emanates from God and enables us to yield to His healing power. Anything less than this is belief—what one believes about reality based on what the physical senses report. In a fundamental sense, whatever one chooses to believe (accept as real) and practice determines the nature of his or her experience.
You may say, "Great! I'll just choose to believe I'm well or happy or secure—that sounds pretty easy." But the positive thinking of the human mind, or its visualization of some ideal human condition, doesn't rest on spiritual understanding. It doesn't have the firm foundation of complete trust in the all-power of God, Spirit, and the spiritualization of thought that alone establishes our well-being on a solid basis and enables us to heal.
Christ Jesus could not have healed the sick and raised the dead merely by thinking positive thoughts or wishing people well. Jesus was the great demonstrator of the Christ, the true idea of God, which awakens human thought to the truth of man's oneness with God and of man's inherent perfection, and brings healing. Jesus accepted as real only that which emanates from Spirit, God. He accepted no other influence than the Divine. Since belief is based on material evidence and results, it is subject to constant change and must inevitably yield to an understanding of God, which alone brings about permanent healing and harmony.
