The word suggestion means a proposal or something implied as a possibility. An aggressive suggestion would be a proposal coming to our thought over and over with great persistency. Perhaps the suggestion is of a chronic physical condition or a fear of inadequacy. Christian Science exposes such suggestions as misleading proposals which we have the right to reject. The ability to discern the difference between true thought and an aggressive suggestion comes directly from God. This capacity is our heritage, our birthright as children of God. As Mary Baker Eddy writes in Pulpit and Press, "Know, then, that you possess sovereign power to think and act rightly, and that nothing can dispossess you of this heritage and trespass on Love." Pul., p. 3
Instead of reacting to the suggestions of materially based thinking or absorbing them, we can listen and respond to divine Mind by being alert to ask: "Is this the voice of Christ, Truth, leading me? Is this God making Himself known? By entertaining this thought, am I more conscious of God and His omnipotent goodness?" If we cannot answer "Yes" to such questions, we can only conclude that what has presented itself as our thought must rightfully be classified as false suggestion. Because suggestion is rooted in the lie that there exists a presence or power able to separate man—you and me—from God, good; our defense lies in the truth that man is God's expression, inseparable from Him. Every right activity has divine authority to come to full fruition. If an action does not express God and so result in good, it is not God-impelled, and is powerless. We have the God-given ability to discern what will bring to light our true nature, thus promoting our spiritual growth, and to act upon this discernment.
The familiar story of Nehemiah rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem points to several elements of defense against aggressive mental suggestion. Nehemiah, a Jew, lived in Shushan in Babylon, serving as a cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. When Nehemiah learned that the wall of Jerusalem had been destroyed and the city was unprotected, he prayed to God for his people. As the result of his prayer, he felt led to ask the king for permission to go to Jerusalem to help rebuild the crumbling wall and gates. The king gave the permission. But some people from surrounding countries tried to stop the work. Sanballat and Geshem were two of these people. If we take a look at the tactics that were used in the attempt to keep Nehemiah from building the wall and at how Nehemiah responded, we find insights into how we too can defend ourselves from aggressive mental suggestions.
