People often tell me that prayer and affirmations are dumb and that they won’t ever heal me. To many the notion of praying and affirming oneself well seems impossible or outright ludicrous. Myrtle Fillmore, a cofounder of Unity, believed otherwise.
As a child, Myrtle was constantly sick, suffering from tuberculosis. After attending a New Thought lecture in 1886, she came away with one statement that became the catalyst to changing her life. She began to say that statement every day after that lecture. It became an affirmation of her life, a repetitive prayer of sorts. And as she continued to say it daily, she maintained a faith that she could be healed. She stopped looking to a God that was only outside of herself and began to believe that God, the all-powerful Healer, was already within her, in every part of her mind, heart, and body. She also did her best to remain optimistic, getting the rest she needed, taking care of her body as best as she could, and blessing it for all the wonderful work it was accomplishing. Eventually she became completely free of a disease that originally was most likely going to be a death sentence for her.
I too believe in the power of God within me and I have been on a similar path that Myrtle once was on, of self-healing for some time now. There are days though where I want to give up, but I don’t. Because I’m determined. And I do my best like Myrtle Fillmore once did, to keep the faith through all the pain and suffering, and continue to believe that the Grace and Power of God within me will eventually heal me. For years I have used prayer, affirmations, gratitude, and meditation, along with some healthy living to foster an environment within me that I believe God is using to help heal me from the inside out.
After reading about Myrtle’s life, I was most definitely inspired to share a small bit about her story and the declaration that started it all for her. That declaration is a very powerful affirmation and one I am using now in my own prayers to help me keep trusting and believing, and to not give up before the miracle finally happens. Because it will.
“I am a child of God, and therefore I do not inherit sickness.”
I hope you may find inspiration in Myrtle Fillmore’s story, as well as in her healing statement, as I most assuredly already have…
Blessings.
Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson
