“Ask and you shall receive; knock and the door shall be opened.”
Matthew 7:7

“Man has the ability to choose what he will do with his life, and is unified with a Law which automatically produces his choice.”
~ Ernest Holmes ~

“While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.”
~  Stephen R. Covey ~ 

When it comes to Spiritual Freedom and our nature to choose – all stops are pulled. We have the “go” sign to choose whatever we please. However, if we are haunted by the words, “be careful what you ask for, you might just get it,” the knowledge of our own creative power and the awareness of the law of cause and effect, may cause us to stop right in our tracks and lock us into fear. 

 Let us use our God-given gift of wisdom, wisely. Making choices, when anchored in spiritual consciousness, is a wonderful way to practice conscious living, free of fear and superstition. Some effective rules of thumb are:

Consider the motives of the choices and decisions you make, rather than making impulsive ones that you may soon regret. In other words, “just because you ‘can’ doesn’t mean you ‘should’.”

Consider the consequences of the choices you make by asking yourself if your decision has the propensity to bring harm to yourself or someone else. If it does, don’t take that risk.   When you determine, within yourself, that your choices are really and truly for your highest good; you may then be assured it is the highest good for all concerned.  After all, in the Spirit, we are one. 

Exercise this kind of critical thinking; then trust the Law to comply with your choices in accordance with the same spirit and intention in which they are made. In other words, when you comply with the Law, the Law complies with you.

Finally, remember, making a choice does not mean you must live with it forever. You are always free to make a new one. 

  Be conscious! Be aware!

It is essential that choices that are no longer relevant are replaced with new ones or new ways of thinking. Otherwise, just like old habits die hard, the former choices or ways of thinking continue to operate with mechanical precision as hidden beliefs, long after they are forgotten. They have a tendency to show up as people, places and things.  Therefore, think, say and do only that which you are willing to experience. 

The laws of life do not belong to just one people, one religion, one sect, or one culture. The laws of life are universal in nature and are therefore inescapable. All people are subject to them regardless of their particular beliefs. 

God is the Love within us that chooses good in our lives. God is the Law within us that brings the good about.

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This Week’s Affirmation

All my experiences are a reflection of my freedom of choice.  I make spiritually conscious choices now and let the Law do its good and perfect work.
By Angela “Chris” Beam

“Spirituality means having found the diamond mine inside yourself. Religion is intended to lead you there.”
~  Anthony DeMello ~

 The discovery that we are spiritual beings having a human experience is continually and spontaneously being made. This good news is too good to keep to one’s self. It seems the discoverer is compelled to share their awareness and its benefits. They tell about physical, mental, and emotional healing; success; fulfilling relationships; and supply. This one becomes a teacher, pointing the way.

Spiritual teachers often use examples of this life sublime as it relates to science, religion and philosophy. They show how individual life is a testimony to the Truth of Being. The teacher encourages you to practice prayer and meditation; rituals; ceremonies; and other methods that ignite this awareness of truth within you.  The teacher points the way.

The illumined consciousness of such a one is inspirational, motivational, and is like an irresistible, creative force. Their words become “a doorway to the infinite” within you. Sometimes it feels as though the teacher is a savior, as their words catapult you into the realm of unlimited possibilities.

“Truth has nothing to do with words. Truth can be likened to the bright moon in the sky. Words, in this case, can be likened to a finger. The finger can point to the moon’s location. However, the finger is not the moon.  To look at the moon, it is necessary to gaze beyond the finger, right?”     
~ Sixth Patriach Hui Neng ~

In other words, it is your very own consciousness of Truth that sets you free from every sense of limitation. The Apostle Paul said, “Christ in you is your hope of glory.” The teacher points the way.

~ ~ ~ ~

Once the commitment is made to follow a path of harmony, peace, love, joy, and a world that works for everyone; the journey of enlightenment begins. Self-discipline is the motivation to:

• Refrain from judgments about people, places and things based on limited information or limited exposure.

• Abandon the belief in the shifting sands of circumstances. 

• Keep an open mind and remain teachable.  

• Let more of the Infinite Mind and Love of God be revealed through you. 

• Remain anchored in the awareness that God is the One and Only Presence operating in the universe.  

• Realize that any perception less than beauty, harmony, wisdom, abundance and all-good is a blurred vision; a position in consciousness that blocks the view of Reality.  

• Choose a new position in the Infinite Mind of God that provides a clear point of view.

• Cultivate a consciousness of the Ineffable, Changeless Nature of Spirit.

Life is an upward spiral, always becoming more of Itself. Humanity points the way of that becoming. Let it be on earth as it is in the celestial realms of consciousness as we each take that step through the doorway to the infinite. 

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This Week’s Affirmation

“Today I align with Truth and see clearly the way of Good.”
By Judy Hilley

Learning to surrender to the IS-Ness of Life is an essential spiritual practice. Much like forgiveness, it is not a one-time discipline. It must be done over and over again. Recently I reminded myself that it was time for me to surrender again to God’s will.

Actually, I’ve had some resistance to the phrase, “surrender to God’s will.” The term seems so “yesterday thinking” suggesting that God is a Power outside of myself and that I must give up my personal power of choice.   Yet, my Higher Self (God within me) knows that my “today thinking” understands what “God’s will” really means.  I must remind myself over and over what I know to be so.

I’ve come to understand that God’s will and God’s nature are one and the same. When I think about what God is, I sense The All-Pervasive Presence is the very essence of the intangible qualities that are the core of everything that denotes good. It stands to reason that God, the Great Creative Force of the Universe, being the only thing there is, can only impart Itself, Its own nature, because there is nothing else.  God’s Will, I reason within my own mind, can be nothing short of Its nature of Love, Beauty, Harmony, Joy, Wholeness, Unity, Peace, Wisdom, etc.

When we are no longer constrained by our own self-imposed littleness, and surrender to the will of goodness, we are able to move through, over, or around what used to seem like a difficult situation. Instead of seeing how low you can go, you start to see how high you can go. We can say good-bye to hitting bottom over and over again. 

Years ago, when I began my journey of awakening, my spiritual community encouraged me saying, “the sky is the limit.” Their message was: challenges are successfully met to the degree we accept and activate our true nature, our oneness with God.

The moment we begin to see a greater possibility for our lives our spiritual bar is raised, our expectations are elevated; our consciousness is expanded. We actually start to become the good we seek.

From this perspective I realize it is always God’s will or God’s nature that I desire when I pray about the experiences of my life. Of course, the great realization is: God being the All in all means God is already in the midst of all my affairs. It is up to me to stop struggling with my limited perceptions of life and simply accept or let God be God as the thing I desire to experience. I must surrender to God’s will… God’s nature.

Whenever I practice surrendering to Nature’s Way, I notice I am less rigid and less controlling about how things must look, sound or be expressed in order for them to be authentic.

Whether I say “I accept what is” or say “I surrender to God’s will,” I ignite the same vibration of my inevitable Wholeness. 

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This Week’s Affirmation

“I surrender my will today, in this moment, to welcome all that God has for me.”
~ Anonymous ~

The fourth step of Spiritual Mind Treatment, a process of right thinking, or affirmative prayer, is “Thanksgiving.” Today may very well be the day you are filled with deep gratitude as you begin to feel, sense and know God’s grace is pouring in, through, and as you, bringing about peace of mind. After all, when one lives in a consciousness of this fourth step, there is sure to follow an ever-increasing awareness of visible good. So, “May the Fourth Be with You,” today and always.

Yes, May 4th is a fun time to play on the famous words, “May the Force Be with You,” from the classic movie, Star Wars. In so doing, it may be a blessing, or gentle reminder that there really is a Force for Good operating in the universe, an Eternal Presence, forever whispering, “lo, I AM with thee always.” This Divine Intelligence reflects into our experience the exact image of the issues of the heart.

Ernest Holmes says this about the power of gratitude: “When we speak the words of thanksgiving to the God within, knowing “before they ask will I answer,” there is something in the attitude of thanksgiving that carries us beyond the field of doubt into one of perfect faith and acceptance, receptivity… realization. Appreciation, gratitude and thanksgiving
~ the motive power which attracts and magnifies the hidden potentialities of life.”

As humanity navigates through the balance of this year and looks forward to the newness of the coming days, it is important to have a thankful heart in this present moment. Otherwise, it is easy to become blinded by fear; the false evidence appearing real and inadvertently manifest more of the same. Right now, I am thankful for a good night’s sleep; a beautiful sunset; special friendships, good health; food; shelter; and so much more.

The Force of the fourth is with me now. I prayerfully affirm and give thanks, with great anticipation, for the inevitable fulfillment of my heart’s desires and the desires of all who resonate with these words adapted from Centers for Spiritual Living Global Vision:

• I give thanks for a world in which we live and grow as One Global Family that respects and honors the interconnectedness of all life; a world where this kinship with all life prospers and connects through the guidance of spiritual wisdom and experience.

• I give thanks for a world where personal responsibility joins with social conscience in every area of the political, corporate, academic, and social sector providing sustainable structures to further the emerging global consciousness.

• I give thanks for a world where each and every person has enough food, a home and a sense of belonging; a world of peace and harmony, enfranchisement, and justice.

• I give thanks for a worldwide culture in which forgiveness is the norm.

• I give thanks for a world which has renewed its emphasis on beauty, nature and love through the resurgence of creativity, art and aesthetics.

• I give thanks for a world that works for everyone and for all creation.

May the Force, operating through the fourth step of Spiritual Mind Treatment, be with you, now and always.

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This Week’s Affirmation

I choose Gratitude as my daily affirmation knowing that all is in Divine Order.
By Mary Jane LaBonte, RScP

“….and concerning the works of my hands, command ye me.” ~ Isaiah 45:11 (ASV) ~

The good news is: “Principle is not bound by precedent.” The far-reaching implication of these words are a great assurance that all things are possible, regardless of the history of the thing desired. Over and over again, I bear witness to the power of a made-up mind. It doesn’t matter how long one has endured a negative experience; I notice whenever there is a resounding proclamation that Enough is Enough, there is a response, equal to the command, revealing the imminent change right now.

When the apparent good, (manifestation) is realized, there is an outburst of gratitude. The new day is proof, (a demonstration) that there truly is a power for good in the universe for which humanity is infinitely connected. This Power is sometimes called the Over-Soul inasmuch as It is the unifying essence of the One Spirit. This power responds to the slightest impression or vibration that is activated by a word of faith. This relationship between the human and the divine is great reason for celebration. 

However, the Law of Life never gives us more than we can accept at any given time. Therefore, sometimes, after the initial demonstration and the celebration, there is an awareness that the issue is not completely resolved. Instead, the apparent good is a starting point of unwavering faith in the greater-yet-to-be.  

The Apostle Paul teaches us “to pray without ceasing.” The Cumulative Prayer and consequent manifestations are the up-rooting of deep-seeded belief patterns; both individual and collective. Having a consistent spiritual practice of affirmative prayer is a testimony of a faith that says, “I push myself forward toward the goal to win the prize. God has appointed me to win it.”  ~ Philippians 3:14 (NIRV) ~

“Where there is no vision, the people perish.”
~  Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) ~

The goal is the vision that pulls me. The prize is my highest idea of good operating in my daily life. Peace on earth, Unconditioned Love, Harmony and Wisdom are the impetus for everything I think, say, and do. My goal is to live life more abundantly. 

When I consider my personal values and beliefs, I let them merge with visions for which I resonate. My values resonate with StillPoint’s vision to “experience a personal sense of enlightenment and transformation.”  My values resonate with the Centers for Spiritual Living’s vision of “a world that works for everyone.” My values resonate with The United States of America’s vision of “liberty and justice for all.”

Consciously and deliberately, I let go of all images of limitation. Undergirded by a Principle that is infallible and instantaneous in Its manifestation; I become aware of what is mine to do and who I am to be.  I shout a resounding YES, to all I believe is right, good, and orderly, and for the highest good of all people. My commitment to my goal for Peace Now becomes a great contagion, affecting everyone I encounter. 

I eagerly await the inevitable evidence that my soul’s sincere desire is heard and acted upon. I give thanks and celebrate the good news that “Principle is not bound by precedent.”

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This Week’s Affirmation

Today is a new day. I stop looking at tomorrow through yesterday’s problems.
By Keith Childers