“Life is a mirror and will reflect back to the thinker what he thinks into it.”
~ Ernest Holmes ~
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“Mind is everything. What we think, we become.”
~ Buddha ~
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“What you decide on will be done, and light will shine on your ways.”  
~ Job: 22:28 (NIV) ~
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“We do not describe the world we see, we see the world we can describe.”
~ Rene’ Descartes ~
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“Be still and know that I am God.”
~ Psalm 46:10 ~

That which is within us that we call “I” is both human and divine; and, we are forever proclaiming who and what it is. For example, we may say: ‘I am intelligent, I am loving, I am peaceful, I am powerful;’ or we may say: ‘I’m weak, I’m poor, I’m angry, etc. It is the great I AM that is forever proclaiming itself into existence. It is the self-existent cause that Ernest Holmes speaks about. It is the still small voice that is forever inviting us to greater expressions of life and living.

God’s presence within us has been described as “nearer than breathing, closer than our hands and feet” (A line from Alfred Tennyson’s, “The Higher Pantheism”). The Quaran states a similar metaphor, saying in effect, ‘He is closer than our neck vein.’ They both, along with mystics of all time, tell us of our inseparable oneness with God.

In his book, The Mystical I, Joel Goldsmith writes, “When you open the door of your consciousness and admit I, you will find the Presence – at first slowly and gradually, because none of us could take it all in one leap – but you will find that the Presence flows out from you in the forms necessary to your daily experience.”

With the awareness that the mind’s I is forever creating what It declares, we may begin to consciously learn the lessons that  those things which are now behind us has taught us, and begin to reach  toward those things which are the greater-yet-to-be that are stretched before us .

None of this implies we are to become passive and simply ‘think positive’ and do nothing. However, it does imply that by aligning ourselves with our Higher Self whose essence is Peace, Harmony, Love, Wisdom, Joy, Prosperity, Wholeness, and All Good, we become receptive to Its divine guidance and inspiration that lead us into the realms of right action and fulfillment .  

Yes, acquainting oneself with Oneself is a practice of high mysticism, yet practical in its application. Meditation, Life Visioning, Journaling, and Affirmative Prayer are powerful tools that assist us in this endeavor. In so doing, we are guided to the next step on the path of ever-expanding good.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
~ Isaiah 41:10 ~

This Weeks Affirmation

“The Life of the Divine is my life.”

~ 365 Science of Mind, p.188 ~

I remember how exciting it was to experience my first luxury cruise. Late one night I wandered up to the top deck of the ship. I had never seen a darker night. It was pitch black except for the stars above, and perhaps moonlight. I was in awe. It was like being in the womb of eternity as the ship rolled peacefully along the black waters. 

I imagine that prehistoric people gazed into the darkness as well as the light above with a bit of trepidation. However, there was always faith that the rising sun would yield the light of a brand-new day. This was their normal way of life. 

I imagine as they gazed deeply into Life, a breakthrough in consciousness occurred. They began to illumine the darkness with candles, a new normal; with oil lamps, a new normal; to kerosene lamps, a new normal; to the light bulb, a new normal. In the language of spirituality, one might say evolution is always moving humanity from glory to glory. 

Moving from darkness to light through self-awareness is quite a feat.

In moments of discontent, by means of meditation, I wander to the top deck of the ship of Zion¹, a metaphor for my consciousness. Here I gaze deeply into nature until I see the flickering Light hovering above. While I do not deny my experience in the world; I begin to use the apparent facts to determine what it is, in contrast, that is my true desire. The color and tone of my mind moves from sense-consciousness to spiritual consciousness. I no longer act as if I am a spectator watching a movie, wondering what is going to happen next. No, instead I act as if I am the Director. I affirm the Truth. 

Flashes of Light, such as: “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world…” ² inspires me. I remind myself there is only One Power, the Great IAM; and, this Presence is individualized in me, through me, and as me. Moment by moment, the spirit that indwells me is the power that either sustains that which is in the world, or re-directs the energy of my attention, initiating a new normal.

I embrace the teaching of Ancient Wisdom that says: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” ³ Soon, there is a breakthrough, a new normal. Morning is broken. 

Ernest Holmes teaches: “There is one power in the Universe, and we can all use it.”   I notice when I am hanging out in the upper room of consciousness and gazing deeply into the nature of Peace, Harmony, Love, Wisdom, Oneness, and Wholeness; there is an up leveling, or a breakthrough, if you will. The new normal beckons me to follow the beacon of light that guides me from glory to glory.

This Week’s Affirmation

“My invisible good already exists. My faith, drawing upon this invisible good, causes that which was unseen to become visible.”

~ 365 Science of Mind, p. 183 ~

1. https://www.truthunity.net/mbd/zion
2. 1 John 4:4
3. Philippians 4:8

Originally posted 1/19/21

“In this world you will have trouble.” 
~ John 16:33 ~
There are strong opinions about the present state of affairs that is taking place all around us and what the powers that be ought to do about them. As a result, feelings of fear, mistrust, helplessness, and hopelessness, the very antithesis of our true nature, may arise. 

“Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles.”
~ Shakespeare ~
It is times like this that each one of us is called to pause, move into silent meditation and spiritual mind treatment until our affirmative prayer brings back to our memory the power that lies within us, and answers the question, “What is mine to do?” After all, we are all contributors to the collective consciousness that out-pictures as current events.

“Stop trusting in mere humans,
 who have but a breath in their nostrils.
 Why hold them in esteem?”
~Isaiah 2:22~
My mother’s mandate was always, “Just Be Yourself.” She would go on to say, “While you are no better than anyone else, no one else is better than you.”  I sometimes wonder if she understood the deeper meaning of her words. I wonder if she was saying that humanity is one unified energy, expressing in multiplicity. I wonder if she was explaining that being the image and likeness of God mean our inherent nature is one of Peace, Harmony, Love, Beauty, Wisdom, Joy, and all the everlasting qualities of The Divine. I wonder if she understood the omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence of our word/thought/feeling when it goes forth to heal. I wonder if she was deliberately speaking about our True Self that is forever unified with the presence of God at the center of our being. ~~~~ If she was instructing us to set the inevitable law of our true intention into motion and then bear witness to the fulfillment of our word as evidenced by the form and experience that follows, then she was truly teaching us how to be a beneficial presence in the world.

“Concerning the works of my hands, command thou me.”
~ Isaiah 45:11 ~
As a unique individualization of the Most High, there is no need to duplicate another’s way. Your way is the perfect way to reach individuals who resonate with your approach. For example, Civil Rights Activists, Martin Luther King Jr., Howard Thurman, and Malcom X had the same mission, but expressed themselves differently. New Thought Influencers, Emanuel Swedenborg, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Franz Mesmer, and Phineas Quimby each brought forth an underlying message of unity and wholeness, yet in their own way. The point is, when Love is the objective that motivates the action, it serves as a unifying power that touches lives and creates the highest good for all humanity, establishing a world that works for everyone. 

Once we are anchored in the Truth that sets us free from the darkness of worry and anxiety, we may begin hearing our Higher Self, The Illumined One within us, answer the question, “What is mine to do at a time like this?” Let your soul sing a song of surrender as follows: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXLCKBuP128

This Weeks Affirmation

“I know there is something at the center of my being that is absolutely certain of Itself. 
I maintain my position as a Divine Being, here and now.”

~ 365 Science of Mind, p. 176.2 ~

“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. 
When I became a man (spiritually mature), I put the ways of childhood behind me.” 
~ 1 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV) ~

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“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me.”
~ Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV) ~

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“I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten”
~ Joel 2:5 (ASV) ~

When one is unaware of their personal relationship with the Presence of Love, Peace, Harmony, Abundance Health, and Joy flowing through all of humanity, and  first hears about the laws of manifestation, they may  engage in selfish endeavors, using the law of attraction for personal gains, to the end that they do not experience the lasting satisfaction expected.

Recently, an elderly woman who is highly respected, honored and revered in her community shared with me that she never expected to reach her present age. She told me that whenever she reflects on all the mistakes she made as a young adult, and the inevitable consequences that awaited her had the destructive lifestyle continued, she is amazed at her grace-filled life. She explained that once she learned to surrender to the Divine Guidance of the Presence Within, everything changed for the better. She went on to say, “The transformation I have experienced could be nothing other than God.”

Yes, in a universe of unlimited possibilities, there is a keen sense of freedom, the woman reminisced, when empowered to do things one’s own way for the first time. The immature choices and premature decisions that one makes are often the result of the innate longing for self-expression. 

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While there is no law that punishes, there is a law of reciprocity that, like a boomerang, returns to the sender the same energy the sender sends out. It is also known as karmic law. Simply put, “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:2 NIV).

 A person, hearing this might say, “freedom is not free.” From a spiritual perspective I disagree; otherwise, such a mindset may lead to false beliefs. After all freedom is our birthright. We are all endowed with free will. However, there is a law of Cause and Effect that we are all subject. Scripture puts it this way, “You reap what you sow.” ~ Therefore, just as the farmer may change her mind at any time  and plant another variety of seed that yields a new crop, likewise, we may at any time embrace a new thought (a pattern of thinking) and ,the moment we accept the words we affirm, a new experience is realized. 

The woman’s story is a testament to the Power of a Made-Up Mind. operating through the great “I AM.” In other words, it is never too late to begin again. 

This Weeks Affirmation

“…my Divine birthright is freedom, peace, joy, and eternal goodness. 
I perceive that this same birthright is bequeathed to all people.”

~ 365 Science of Mind, p.170.2 m~

“We believe in God, the Living Spirit Almighty.
One, indestructible, absolute, and Self-Existent Cause. “
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“We have within us, a power that is greater than anything we shall ever contact in the outer, a power that can overcome every obstacle in our life and set us safe, satisfied and at peace, healed and prosperous, in a new light, and in a new life.”
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“Principle is not bound by precedent. “
~ Ernest Holmes ~

Just as there are universal physical laws such as electricity, gravity, etc. that serve us when we are in alignment with the underlying principle that governs them; likewise, there are universal spiritual laws that are consistently operating in our lives, whether we are aware of them or not, that may serve us.

Individuals resonate with Truth Principles differently. Philosophers ponder, scientists explore, mystics meditate, while metaphysicians imagine what lies beyond all physical appearances. When great thinkers consistently reach the same conclusion, they uncover an infallible principle, i.e., Divine Mind.

The one, infinite mind, being accessible to all beings implies that anyone, anywhere, at any time may prove the changeless truth for oneself that declares:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 
Against such things there is no law.”
~ Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) ~

Nonetheless, humanity continues to perceive both disease and health; wisdom and folly; poverty and abundance; success and failure, believing these conditions are the result of inherited tendencies. These are the out-picturing of opinions, beliefs, and perceptions. Shakespeare tells us, “There’s neither good nor bad, but thinking makes it so.” However, the eternal verities of nature that yield Peace, Love, Harmony, Beauty, and Unity, are the same yesterday, today, and forever.

The mystic of old said, “Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).” Emma Curtis Hopkins, a 19^th Century mystic said, “There is good for me, and I ought to have it.” The undergirding Principle is the same whether understood through the lens of New Thought or Ancient Wisdom. It is when we embrace the concept that “the highest God and the innermost God is one God,” and practice this awareness as a way of life through affirmative prayer and speech, that our invisible word of the heart manifests as the desired conditions that follow.

Enlightened ones throughout the ages agree with the Apostle Paul who said: “By faith, we understand that the universe was formed by God’s word, so that visible things were made from the unseen.” Mystics of all time understand our oneness with God and that our word of belief is the invisible law of manifestation. The good news is that The Law, aligned with Spiritual Principle, is instantaneous, regardless of past events.

Affirmation

The Divine Presence leads me on the pathway of peace.

~ 365 Science of Mind, p. 160.4 ~