Jesus taught that those who follow His teaching could be divided into two groups, those who are hearers and those who are doers.  Which group do you belong to?

Have you ever sat in the church pew and heard lessons that rang true to you the instant that you heard them but you failed to immediately act on them?  Well, you’re not by your lonesome; I’ve been there and done that, also.  I would promise myself to put a certain lesson to the test when the next opportunity presented itself.  And days or a week later, when the moment of truth finally arose for me to employ the particular Sunday lesson it had either, puff, vanished from my memory as though it had gone in one ear and out the other, or I made the conscious decision to ignore it.  Let me give you examples of both cases.

I had a difficult time dealing with anger; it’s something I still have to be vigilant about.  It is said that the word “anger” is one letter short of the word DANGER.  And I was the living proof of that fact.  I was easily offended.  I would have hissy fits (attacks of hysteria, for the uninitiated) over the least little things.  Indeed, there were times when I got so angry that I must have resembled Linda Blair in the movie “The Exorcist,” with my eyes bulging out, sputtering invectives, and my head spinning round 360 degrees atop my shoulders.  I’m sure you could have seen smoke coming out of my ears, as well.  Taking a deep breath and counting to ten when I felt the first tremors of anger was clearly not an option.  I needed a fail-safe method to keep the smoldering volcano that I felt inside  from erupting; something that could instantly restore CALM and keep me  firmly rooted in TRUTH.

I found the PERFECT antidote in Psalm 119:165.  “Great peace have they who love thy law: and nothing shall disturb them.”  I modified the verse to a more colloquial expression, saying, “Great PEACE have they who LOVE the LORD: and nothing or no one shall disturb them.”  I employ this verse whenever anger rears its poisonous head and Peace is quickly restored in my Life.

The Master Teacher instructed, “…forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”  This was a hard pill to swallow.  No one likes being taken advantage of,  least of all moi.  The Spiritual Law of Forgiveness flew straight out the window the moment I suspected someone of “pulling a fast one” on me or “playing me for a fool.”  I would let my ego get the best of me, becoming indignant and demanding my piece of flesh as revenge, while ignoring the prophetic admonition “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.”  With all due respect to the prophet, I wasn’t buying it.  I wanted to take matters in my own hands and have the smug satisfaction (the ego at work again) of seeing the look on the wrongdoer’s face when he/she got their final comeuppance.  Clearly my life was in turmoil and I desperately needed to change  my thinking if I wanted to demonstrate my Good.

What is a demonstration?  According to Raymond Charles Barker it is “a tangible result of a constructive change of consciousness on a spiritual premise….The mind of God    [Your Superconsciousness] awaits your recognition, and the power of God awaits your direction.”  Let’s pause here for a moment of reflection:

I believe that by holding onto the negative emotions of anger, resentment and unforgiveness I was effectively blocking the channels for Good to flow into my life.  “All ships come in on calm seas.”

Once again, anger, resentment and unforgiveness are destructive forces, the enemies within.  I could not expect God to show me favor with anger and unforgiveness in my heart.

Barker also stated, “You need neither repentance nor salvation to make your demonstration.  You do need decision, acceptance and continued right thinking.  You need to take a definite stand and then not waver from the premise that the action of Mind [Superconsciousness] is bringing to fruition your idea.  It takes mental stamina to practice metaphysics.  This Science [Teaching] is not for the half-hearted.  It demands the full attention and use of the mind and emotions.  There is no place for discouragement in this practice.

Your goal must be clear and you must want what you want with ardor, vitality and authority. There is no place in spiritual  understanding for wishful thinking.  The infinite Mind acts with an exactness, and wishful thinking can produce only vaporous nothings.  The seed planted in consciousness must by the Law of mind bring forth after its own kind [Your Thoughts Are Things].”

Recite the following Treatment by Raymond Charles Barker several times a day for one week.  Say to yourself:

I now direct the living Spirit within me [God] to bring to pass this demonstration.  I know exactly what I want, and authorize my subconscious mind to act as a law to make it manifest right now.  This treatment is the word of the Spirit and it now destroys from my subconscious every negative pattern, belief or opinion that is opposite to the thing I want.  The perfect action of the infinite Mind in me now obliterates all of my self-accepted principalities [negative certainties], powers and false patterns.  I am cleansed of all unbelief, and the Spirit now has full sway in all of my consciousness.  There is nothing in me to oppose or delay this demonstration.  All channels are cleared and all doors [and windows] are opened.  Perfect action is now taking place, and what I want, I have.

Take action right now in demonstrating your good by quickly forgiving yourself for any “trespasses” you have committed, and forgiving those who have trespassed against you.  Obliterate resentment and anger from your consciousness; and live your Life fully in the Now, the Eternal Moment, seeing yourself as already possessing  the Good you desire.  This is the Truth that sets you free!

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”  (Luke 12:32)

Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalytic theory, held that there are three different levels of consciousness: the id, ego, and superego.  He also placed a great deal of emphasis on the realm of the unconscious, believing unconscious motivations often affect an individual’s behavior.

You’re familiar with the term “Freudian Slip,” an unforced error, so to speak.  A misstatement which reveals underlying, unconscious thoughts of feelings that can influence your behavior and experience.

But there is a fourth level of consciousness that even Freud was unable to discern with all of his meticulous research, observations and case studies.  A much Higher consciousness. It is the realm of Superconsciousness, existing on the Spiritual level deep within you; the realm great mystics referred to as interior awareness.

Florence Scovel Shinn wrote, “This God-power is within you, your superconscious mind.  It is the realm of inspiration, revelation and illumination.  It is the realm of miracles and wonders.  Quick and seemingly impossible changes take place for your good.  A door opens where there were no doors.  Supply appears from hidden and unexpected channels, for ‘God has weapons ye know not of.’ “

I was really fortunate to have been a student of  the legendary Science of Mind teacher Dr. Robert H. Bitzer, founder of the Hollywood Church of Religious Science, from 1984-1990.  Dr. Bitzer taught the importance  of becoming the consciousness of the Good you desire to acheive in your life by believing you have already received it.

For instance, recognizing that “what we think about we attract to ourselves.”  And by realizing that you are at all times one with the One, the God-Power which exists within you, the Source and Supply of all your Good.  This God-Power acts as your Superconscious Mind.

Dr. Bitzer wrote the following prayer Treatment: “There is within me a Power which is complete.  This Power complete within me draws to my conscious recognition everything I need to express and experience.”

You’ve heard or read stories of people who have won millions of dollars from the lottery only to find themselves in the “poor house” a year later.  How did this occur?  Because they lacked the consciousness of wealth–possessing millions of dollars.

When you feel your life is at a standstill, express the consciousness of forward progress and success.  When you have the “appearance” of an illness, express the consciousness of God’s Perfect Health taking place in your life.  If you want to attract greater income express the consciousness of prosperity.

The “Kingdom of Heaven” lies within you.  Whatever Good you conceive in your superconsciousness will unfailingly manifest itself in physical form.

“The Father that dwelleth in me, He doeth the works.”  (John 14:10)

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Jesus Christ said, “The truth shall make you free.”  Let’s take a closer look at this statement of the Master Teacher, and its application in our everyday lives, to better understand how recognizing the Truth about ourselves will not only set us free, but also increase our supply of Good.

First, we must find a peaceful and quiet place, go deep within ourselves, and in the stillness realize the Truth about ourselves:  That we are One with the One, God, the Creator of the Universe, the Origin of all Life, Who is Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient.

Second, we realize that All Good is derived from God.  Thus, there is “no mixture of evil” in the Good we desire to demonstrate in our lives.  How can there be?  Evil means the absence of Good.  Which is negation.  Nada.  False.  Falsehoods and Good do not coexist.  Because Good is God and God is Truth.  This Truth is present everywhere.  It is all-powerful.  It knows no opposite.  It is the Truth, the Whole Truth and nothing but the Truth.  And the Truth is All there is, thank you very much!

By claiming our Divine Inheritance–recognizing that we are children of God–we are telling the Truth that sets us free from poverty, sickness and worry.  Emma Curtis Hopkins listed the following character traits for us to embody in demonstrating Good:  “As a child of God you cannot have a habit of hurting or torturing people by your speeches or actions.  You cannot have a habit of being jealous.  You cannot feel easily offended.  You cannot resent the way people act with you.  You are not envious of anybody.  You are not filled with eagerness to be praised.  You are not cowardly about being blamed.  You are not penurious.  You are not glad to know that your enemies are unfortunate.  You do not feel discouraged when you have tried and do not succeed.”

Rejoice and declare your Emancipation to your Higher Self today.  Let freedom ring!

“I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  (John 14:6)

Facebook and Tweet your friends Shakespeare’s saying: “To thine own self be true/And it must follow, as the night the day/Thou canst not then be false to any man.”

That was inestimable advice coming from the metaphysical wordsmith of the late 16th Century London, England.  Can you count the number of times over the years that you haven’t been true to yourself or acted against your better judgment?  Ignored your gut reaction to something or someone that was rubbing you the wrong way?  Made a promise to yourself that you didn’t keep, in other words, failed to keep your own word with yourself?

Do alarm bells go off inside your head when people say “trust me?”  Perhaps they have difficulty trusting themselves on a subconscious level.  Which brings to mind three old-school cautionary tips.  Never eat at a place called Mom’s.  Never play poker with a man called Doc.  And never trust a person who says “trust me.”  For instance, if a used car dealer ever tells you, “This car still drives like the day it rolled off the factory floor,” hold onto your credit card for dear life and run for the hills!  The best policy is to follow the advice on the back of the U.S. paper currency: “In God We Trust.”  Period.

Now, returning to being true to yourself and living your life fully in Truth.  Truth is All there is.  Therefore, Truth knows no opposite.  Truth is Ageless, Birthless, Deathless, Changeless, Perfect, Whole and Complete.  Truth is the Alpha and Omega of All existence and throughout All eternity.

Emma Curtis Hopkins wrote the following in Scientific Christian Mental Practice, a book comprised of her class lectures that was originally published in 1888: “Everything rises to acknowledge Truth.  You see that is God, for Good is God.  Sometimes you will feel the reviving life stream so hot, like a fine elixir, throughout your being, while you are naming God as free life, that whatever you touch will feel thrilled with a quick sense of pleasure.  God works in Truth.  Tell the Truth of God and the Omnipotent God is moving….

“The principal point of Truth is that satisfaction comes through Mind.  Mind speaking Truth through the lips, or thinking Truth consciously, can bring All the satisfaction to the world which the world is seeking.  No material process can bring health.  By a metaphysical process health will quicken and thrill mankind.  Nothing material can strengthen people, but the Omnipotent Truth can strengthen them with All the power of Truth….

“Jesus Christ said we would have tribulations while getting our Good support by telling the Truth, but he said: ‘Be not afraid, I have overcome.’  He meant He had come over all the worldly way of being supported by telling the Truth, and that it would surely come out right with us.  Tribulations are the oppositions which we meet by telling the world we get our support by thinking and speaking the Truth.  Tribulations are the feelings we have when we first set forth as grown men and women into the way which is exactly opposite to our former way of thinking.  It is a tribulation to attempt to cast away all anxiety.  It is a tribulation to give up trying (italics mine) to get our living by our old mind….

“By and by you will have great and wonderful miracles of support come to you.  Yet, for a long time, some of those who have told the Truth about their Good being unlimited supply may not have the faintest idea where their supplies are coming from.  They need to say that their Good is Intelligence.  This is a Truth that will soon work out.”

Make it your New Year’s Resolution to quickly demonstrate All the Good you desire by living firmly in Truth, standing in Truth, walking the Truth, and speaking your Truth FAST.

HAPPY NEW YOU!

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”  (John 8:32)

Facebook your friends about “RECALL NOTICE,” an insightful,  witty, and highly original email that was forwarded to me the other day.  I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading it as much as I did.  Also be sure to connect with me on this website or at my email address, sydneyglass@Spirit101.Org, to share your thoughts regarding the current post or future topics you would like me to post.

No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, Jesus will replace it with:
1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self-control

Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E. (BEST Instructions Before Leaving Earth) for further details on the use of these fixes.

DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility. Thank you for your attention!

- GOD

P.S. Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice, and you may contact the Father any time by ‘Knee mail’!

Because HE Lives!

It’s that time of year again.  For many Americans the last Thursday in November marks their favorite holiday.  Unlike Christmas, with all its blatant commercialism and hyper-anxiety last minute shopping, Thanksgiving is remarkably stress free.  Unless, of course, you are the designated Chef du jour who looks forward to spending hours basting the sacrificial bird and preparing the trimmings and baking the assorted pies (make mine sweet potato, please) and decorating the house and setting the communal table with the precision and rapturous glee of a Martha Stewart acolyte.  Whew!

A few hours later, the festivities are at full throttle.  Strains of “Over the river and through the woods/To Grandmother’s house we go” fill the air, and the house is abuzz with chatter and laughter as relatives and old acquaintances, some of whom have travelled great distances, swap recession horror tales.

On closer examination, we’re able to discern the fear residing below the surface of their forced laughter and gallows humor.  Sure, they’re thankful to be “gathered together” and to be able to OD on a sumptuous feast without worrying about the caloric intake for a day, but deep down inside, they’re harboring a fear that they may have little to be thankful for next year–”with the way the economy seems to be tanking”–and they’re probably right!  Because their very doubt is now setting the stage for increased lack, limitation and an uncertain future fraught with peril in their existance.  Remember, thoughts are things.  If one doubts their life will be more abundant in the future it won’t be.

Let’s blow the dust off the covers of our High School Shakespeare textbooks and read what the metaphysical bard says on the subject of doubt: “Our doubts are traitors/And make us lose the good we oft might win/By fearing to attempt.”

Thanksgiving doesn’t just come once a year.  Everyday is a day of Thanksgiving, and various moments throughout the day as well.  Each day we have something to be thankful for; we can be thankful God has blessed us with the Gift of Life; thankful that we are at all times Divinely Guided and Divinely Protected on the pathway to our success; thankful for the Divine Intuition we act on which unfailingly brings about the Good we desire by means of our unwavering Faith; thankful that we Know and Accept the LAW OF MIND as taught to us by Jesus: “It is done unto you as you believe.”  “When ye pray, believe that ye have and ye shall receive.”

God loves an Attitude of Gratitude.  Thus the reason we must give God thanks in advance of our prayers being answered.  “Before they ask will I answer.”  By first giving heartfelt thanks to God the Good we greatly desire in our lives is assured.

Standing before the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus looked up to Heaven and said:  “Father, I thank Thee that Thou didst hear me.  And I knew that Thou always dost hear me, but, because of the multitude that is standing by, I said it, that they may believe that Thou didst send me.”  And these things saying, with a loud voice he cried out, “Lazarus, come forth!”  (John 11:41-43)

All humankind was created in the “image and likeness” of God, Who gave us “dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”  We learned this at the very beginning of the Bible. We are all beloved children of the Most High.  Therefore, though the name on our certificate of birth may be John or Joanna, our true name, our God-Given name is I Am.  This is our Divine Name. 

The name “I Am” is akin to “HRH” (His/Her Royal Highness) in heralding our ascendancy as sons and daughters of the King and rightful heirs to the Kingdom.  “I Am” also boldly affirms our dominion over the world of appearance and must never be spoken in vain.  Why?  Because, as it states in the Bible, “life and death are in the power of the tongue.”

In the previous post, Your Word Is Your Bond, we learned the importance of choosing the words we utter with eternal vigilance; only expressing the good, the positive and the truth we desire to experience in our daily lives.  Florence Scovel Shinn (1871-1940), one of the most well-known New Thought spiritual teachers of the 20th Century, said: “Every day is a day of Judgment.  We used to be taught that it would be at the end of the world.  Look back in your life and see how you have attracted either happiness or disaster through your words.  The subconscious has no sense of humor.  People joke destructively about themselves and the subconscious takes it seriously.  It is because the mental picture you make while speaking impresses the subconscious and works out on the external.  A person who knows the power of the word becomes very careful of his conversation.  He has only to watch the reaction of his words to know they do not return void.  People make their worst mistakes by speaking while they are angry or resentful, because there is so much ill-feeling back of their words.  Owing to the vibratory power of words, what you voice, you begin to attract.  People who continually speak of disease, invariably attract disease.”

It is equally unwise to use our I Am name (or the more familiar contraction “I’m”) idly, for it packs the wallop of an incoming Tomahawk missile on our mental, physical and spiritual well-being when it precedes a negative expression such as the following: “I am sick and tired!”  “I am down and out!”  “I am all washed up!”  “I am one step from the poorhouse!”  “I am fed up!” ”I am going crazy!”  “I am gonna blow my top!”  “I am such a loser!”  “I am a klutz!”  “I am scared to death!”  “I am drowning in debt!”  (I personally don’t like to say “I am sorry” because God is never sorry.  He Knows and Does only Good.  I prefer to say “I apologize” or “Forgive me” or “I regret” or “My bad.”)

To say such things about ourselves is to dishonor our Father in Heaven.  God is none of these things.  God is Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Omniscient, Perfect Health, Infinite Wealth, Peace, Unconditional Love and Boundless Joy!  

Claim your true identity now.  Speaking your Divine Name I Am gives you access to the unlimited Power of the Universe and opens all the channels to your Good.

Therefore, say it loud: “I Am God’s child!”

“And Moses said to God, Behold, when I come to the Israelites and say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they say to me, What is His name?  What shall I say to them? And God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM and WHAT I AM, and I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE; and He said, You shall say this to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you!”  (Exodus 3:13-14)

“Be careful what you ask for because you just might get it.”  We’ve all heard this expression at one time or another in our lives.  Some people would cynically dismiss it as an old chestnut of bygone days.  Others would refer to it as a pithy cliche´ or adage that holds little relevance in the anxiety-filled world we live in today.  I prefer to think of it as a truism; a self-evident truth which has survived the scrutiny of the ages.  It behooves us to be ever vigilant of the multitude of thoughts flashing across our mental screens in rapid-fire succession and the words we speak into Consciousness.  Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it.  (Proverbs 18:21)

Nicole Brown Simpson, the former wife of pro football player O. J. Simpson, is known to have remarked to her girlfriends with a sense of foreboding, “One day O.J. is gonna kill me and he’ll get away with it because he’s O.J.”  In 1965, before he was riding the tidal waves of fame, Jimi Hendrix recorded “The Ballad of Jimi” in a New York recording studio.  It contained the following lyrics:  “Many things he would try, For he knew soon he’d die.”  “Now Jimi’s gone, he’s not alone.  His memory still lives on.”  “Five years, this he said.  He’s not gone, he’s just dead.”  Jimi Hendrix died a tragic death exactly five years later in 1970. 

There are less extreme examples of erroneous speech usage in everyday life.  An unhappy woman would find reasons to argue with her husband over the silliest things.  She resented the fact that he didn’t always agree with her; and she took his rejection of her opinion as a rejection of her personally.  What aggravated her even more was his tendency to keep his peace while she was blowing off steam.  The madder she was, the calmer he would become.  In frustration she would shout at him, “You’re driving me up a wall!” 

One day, after arguing with her husband, she was running some errands downtown when she was involved in a terrible car accident.  She’d lost control of her car when it skidded on a puddle of slick oil on the street.  The car struck a curb and drove up the side of an office building!

There are cases where people have said, “I’m sick and tired,” and have become sick and bedridden.  Or saying someone is a “pain in the butt” and–well, you get the point.  If you can’t say something good about yourself, or someone else, it’s better to say nothing at all.

World War II propaganda posters warned Americans that “Loose Lips Sink Ships.”  Words we can live by today.  Instead of saying that you are “sick and tired” give thanks that you have Perfect Health and Vitality, and that you are “Strong in the Lord and the Power of his Might (and Majesty).  Rather than saying that you are “poor” or “broke” give thanks that you are the Consciousness of Prosperity, and that you are an irresistible magnet attracting great wealth.

Emma Curtis Hopkins (1849-1925), known as the teacher of teachers, wrote in her magnum opus, High Mysticism, the following:  “Speech follows the direction of the visional sense.  A man’s words therefore soon expose why he is unfortunate or triumphant, great or inconsequent.”

Don’t let idle comments sink your “ship” (mind, body and affairs).  Your words are your bond with the Universe.  Ask for the Good you want in Life and expect to receive it.  At all times let your conversation be in Heaven.

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.   (Mark 11:24)

Many of us pat ourselves on the back and buff our nails proudly against our chest for being outstanding Christians because  we attend Church each Sunday.  We’re the chosen ones.  We feel the Spirit in our bones as we fervently belt out the Hymns and bask in the warm glow of  fellowship with the other members of the congregation.  After the service, we’re satisfied that we’ve fulfilled our religious duties.  Our mansion in Heaven is secured.  We’re home safe for another week.  But are we really?

It’s the minutes and hours of the days that come between Church services that need our watchful attention. The times when we are easily susceptible to fall back on the crack-like indulging habit of negative thinking, gossip, anger, jealousy, self-pity, and frustration.  These are the moments of truth.  The moments we find our faith, confidence, and conviction under constant assault.  The primetime to practice the principle.  The time to put our positive thoughts and words into action.

It is vital to our spiritual well-being that we maintain the consciousness of prosperity even when our bank account appears to be running on empty.  To keep our peace when we suffer abuse from others and are tempted to lash out in anger.  To remain steadfast in our belief that we can achieve the desired Good we dream of even when those nearest and dearest to us claim it to be an impossibility.

To practice the principle entails “walking the talk” 24/7!  It requires that we live our lives fully in the NOW, the present.  What ancient metaphysical teaching referred to as the “Eternal Moment.”

I practice nowness each morning while still in bed, while the house is quiet, by giving myself a spiritual pep talk before my morning prayers.  First, I give thanks:

“FATHER I THANK THEE FOR BLESSING ME WITH EVERLASTING LIFE ON THIS GLORIOUS DAY.  I LIVE THIS DAY FULLY AND COMPLETELY, PERFECTLY AND WHOLLY IN THE NOW–THE ETERNAL MOMENT.”

Second, I rejoice in the new day:

“THIS IS A DAY THE LORD HATH MADE.  LET US (ME) REJOICE IN IT AND BE GLAD.  TODAY IS WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY.”  (I assign a special name to each day of the week: Miraculous Monday; Terrific Tuesday; Wonderful Wednesday; Thanksgiving Thursday; Fantastic Fun-Filled Friday; I Surrender Saturday–I surrender all human weakness to spiritual strength; Salvation Sunday.)

Third, I claim that God’s will be done:

“THY WILL BE DONE TODAY LORD, FOR TODAY WILL BE A DAY OF COMPLETION.  I GIVE THANKS FOR THIS GREAT DAY THOU HATH MADE, FATHER, (interject the name of the special day), FOR MIRACLE SHALL FOLLOW MIRACLE AND WONDERS SHALL NEVER CEASE.”

Fourth:

“I PROCLAIM THIS DAY, WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY, ABSOLUTELY, UNDENIABLY GOOD!”

Then I commence my morning prayers, recognizing my oneness with The One and knowing that I am at all times Divinely Protected, Divinely Guided, and Divinely Directed throughout my day.

God is my strength and my power, and He maketh my way perfect.  (II Sam. 22:33)

God, First Cause, Infinite Creative Intelligence, Origin of all being, blessed us with many amazing gifts.  Chief among them are the ability to observe and choose our thoughts.  Daily, we observe the thousands of thoughts streaming across our consciousness and cherry-pick the ones we choose to experience.

You may ask, What if we make bad choices?  Choices that could lead to our experiencing sickness or despair?  It would be easy to succumb to the view that observation and choice are more of a curse than a blessing.  However, another way to look at it is that with observation and choice comes responsibility.

Just as you have to be responsible when you are sitting behind the wheel of a two-ton vehicle, you have to be equally responsible for what thoughts you choose to entertain.  Both are powerful and capable of causing great damage if wrongly applied.

It is clear Jesus fully understood the responsible use of Thought Power when He taught one of the Universal Law’s valuable  lessons of Life:  “It is done unto you as you believe.”

How cool is that!  We needn’t struggle or strain, worry or be anxious.  All we need do is calmly choose the constructive thought we desire to express in our lives and Universal Law makes it a reality.  In other words, we must become the consciousness of the thing we want.  If it’s prosperity we want we can put ourselves in a prosperous frame of mind by thinking prosperous thoughts, flipping through the pages of magazines featuring photographs of stately homes, expensive autos, stylish clothing and imagine ourselves residing in one of those grand homes and driving a luxury sedan and dressed to-the-nines.

We can have all the Good in Life we embody in our consciousness.  Whatever Good we conceive we can achieve if we believe.

Thought Power is all powerful.  We get out of Life what we think into it.

When I was a kid, a mere crumb-hustler, as my late mother affectionately called small children, I would sometimes overhear the grown-ups quote the proverb, “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”  In my childish imagination I thought what they were saying had something to do with a needle and thread.  It wasn’t until I was much older that it finally dawned on me what the proverb truly meant.

According to Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, the words “sow” means “to plant seed for growth,” and “reap” means “to harvest.”  Therefore, in our daily experiences we can think of the thousands of thoughts we have during the course of a day as seeds.  These seeds come in two varieties: positive (constructive) and negative (destructive).

It’s up to each one of us to select which seeds we are going to plant in consciousness, but we must choose wisely.  Because our choice of seeds will take root and manifest in our lives as Love, Peace, Perfect Health and Prosperity if we plant positive seeds; and anger, stress, disease and poverty if we plant negative seeds.  So we must be ever vigilant of what we are thinking.

For example, do you recall the last time you thought something was going to go wrong in your life and it did?  In fact, things went horribly wrong so fast that you probably wished you were wearing a hard hat, raincoat and had on a pair of old-school galoshes because it was thundering and lightning and raining wrong down on you while pelting you upside the head with baseball-sized hailstones.

Perhaps this raging storm of negative thinking left you feeling depressed, emotionally rudderless, suffering from a severe headache, cramps or flu, which certainly didn’t make you a happy camper.  We’ve all been there and done that too many times to count, am I right?  Our negative thinking created negative results in our lives.

The good news is that we can just as quickly change our lives for the better by changing our thinking.  By learning to “accentuate the positive” thoughts we think, and by making a determined effort to focus on what we want to take place in our lives.

For instance, envision yourself peacefully meditating in the fertile Garden of the Most High (subconscious mind).  You behold beauty wherever you turn your gaze: the radiant sunshine filtering down through the towering redwood trees; the luscious green landscape; multicolored flowers; birds chirping; a gentle stream.  Then, suddenly, you spot something which spoils the surrounding beauty — an ugly weed (negative thought) popping up in the grass!  Without a moment’s hesitation, you immediately uproot the offensive weed, ridding your mental garden of unwelcome negativity.

For centuries philosophers and authors have grappled with the notion that “Thoughts are Things.”  William Shakespeare, the illustrious bard of Stratford-upon-Avon, who straddled both the 16th and 17th Centuries, wrote, “It is neither good nor bad, but thinking makes it so.”  Rene Descartes, the “Father of Modern Philosophy,” proclaimed in the 17th Century, “I think, therefore I am.”  And, lest we forget, Napoleon Hill, the 20th Century author of Think & Grow Rich, one of the best-selling personal-success books of all time, and trusted adviser to Woodrow Wilson and FDR, who coined the phrase, “What the Mind of Man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”  He further stated, “You have the power to control your thoughts and direct them to do your bidding.”

Great songs, magnificent works of art, architectural splendors, and ingenious tools such as the Internet you are now using to read this blog, are all the by-products of  creative thought.  Thoughts that became things.

As he thinketh within himself, so is he.  (Proverbs 23:7)

From this moment forward, start to sow seeds of Good in your Life and reap a bountiful harvest!