ACIM Workbook
Healing Perspectives

Lesson 40

“I am blessed as a Son of God.”

Today’s lesson once more asks us to accept the truth about ourselves. In truth, everyone is blessed as a Son of God. In truth, everyone is an extension of God -- an extension of God’s Love. Because we all are God’s Love, we bless and are blessed. Because we are God’s Love, we extend Love as God does. All are in holy union with God. We cannot be without Love’s blessing, because we all are Love. And Love, to be Love, extends Love. Love sees all as Itself. Love sees all is Itself.

Affirming “I am blessed as a Son of God” every 10 minutes is important mind training. It helps me return to accepting the truth about myself and about everyone. If I really want to return to the truth and accept the blessings of my true inheritance, I will practice consistently today. I will do as Jesus instructs, for he does know how to lead me Home. He is our elder brother. He knows that our minds are still undisciplined. I am determined to follow Jesus’ instructions today. I am determined to accept the truth that I am blessed as a Son of God.

In Chapter 4, Section IV, paragraph 7 of the Text, it says that the reason we lack consistency in focusing our attention on the Love of God is not because it is hard, but because we do not believe we are worthy of it. In today’s lesson, Jesus clearly recognizes that we may miss some practice periods, maybe even for long periods. But he urges us not to let that discourage us or to use it as an excuse to stop practicing. He simply says, “Try again.” No guilt, just try again.

One of the things that has struck me over the years as I have worked with the Course is that it is gentle. There is no coercion, only loving encouragement. Never does it shame or judge us for our insanity. It just patiently, repeatedly encourages us, reminding us of what is true and helping us to recognize illusions for what they are. Sometimes we may take offense at what it says, because we have identified with a false image of ourselves and perceive the words as an attack on who we are. But that is simply the ego trying to hold its ground.

No matter what we believe about ourselves, no matter how much we deny God’s Love for us, He continues to give all of His Love, eternally. He gives His Love without consideration of whether or not we accept it. He is always giving. If we are not aware of His blessing, it is simply because we have chosen not to accept it. But His blessing remains there for us to receive the instant we are willing. If I am blessed as a Son of God, then God must want me to be happy. If I am not happy, I am not accepting God’s will for me. Today I will practice remembering I am blessed as a Son of God because I want to be happy.

I love that I am not judged for my lapses. I love the gentleness of the Course. I often think of this when I am tempted to judgment or anger over another person's actions. Gentleness and forgiveness is not always my first choice, but more and more I am stepping out of the destructive cycle of blame and fear, and choosing gentleness instead.

I am so grateful for this change in myself. I know it is a direct result of these lessons. I keep working on the lessons because I want a gentle life without excursions into fear, anger, guilt and judgment.

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