Daily Inspiration for Living A Course in Miracles

Subscribe

Click link to go to:

View all articlesArticle index

Giving and Receiving the Gift of Forgiveness

Brother, you need forgiveness of your brother, for you will share in madness or in Heaven together. And you and he will raise your eyes in faith together, or not at all.

Behold your Friend, the Christ Who stands beside you [in your brother]. How holy and how beautiful He is! You thought He sinned because you cast the veil of sin upon Him to hide His loveliness. Yet still He holds forgiveness out to you, to share His Holiness. This “enemy,” this “stranger” still offers you salvation as His Friend. The “enemies” of Christ, the worshippers of sin, know not Whom they attack.

Forgive the sins your brother thinks he has committed, and all the guilt you think you see in him.

Give faith to your brother, for faith and hope and mercy are yours to give. Into the hands that give, the gift is given. Look on your brother, and see in him the gift of God you would receive. (A Course in Miracles, T-19.IV.D.12:7-8;14;15:10;17:1-3. See also ACIM Text Made Simple.)

Because in truth we are one with every brother, when we forgive a brother we are forgiven. The Love that our brother is deserves our faith in him, for it is faith in God’s Creation. Belief in the image of a brother as a body is undeserved, for it is belief in an illusion. Belief in an illusion is a veil that hides the truth of Love’s oneness and innocence. As we accept Christ’s vision, we see past the veil to the truth of our unity with our brother.

With the Holy Spirit’s help, we forgive or let go of the false images we have made and make way for Christ’s vision to show us our brother’s innocence and our own. This is how we receive God’s gift of the Atonement, which undoes the dream of fear and guilt and brings us back to Heaven where we belong.

Today we welcome Christ’s vision, for we would remember we are at Home in Heaven.

© 2018, Pathways of Light. http://www.pathwaysoflight.org
You may freely share copies of this with your friends, provided this copyright notice and website address are included.

Tell a friend about this article.
Printable Page

Accepting Holy Spirit’s Vision of Now

Unless the past is over in my mind, the real world must escape my sight. For I am really looking nowhere; seeing but what is not there. How can I then perceive the world forgiveness offers? This [the real world] the past was made to hide, for this [is] the world that can be looked on only now. It has no past. For what can be forgiven but the past, and if it is forgiven it is gone.

Father, let me not look upon a past that is not there. For You have offered me Your Own replacement, in a present world the past has left untouched and free of sin. Here [in the present world] is the end of guilt. (A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson 289,W-pII.289.1:1-2:3.. See also ACIM Lesson 289 Insights.)

God’s Love is eternal and changeless. Being changeless, It has no past and Its seeming future is the same as well. God’s Love is ever present, now.

The ego is the wish to be separate from Love. This could only seem to be possible in a dream of time where the present is ignored. The ego holds a “memory” of the past, which it projects on the present, making God’s present Love unknown to us. Our thoughts about the future are constructed out of memories from the past. There is no consideration given to the possibility that present Love continues into the “future.” Thus our belief in the ego thought system leaves God’s present Love completely hidden. This is why forgiveness, letting go of the past, is the way we open our minds to the real world, where Love’s presence is accepted and guilt is left behind.

Today we practice letting go of the past and accepting Holy Spirit’s vision of now.

© 2018, Pathways of Light. http://www.pathwaysoflight.org
You may freely share copies of this with your friends, provided this copyright notice and website address are included.

Tell a friend about this article.
Printable Page

Freeing Ourselves from Limitation

This world is not where you belong. You are a stranger here. But it is given you to find the means whereby the world no longer seems to be a prison house or jail for anyone.

But you must change your mind about the purpose of the world, if you would find escape. You will be bound till all the world is seen by you as blessed, and everyone made free of your mistakes and honored as he is.

Peace is the bridge that everyone will cross, to leave this world behind. But peace begins within the world perceived as different, and leading from this fresh perception to the gate of Heaven and the way beyond. Peace is the answer to conflicting goals, to senseless journeys, frantic, vain pursuits, and meaningless endeavors. Now the way is easy, sloping gently toward the bridge where freedom lies within the peace of God.

And you look up and on toward Heaven, with the body’s eyes but serving for an instant longer now. Peace is already recognized at last, and you can feel its soft embrace surround your heart and mind with comfort and with love.

For peace is union, if it be of God. (A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson 200,W-pI.200.4:3-5;5:2-3;8;10:5-6;11:6. See also ACIM Lesson 200 Insights.)

While we believe we are limited to a body, we will project that belief on what we see, perceiving other bodies and forms as real. By letting go of this projection, we free ourselves to look past the projections and see the unity of Love, which we share with All That is. In this perfect oneness, conflict does not exist and so there is perfect peace.

Forgiveness — letting go of the false image of a separate identity — is the means to welcome the peace of God. Judgment and peace cannot coexist. Judgment always involves conflicting purposes and goals. The oneness of Love has only one purpose — to extend Love. As we join with Love’s oneness, we find the peace and joy of God.  We extend Love to all.

© 2018, Pathways of Light. http://www.pathwaysoflight.org
You may freely share copies of this with your friends, provided this copyright notice and website address are included.

Tell a friend about this article.
Printable Page

Accepting Holy Spirit’s Help

Let me not forget my function [to forgive, overlook what never happened]. I would not forget my function, because I would remember my Self. I cannot fulfill my function if I forget it. And unless I fulfill my function, I will not experience the joy that God intends for me.

Suitable specific forms of this idea include:

Let me not use this to hide my function from me.
I would use this as an opportunity to fulfill my function.
This may threaten my ego, but cannot change my function in any way.
(A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson 82,W-pI.82:3-4. See also ACIM Lesson 82 Insights.)

When we act as if the body and what we see happen in the world is real, we have judged against the oneness of Love. We are believing that it is possible to limit Love by separating from It. But to separate from Love is to make ourselves totally unaware of It. Partial or selective love is impossible.

It is this attempt to limit Love, to judge against It, that must be forgiven. This is our only meaningful purpose in the world. To fulfill this purpose, we must join with the Holy Spirit, the Truth in our mind.

Every situation, every relationship, every perception is an opportunity to let the Holy Spirit show us how to see it as a whole, in the oneness of Love. He will help us see past the appearances of conflict and limitation to the reality of Love. In Love we will see our perfect safety, peace and joy. We will forgive the illusion of loss and welcome the reality of the changeless Love we are.

© 2018, Pathways of Light. http://www.pathwaysoflight.org
You may freely share copies of this with your friends, provided this copyright notice and website address are included.

Tell a friend about this article.
Printable Page

Accepting the Love We Are

We thank our Father for one thing alone; that we are separate from no living thing, and therefore one with Him. And we rejoice that no exceptions ever can be made which would reduce our wholeness, nor impair or change our function to complete the One Who is Himself completion. We give thanks for every living thing, for otherwise we offer thanks for nothing, and we fail to recognize the gifts of God to us.

Walk, then, in gratitude the way of love. For hatred is forgotten when we lay comparisons aside. What more remains as obstacles to peace? The fear of God is now undone at last, and we forgive without comparing. Thus we cannot choose to overlook some things, and yet retain some other things still locked away as “sins.” When your forgiveness is complete you will have total gratitude, for you will see that everything has earned the right to love by being loving, even as your Self.

Our gratitude will pave the way to Him, and shorten our learning time by more than you could ever dream of. Gratitude goes hand in hand with love, and where one is the other must be found. For gratitude is but an aspect of the Love which is the Source of all creation. (A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson 195,W-pI.195.6;8;9:1-3. See also ACIM Lesson 195 Insights.)

The nature of Love is to be grateful. It is a natural effect that comes with the joy of being united in the oneness of Love. There are no differences in Love, no conflict. Nothing to compare because Love never changes. It is always the same all-encompassing Love of God. Love is our Home.

Judgment (unforgiveness) denies the oneness of Love. It makes us unaware of Love’s presence and leaves us feeling lack, sad and fearful. Judgment depends upon the belief in separation because differences depend upon there being separate states or forms.

To return to the full awareness of the Love we are, we must let go of all judgments. Today we call upon the Holy Spirit to replace our judgments with His singular judgment — that only the oneness of Love is real. With His help we will learn to see past the empty images of the world to the one Love that unites us with our Creator. And we will walk in gratitude.

© 2018, Pathways of Light. http://www.pathwaysoflight.org
You may freely share copies of this with your friends, provided this copyright notice and website address are included.

Tell a friend about this article.
Printable Page

Seeing Love’s Reflection in the World

My attack thoughts are attacking my invulnerability. How can I know who I am when I see myself as under constant attack? Pain, illness, loss, age and death seem to threaten me. All my hopes and wishes and plans appear to be at the mercy of a world I cannot control. Yet perfect security and complete fulfillment are my inheritance.

Recognizing that what I see reflects what I think I am, I realize that vision is my greatest need. The world I see attests to the fearful nature of the self-image I have made. If I would remember who I am, it is essential that I let this image of myself go.

The world I see holds my fearful self-image in place, and guarantees its continuance. While I see the world as I see it now, truth cannot enter my awareness. I would let the door behind this world be opened for me, that I may look past it to the world that reflects the Love of God.

God is still everywhere and in everything forever. And we who are part of Him will yet look past all appearances, and recognize the truth beyond them all.

In my own mind, behind all my insane thoughts of separation and attack, is the knowledge that all is one forever. (A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson 56,W-pI.56.1:1-5;2:2-4;3:2-4;4:5-6;5:2. See also ACIM Lesson 56 Insights.)

Identifying with an image of a body as what we are is a self-imposed limitation. It leaves us feeling alone and separate and without Love, for Love cannot be limited. Believing we are without Love, we search constantly to find what we feel is missing. But it cannot be found in the world we see. We need to open our minds to a different way of seeing that does not use the body’s perceptions.

The Holy Spirit in our mind will help us see with the vision of our true Self. This vision shows us the Love we are and the Love that is everywhere, without limit. This is our Reality. To know this reality, we must let go of identifying with a separate self-image. Our true Self is united with all Love everywhere. The will of our true Self is join with this Love and extend It always. This world is seen behind the images we have made.

We can practice remembering this as we meet or think of anyone by mentally saying to ourselves, “Beyond this appearance is the Light of Love. Let me see this Light as my Reality and know that I am Love.”

© 2018, Pathways of Light. http://www.pathwaysoflight.org
You may freely share copies of this with your friends, provided this copyright notice and website address are included.

Tell a friend about this article.
Printable Page

The Path to Perfect Happiness

God’s Will for you is perfect happiness. Why should you choose to go against His Will? The part that He has saved for you to take in working out His plan is given you that you might be restored to what He wills [perfect happiness]. This part is as essential to His plan as to your happiness. Your joy must be complete to let His plan be understood by those to whom He sends you. They will see their function in your shining face, and hear God calling to them in your happy laugh.

…realize your part is to be happy. Only this is asked of you or anyone who wants to take his place among God’s messengers. Think what this means. You have indeed been wrong in your belief that sacrifice is asked. You but receive according to God’s plan, and never lose or sacrifice or die.

Look deep within you, undismayed by all the little thoughts and foolish goals you pass as you ascend to meet the Christ in you.

He will be there. (A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson 100,W-pI.100.2;7:3-7;8:5-9:1. See also ACIM Lesson 100 Insights.)

Happiness is our natural state. We were created to be happy as an extension of God’s joy. If we experience sadness or depression, we are believing in a false image of our identity, separate from God. God’s plan for our salvation is to guide us to letting go of this false image that hides the truth of our perfect happiness.

It seems that we must go deep within to find our true Self, the Christ, God’s Son. But that is only because we have made up and believe in layers of images that make the veil of illusion seem impenetrable or at least thick and hard to get past. And so God’s plan works kindly and persistently to peel away the false images through forgiveness. With the Holy Spirit’s help we learn to recognize the unreality of the images we have taught ourselves to believe are real.

The more we practice welcoming the Holy Spirit’s interpretation in place of our judgments, the happier we become. Forgiveness is the key to happiness. This is our function in God’s plan for our salvation, our release to perfect happiness.

© 2018, Pathways of Light. http://www.pathwaysoflight.org
You may freely share copies of this with your friends, provided this copyright notice and website address are included.

Tell a friend about this article.
Printable Page

Page 3 of 5 pages  < 1 2 3 4 5 > 

<< Back to main page of Daily Inspiration.

Has this page been helpful to you?
Your contribution to support this site is greatly appreciated. To make a tax deductible contribution with a credit/debit card, click here.
Click here to donate from your PayPal account.
Or send a check to Pathways of Light, 12530 Lions Chase Court, Huntley, IL 60142.

Free Online Resources

Electronic "Magazine"Sign up to receive periodic emails with thoughts to ponder, inspirational articles and the latest news.

Subscribe to daily emails of Workbook Lesson Insights.

ACIM Text Made Simple — answers to hundreds of questions about the Text. Click here.

Daily Inspiration Blog — Thoughts to inspire your day. Click here.

Inspiring journals by Pathways of Light ministers applying the principles of ACIM. Click here.

Miracles News — hundreds of inspiring miracle stories. Click here.
 

We'd Like to Hear from You

Request Free Printed Program & Product Catalog

Or call 1-800-323-7284 (US & Canada) or 386-615-7284.

Click here to email your questions.

United Kingdom: Click here to email your questions about Pathways of Light in the UK or call +44 (0) 207 7262 0209.

Give us your feedback or report site problems.
 

Pathways Ministers Audio/Videos

ACIM Spiritual Counselor Training

Inspired by the principles presented in A Course in Miracles, this ministry training focuses on accepting the mind healing that is guided by the Teacher within, the Holy Spirit. As our minds are healed, we become Holy Spirit’s instruments of healing. For more information click here.
 

ACIM Practitioner Courses

If you would like a deeper understanding of key principles of A Course in Miracles, the 24 Pathways of Light ACIM Practitioner courses provide a complete, multimedia package to help you make ACIM principles a ready resource to call upon in your mind throughout your day. Click here for more information.
 

Featured Items

Minister training based on A Course in Miracles Spiritual Counselor Training — based on principles of A Course in Miracles, including ordination. More….

Hey, Holy Spirit,
It's Me Again Hey, Holy Spirit, It's Me Again by Rev. Myron Jones. An indispensable guide for anyone on the path of ACIM with insights on the 1st 90 lessons. More….

Tru Eternal Life and A Course in Miracles by Jon Mundy, Phd. A Path to Eternity in the Essential Text. Learn more.

True Forgiveness True Forgiveness by Rev. Jennifer McSween. The Proven Path from Pain to Power in 5 Simple Steps. Learn more.

Listen & Receive 30-Day Home Study Listen & Receive 30-Day Home Study Learn to receive insight for your life in a form that is perfect for you …heal fears, find joy & peace. Learn more.

Minister training based on A Course in Miracles Spiritual Counselor Training — based on principles of A Course in Miracles, including ordination. More….

Miracles Practitioner courses24 ACIM Practitioner courses including 50-page study guide, CD's with facilitator. More….

Tru Live Your Happy by Rev. Maria Felipe. A real-world approach to living happily, based on A Course in Miracles. Learn more.

From the Christ Mind From the Christ Mind scribed by Darrell Morley Price. A simple, yet profound message that you can immediately apply to current circumstances. More….

Forgiving KevinForgiving Kevin Audio book by Rev. Larry Glenz. A moving and inspiring true story of a father/son relationship that withstood seven years of addiction, recovery, and relapse. More….

Healing Family
RelationshipsHealing Family Relationships Applying the Principles of A Course in Miracles 6 CD audio book by Rev. Myron Jones. Learn how family relationships offer fertile grounds for forgiveness and healing your judgments of the world. More.