Daily Inspiration for Living A Course in Miracles

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Learning of Our Unity in Love

That you and your brother are joined is your salvation; the gift of Heaven, not the gift of fear. Does Heaven seem to be a burden to you? In madness, yes. And yet what madness sees must be dispelled by reason. Reason assures you Heaven is what you want, and all you want. Listen to Him Who speaks with reason, and brings your reason into line with His. Be willing to let [Holy Spirit’s] reason be the means by which He would direct you how to leave insanity behind. Hide not behind insanity in order to escape from reason. What madness would conceal, the Holy Spirit still holds out for everyone to look upon with gladness.

You are your brother’s savior. He is yours. [Holy Spirit’s reason] speaks happily indeed of this. This gracious plan was given love by Love. And what Love plans is like Itself in this: Being united, It [Love] would have you learn what you must be. And being one with [Love], it must be given you to give what It has given, and gives still. Spend but an instant in the glad acceptance of what is given you to give your brother, and learn with him what has been given both of you. To give is no more blessed than to receive. But neither is it less. (A Course in Miracles, T-21.VI.8-9. See also ACIM Text Q & A.)

When we accept the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we are accepting the Voice of Reason. The Holy Spirit speaks to us as God’s messenger of truth. Thus His reason will always lead us to the truth that we remain united in God’s Love. Separation could never be real.

The ego has its own version of reason but it is based on the insane idea that separation (sin) could be real. Reason based on insanity leads only to insanity. When we choose to accept the Holy Spirit’s guidance we choose God’s plan for our salvation, because we choose reason based on truth. The Voice of Reason is always eternally in our minds, given us by our Creator in answer to the insane thought of separation.

Today we practice opening our mind and heart to the Holy Spirit’s lessons that teach us we are Love, united with the Love of God. With His help we will see this Love everywhere.

© 2017, Pathways of Light. http://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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The Means for Release from the World of Fear

Let me recognize the problem so it can be solved.

A problem cannot be solved if you do not know what it is. Even if it is really solved already you will still have the problem, because you will not recognize that it has been solved. This is the situation of the world. The problem of separation, which is really the only problem, has already been solved. Yet the solution is not recognized because the problem is not recognized.

If you could recognize that your only problem is separation, no matter what form it takes, you could accept the answer because you would see its relevance. Perceiving the underlying constancy in all the problems that seem to confront you, you would understand that you have the means to solve them all. And you would use the means, because you recognize the problem.

…today we will ask what the problem is, and what is the answer to it. We will not assume that we already know. We will try to free our minds of all the many different kinds of problems we think we have.

Be not deceived by the form of problems today. Whenever any difficulty seems to rise, tell yourself quickly:

Let me recognize this problem [my thought of separation] so it can be solved.

Then try to suspend all judgment about what the problem is. If possible, close your eyes for a moment and ask what it is. You will be heard and you will be answered.” (A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson 79, W-pI.79.1;6:2-7:3;10. See also ACIM Lesson 79 Insights.)

The myriad forms of problems we experience in the world are the ego’s disguises to hide the real problem. It doesn’t seem that the only problem is believing separation is real. The importance of pausing and stepping back from our perceived problem, and asking what the real problem is, cannot be over emphasized.

As long as we insist on trying to fix the forms, we simply maintain the illusion of separation. We have to be willing to at least question the reality of the problem. This opens the door in our mind to receive the means from the Holy Spirit to solve the problem. We must be willing to ask for help and so we must be willing to question the problem. This willingness is essential for our release from the constant series of ego’s problems. It is the means for release from the world and return to the oneness of God’s Love.

© 2017, Pathways of Light. http://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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Releasing Fear and Returning to Love

God is the Love in which I forgive.

God does not forgive because He has never condemned. And there must be condemnation before forgiveness is necessary. Forgiveness is the great need of this world, but that is because it is a world of illusions. Those who forgive are thus releasing themselves from illusions, while those who withhold forgiveness are binding themselves to them. As you condemn only yourself, so do you forgive only yourself.

Yet although God does not forgive, His Love is nevertheless the basis of forgiveness. Fear condemns and love forgives. Forgiveness thus undoes what fear has produced, returning the mind to the awareness of God. For this reason, forgiveness can truly be called salvation. It is the means by which illusions disappear. (A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson 46, W-pI.46.1-2. See also ACIM Lesson 46 Insights.)

God has given us a very simple plan that will return us to the awareness that we are Love, Loved by our Creator and being Loving is our Nature. In the presence of Love, fear disappears because fear comes from the mistaken belief that Love is absent. This is a belief in an illusion, for only Love is real. Forgiveness is the means to undo the mistaken belief that Love is absent. This belief disconnects us from awareness of the oneness of Love.

Forgiveness is the means to release ourselves from the belief that Love is absent. This belief manifests in myriad forms. The central figure in this belief is the body, for it seems to make us separate from other bodies and the world. Bodies seem to cause harm, physically, mentally and emotionally.

Each time we take the perception of any kind of harm to the Holy Spirit for His loving correction, He shows us that the perception has no foundation in truth. The moment we recognize the fear was based on an illusion, we freely let it go. We release ourselves from the mistaken belief that caused the fear. This is God’s plan for our release from fear. It seems like a process that takes time only because we have many false images in our mind that seem to justify fear.

As we practice bringing these images to the Holy Spirit, we begin to recognize that the cause for each fearful image is the same. Our forgiveness generalizes and we experience greater and greater peace. The generalization of our forgiveness accelerates until we reach the point that we fully realize that there is nothing to forgive, for only Love is real.

© 2017, Pathways of Light. http://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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Remembering Our True Nature Is Love

Father, I was created in Your Mind, a holy Thought that never left its home. I am forever Your Effect, and You forever and forever are my Cause. As You created me I have remained. Where You established me I still abide. And all Your attributes abide in me, because it is Your Will to have a Son so like his Cause that Cause and Its Effect are indistinguishable. Let me know that I am an Effect of God, and so I have the power to create like You. And as it is in Heaven, so on earth. Your plan I follow here, and at the end I know that You will gather Your effects into the tranquil Heaven of Your Love, where earth will vanish, and all separate thoughts unite in glory as the Son of God. (A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson 326, W-pII.326.1. See also ACIM Lesson 326 Insights.)

Because God is Love and He created His Son to be exactly like Himself, our true Nature must be Love. As we learn to see through the vision of our true Nature, we see the Love in every brother and nothing else. Only belief in separation stands as a barrier to the recognition of the loving Nature in everyone.

It is our mistaken perceptions, based on the foundation of belief separation is real, that must be forgiven. God’s plan for our return to His Heaven is brought to us through His Voice. This is our Inner Teacher, Who will teach us lovingly to recognize that all our judgments, our guilt and our fears are based on a mistaken belief that separation is real.

If we are willing to receive His loving lessons, our thoughts will be transformed. Fear and guilt will fade away. We will see Christ in every brother and we will recognize that we are the Effect of Love’s extension. Today we ask our inner Teacher for His strength and His help to look past imagined separation to the true Nature of Love in everyone.

© 2017, Pathways of Light. http://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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Choosing Holy Spirit’s Help

Your Friend [Holy Spirit] goes with you. You are not alone. No one who calls on Him can call in vain. Whatever troubles you, be certain that He has the answer, and will gladly give it to you, if you simply turn to Him and ask it of Him. He will not withhold all answers that you need for anything that seems to trouble you. He knows the way to solve all problems, and resolve all doubts. His certainty is yours. You need but ask it of Him, and it will be given you.

And now I place you in His hands, to be His faithful follower, with Him as Guide through every difficulty and all pain that you may think is real. Nor will He give you pleasures that will pass away, for He gives only the eternal and the good. Let Him prepare you further. He has earned your trust by speaking daily to you of your Father and your brother and your Self. He will continue. Now you walk with Him, as certain as is He of where you go; as sure as He of how you should proceed; as confident as He is of the goal, and of your safe arrival in the end.

His Love surrounds you, and of this be sure; that I will never leave you comfortless. (A Course in Miracles Workbook Epilogue, W-Ep.1:2-9;4;6:8. See also ACIM Lesson 365 Insights.)

We ask for help when we are willing to be helped. The ego wants us to believe that it has all the answers we need. But remember, the ego’s only goal is to seek and not find so it clearly has no answer that will be truly helpful.

In the Holy Spirit, our Creator has given us all the help we will ever need. His help will always lead us to freedom and our Home in Heaven. Today we choose the help of our inner Guide for all our thoughts and our doing in the world. Under His direction, we will learn of the Love that we are and extend It freely to all. Thus is the world healed along with us.

© 2017, Pathways of Light. http://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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Claiming and Sharing God’s Gifts

Here is the paradox that underlies the making of the world. This world is not the Will of God, and so it is not real. Yet those who think it real must still believe there is another will, and one that leads to opposite effects from those He wills. Impossible indeed; but every mind that looks upon the world and judges it as certain, solid, trustworthy and true believes in two creators; or in one, himself alone. But never in one God.

Yet in his lonely, senseless wanderings, God’s gifts go with him, all unknown to him. He cannot lose them. But he will not look at what is given him. He wanders on, aware of the futility he sees about him everywhere, perceiving how his little lot but dwindles, as he goes ahead to nowhere. Still he wanders on in misery and poverty, alone though God is with him, and a treasure his so great that everything the world contains is valueless before its magnitude.

One walks with you Who gently answers all your fears with this one merciful reply, “It is not so.” He points to all the gifts you have each time the thought of poverty oppresses you, and speaks of His Companionship when you perceive yourself as lonely and afraid.

Become the living proof of what Christ’s touch can offer everyone. God has entrusted all His gifts to you. Be witness in your happiness to how transformed the mind becomes which chooses to accept His gifts, and feel the touch of Christ. Such is your mission now. For God entrusts the giving of His gifts to all who have received them. He has shared His joy with you. And now you go to share it with the world. (A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson 166, W-pI.166.2;5;11:3-4;15:2-8. See also ACIM Lesson 166 Insights.)

The Source of perfect happiness is in us, now and forever. If we do not feel supremely happy, we have turned our back on our Source. We have chosen to believe an insane idea that it is possible to have a separate identity in the hope that we might gain a special value we can call ours alone.

There is no way to have specialness without believing we are alone. For God gives His gifts equally to all. It is not His Will that we be alone. His Will that we remain united with Him and have all His gifts is eternal and changeless. He has given us His joy and His peace. He has given us all His Love. In His giving, He has entrusted us with the purpose of giving all that we have received of Him to all.

To know the gifts He has given, we must share His gifts without reservation or limitation. We cannot judge another as separate from us and give God’s gifts truly. This is why forgiveness is the key to removing the barriers to Love’s presence. Forgiveness frees us to see our equality with our brothers and freely give all of God’s gifts. It is this giving that teaches ourselves and all our brothers that they are one with us. We are teachers of God as we accept God’s gifts and give them away without judgment or limits.

© 2017, Pathways of Light. http://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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The Choice for Happiness and Peace

Everyone here has entered darkness, yet no one has entered it alone. Nor need he stay more than an instant. For he has come with Heaven’s Help within him, ready to lead him out of darkness into light at any time. The time he chooses can be any time, for help is there, awaiting but his choice. And when he chooses to avail himself of [this help that] is given him, then will he see each situation that he thought before was means to justify his anger turned to an event which justifies his love. He will hear plainly that the calls to war he heard before are really calls to peace. He will perceive that where he gave attack is but another altar where he can, with equal ease and far more happiness, bestow forgiveness. And he will reinterpret all temptation as just another chance to bring him joy.

How can a misperception be a sin? Let all your brother’s errors be to you nothing except a chance for you to see the workings of the Helper given you to see the world He made instead of yours. What, then, is justified? What do you want? For these two questions are the same. And when you see them as the same, your choice is made. For it is seeing them as one that brings release from the belief there are two ways to see. This world has much to offer to your peace, and many chances to extend your own forgiveness. Such its purpose is, to those who want to see peace and forgiveness descend on them, and offer them the light.

The Maker of the world of gentleness has perfect power to offset the world of violence and hate that seems to stand between you and His gentleness. [The world of violence and hate] is not there in His forgiving eyes. And therefore it need not be there in yours. (A Course in Miracles, T-25.III.6:1-8:3. See also ACIM Text Q & A.)

It is comforting to know that no matter how fearful, upsetting or depressing the world appears to be, we have help in our minds ready to guide us past it to the peace and joy God wills for us. But we must choose to accept the Help that is given us. As long as we believe we are a separate identity, housed in a body that can harm or be harmed, the world will continue to be an unhappy and fearful place.

But this belief can be changed if we are willing to accept the Holy Spirit’s help. We can choose to be happy. We can choose peace. We can choose to accept Love and extend Love instead of choosing the darkness of the ego thought system of lovelessness, guilt and fear. Every moment is an opportunity to accept the Holy Spirit’s vision which turns every perception in the world into an opportunity to forgive. We bring healing to the world by making this choice.

© 2017, Pathways of Light. http://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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