…[defense] gives illusions full reality, and then attempts to handle them as real. It adds illusions to illusions, thus making correction doubly difficult. And it is this you do when you attempt to plan the future, activate the past, or organize the present as you wish.
Defend the body and you have attacked your mind. …And you will impose upon the body all the pain that comes from the conception of the mind as limited and fragile, and apart from other minds and separate from its Source.
These are the thoughts in need of healing, and the body will respond with health when they have been corrected and replaced with truth. This is the body’s only real defense.
A healed mind does not plan. It carries out the plans that it receives through listening to wisdom that is not its own. It waits until it has been taught what should be done, and then proceeds to do it. It does not depend upon itself for anything except its adequacy to fulfill the plans assigned to it. (A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson 135, W-pI.135.1:2-4;9:1,4;10:1-2;11:1-4. See also ACIM Lesson 135 Insights.)
It is tempting to believe that our past experiences have taught us what to do to protect ourselves from harm and provide for our needs. This is the arrogance of the ego. It ego teaches that the past has meaning. The past does not exist in truth. The Holy Spirit knows that reality lies only in the eternal present.
The problem with the ego’s plans is that they are based on misperceptions from the past, ignoring the Reality in the present. The best it can do to plan for the future is to make up stories built upon mistaken memories of the past. Such plans cannot possibly lead us to safety in the presence of Love’s oneness.
Yet we have a Guide Who recognizes our misperceptions but has vision that sees beyond our limited perception in the world. He can see the effects of our thoughts and actions on all the world. His sole motive is to return our awareness to the oneness of Love which is shared with all. This is why we need to be vigilant in our practice to follow the Holy Spirit’s plans for us, not our own. The ego’s plans only increase fear. The Holy Spirit’s plans return us to the safety of Love.
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