Daily Inspiration for Living A Course in Miracles

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Our Guide to Forgiveness

The real world still is but a dream.… What was once a dream of judgment now has changed into a dream where all is joy, because that is the purpose that it has. Only forgiving dreams can enter here, for time is almost over. And the forms that enter in the dream are now perceived as brothers, not in judgment, but in love.

Forgiveness, once complete, brings timelessness so close the song of Heaven can be heard, not with the ears, but with the holiness that never left the altar that abides forever deep within the Son of God. And when he hears this song again, he knows he never heard it not. (A Course in Miracles, T-29.IX.7:1,6-7;8:5-6. See also ACIM Text Q & A.)

Judgment makes the world of separation seem real. Judgment is a declaration of guilt and begins with judgment of ourselves. When we judge another, it is simply an attempt to free ourselves from the guilt our self-judgment brings. Yet it actually keeps the guilt in place, making release from guilt impossible.

But release from guilt comes automatically when its cause is removed. Forgiveness stops judgment, removing the cause of guilt. In the reality of Love’s oneness, there is no judgment and no need to forgive. But in the dream of judgment, forgiveness is the alternative to judgment that leads directly to the end of guilt.

The Holy Spirit is our Guide to forgiveness. As we practice turning all our judgments over to Him to judge on our behalf, we are able to forgive. The Holy Spirit judges all things as either real or unreal. His Light shines through the our mistaken judgments, showing us their unreality. What we recognize as unreal is easily let go so we can see the Love in every brother. Today is a great day to practice.

© 2015, Pathways of Light. http://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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Seek Only Innocence

Perception has a focus. It is this that gives consistency to what you see. Change but this focus, and what you behold will change accordingly. Your vision now will shift, to give support to the intent which has replaced the one you held before. Remove your focus on your brother’s sins, and you experience the peace that comes from faith in sinlessness. (A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson 181, W-pI.181.2:1-5. See also ACIM Lesson 181 Insights.)

As we practice seeking only innocence, it brings us such happiness… such peace… such joy… Let us practice seeing past the body and its behavior today to seeing the loving innocence of our brothers. We will help ourselves and the world. It is worth the vigilance.

© 2015, Pathways of Light. http://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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The Certainty of Love

[God] speaks from nearer than your heart to you. His Voice is closer than your hand. His Love is everything you are and that He is; the same as you, and you the same as He.

It is your voice to which you listen as He speaks to you. It is your word He speaks. It is the Word of freedom and of peace, of unity of will and purpose, with no separation nor division in the single Mind of Father and of Son. In quiet listen to your Self today, and let Him tell you God has never left His Son, and you have never left your Self. (A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson 125, W-pI.125.7:2-4;8. See also ACIM Lesson 125 Insights.)

God cannot forget His Son, and our Self is His Son. We remain eternally in God, safe within His Love.

The world of separate bodies is a dream of being without God. Yet we are still God’s Son, not as individual identities, but as the one Self God created. This can never change. But when we identify with the body as what we are, we deny our Self and deny our unity with God. We feel unloved and search the world for Love, where it cannot be found.

This is why we need to take time to step back and let ourselves quietly sink into the peace within our hearts. This peace is the peace of God. It is where we find our Self and remember we are eternally held in the Arms of Love. The Voice of our true Self eternally brings us the Word of Love. We need only let ourselves hear Its message, which reminds us of our Home, our safety and the certainty of ever-present Love

© 2015, Pathways of Light. http://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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Following Holy Spirit All Through the Day

To follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance is to let yourself be absolved of guilt. It is the essence of the Atonement. It is the core of the curriculum. The imagined usurping of functions not your own is the basis of fear. The whole world you see reflects the illusion that you have done so, making fear inevitable. To return the function to the One to Whom it belongs is thus the escape from fear. And it is this that lets the memory of love return to you. Do not, then, think that following the Holy Spirit’s guidance is necessary merely because of your own inadequacies. It is the way out of hell for you. (A Course in Miracles, M-29.3:3-11)

Our practice for today is to trust Holy Spirit’s plan for us. Our practice for today is to open our minds to receive Holy Spirit’s peace… to feel the awareness of Love’s Presence… to remember that Holy Spirit will carry us as we are willing to step back and receive His care…

We are so grateful to receive the knowing that we are safe in Holy Spirit’s Arms… As we are wiling to join as one mind with the Holy Spirit, we are able to see that same safety, kindness, gentleness and patience in every brother we see or even think of… We remember that this is the truth, no matter what the story of the world looks like… Everyone remains safe in God and is safe like we are…

We all are still as God created us, whole, perfect and complete, one with God in every way… We relax in this remembering… We are willing to play our part by following Holy Spirit all through the day. For this we give thanks.

© 2015, Pathways of Light. http://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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Choosing the Way to Happiness

There are two teachers only, who point in different ways. And you will go along the way your chosen teacher leads. There are but two directions you can take, while time remains and choice is meaningful.

…why should you waste [time] going nowhere, when it can be used to reach a goal as high as learning can achieve? Think not the way to Heaven’s gate is difficult at all. Nothing you undertake with certain purpose and high resolve and happy confidence, holding your brother’s hand and keeping step to Heaven’s song, is difficult to do. But it is hard indeed to wander off, alone and miserable, down a road that leads to nothing and that has no purpose. (A Course in Miracles, T-26.V.1:7-9;2:3-6. See also ACIM Text Q & A.)

In every moment we are choosing either the ego or the Holy Spirit as our teacher. It seems easier to choose the ego. It is a long, established and familiar habit. There seems to be comfort in the familiar and the ego’s options are the first to come to mind.

But the Holy Spirit offers us the way to perfect happiness and peace that cannot be disturbed. The ego’s options never offer this, though sometimes it appears to offer fleeting instances that we deem good or desirable. Yet even in these happy moments that we know within are temporary, we are waiting for something undesirable that is sure to follow.

So in every moment we are choosing between unpredictable chaos and the certainty of God’s changeless Love, perfect happiness and eternal peace. It seems like choosing Holy Spirit’s lead is the obvious decision. But old habits that lead in the opposite direction need to be let go.

To do this we need to be vigilant to recognize when we are choosing the ego and turn the other way. It can be as simple as pausing, taking a deep breath and relaxing to make way for Holy Spirit’s inspiration. Sometimes it may take more focus to shift in the direction of Holy Spirit’s lead. But the payoff is perfect happiness. We are worth the effort.

© 2015, Pathways of Light. http://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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Releasing Ourselves from Fear Thoughts

What gives rise to the perception of a whole world can hardly be called idle. Every thought you have contributes to truth or to illusion; either it extends the truth or it multiplies illusions.

Besides your recognizing that thoughts are never idle, salvation requires that you also recognize that every thought you have brings either peace or war; either love or fear. A neutral result is impossible because a neutral thought is impossible. There is such a temptation to dismiss fear thoughts as unimportant, trivial and not worth bothering about that it is essential you recognize them all as equally destructive, but equally unreal. (A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson 16, W-pI.16.2:2-3;3:1-3. See also ACIM Lesson 16 Insights.)

A distinguishing characteristic of all fear thoughts is that they disturb our peace. Fear thoughts show up in many forms, some of which we may not think of as fear thoughts. Jealousy, impatience, sadness, irritation, all are forms of fear thoughts, for they all disturb our peace. They are as equally destructive as intense rage because they all stem from the mistaken idea that we are separate, which is the denial of the oneness of Love we were created to be.

Thankfully we are not stuck in the illusion of justified fear. We have help in our minds to teach us to recognize that what we thought was cause for fear was really nothing. The practice of opening our hearts and minds to the Holy Spirit’s loving, patient teaching will help free us from the destructive thoughts of fear so that they are freely replaced by our natural ongoing extension of Love. As we extend Love, we experience God’s gift of peace.

© 2015, Pathways of Light. http://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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Finding a New Way of Living in the World

Forgiveness gently looks upon all things unknown in Heaven, sees them disappear, and leaves the world a clean and unmarked slate on which the Word of God can now replace the senseless symbols written there before.… Forgiveness lets the body be perceived as what it is; a simple teaching aid, to be laid by when learning is complete, but hardly changing him who learns at all.

Only forgiveness can relieve the mind of thinking that the body is its home. Only forgiveness can restore the peace that God intended for His holy Son. Only forgiveness can persuade the Son to look again upon his holiness. (A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson 192, W-pI.192.4:1,3;5:5-7. See also ACIM Lesson 192 Insights.)

We have the means by which to return to peace and happiness. As our willingness to open to the Holy Spirit grows, we are gently led to wake up from the dream. We are gently led to follow instead of deciding things on our own.

We have the means, right within our mind. Our willingness to forgive opens the door to see the world differently. The more we relax and listen, and follow as we are led, we find a new way of living in this world. Forgiveness paves the way to happiness and peace beyond what we thought possible. And for this we give thanks.

© 2015, Pathways of Light. http://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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