Good Morning Garden

A tragic mistake that is often made is to assume that the will of God is bound to be something very dull and uninviting, if not positively unpleasant. Consciously or not some persons look upon God as a hard taskmaster, or a severe parent. Too often their prayers amount to something like this: “Please God, give me such-and-such a boon, which I sorely need—but I don’t suppose you will, because you won’t think it is good for me.” Needless to say, a prayer of this sort is answered as all prayers are answered, according to the faith of the subject; that is to say, the boon is not granted. The truth is that the will of God for us always means greater freedom, greater self-expression, newer and brighter experience, wider opportunity of service to others—life more abundant.

God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16).

It is God’s will that we all live in peace, joy, gladness and harmony. But just as any parent must do, God must correct and direct us to keep us from going astray. The farther we veer from God’s path, the greater the correction and stronger the direction become. That is not because God wants us to suffer. Quite the contrary. It is because God wants us to be happy and we are wandering from the path God knows will get us there. If we are to experience the best in life, we must follow God’s will and accept the consequences when we stray. That is not God’s will but our willfulness.

Seeking the gracious will of God,
Z gardener

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Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matthew 7:13-14).

There is only one way under the sun by which man can attain salvation, in the true sense of the word, and that is by bringing about a radical and permanent change for the better in his own consciousness.

For countless generations humanity has been trying in every other conceivable way to compass its own good. This change in consciousness is the strait gate that Jesus speaks of here, and, and he says, the number of those who find it is comparatively small.

Now why should man be so reluctant, apparently, to try to change his consciousness? The answer is that the changing of one’s consciousness is really very hard work, calling for constant unceasing vigilance and a breaking of mental habits. Entering the strait gait is, however, worth much more than whatever trouble or effort it may call for.

If you make a qualitative, change in consciousness, which is what happens in prayer, then not only is the effect of that change felt in every department of your life, but it is with you through all eternity, for you never can lose it. Thieves cannot break in and steal.

As soon as you obtain this spiritual consciousness you will find that all things indeed work together for good to those who love God.

If most humans were convinced that a certain behavior and belief systems would win them the Power ball lottery, they would immediately go about adopting such behaviors and beliefs in a disciplined and diligent fashion. The same could probably be said for losing weight or looking young. We see people jumping on a new fad every day to get rich, lose weight or look younger. Yet, how much more important is our earthly peace and our eternal joy in heaven.

Betting on God,
Z gardener

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Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law of the prophets (Matthew 7:12).

Here in the sublime precept that we call the Golden Rule, Jesus reiterates that great Law in a concise summing up. This repetition follows upon his wonderful statement of the fatherhood of God. The underlying explanation for the existence of the great law is the fact that we are fundamentally all parts of the Great Mind. Because we are all ultimately one, to hurt another is really to hurt oneself, and to help another is really to help oneself. The fatherhood of God compels us to accept the brotherhood of man, and spiritually, brotherhood is unity.

This truth is among the easiest to understand and the hardest to implement in our daily lives. Yet, it is the most fundamental of the Bible’s instructions on human interaction. Ignoring the metaphysical truth of our brotherhood and sisterhood, even the practical and material applications of this rule are abundantly clear. Without some version of this rule our society would be impossible. It underlies our system of justice, it moderates all human interaction and it forms the practical foundation of successful government. It is the ultimate determiner of fairness, equity and peace.

Z gardener

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The most mischievous thing in life is man’s reluctance to perceive his own dominion. God has given us dominion over all things, but we shrink like frightened children from assuming it, although that assuming is the one and only escape for us.

Jesus, who knew the human heart, and understood our weakness in this respect, commands us,

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened (Matthew 7:7-8).

Is not this the Magna Carta of personal freedom for every man, woman, and child on earth? Is not this the decree of the emancipation of the slaves of every kind of bondage, physical, mental, or spiritual? We have no business accepting ill-health, or poverty, or sinfulness, or strife, or unhappiness, or remorse, with resignation. We have no right to accept anything less than freedom and harmony and joy, for only with these things do we glorify God, and express His holy will, which is our raison d’etre.

We are to reorganize our lives in accordance with his teaching, continuously and untiringly until our goal is attained. That this attainment, that our victory over every negative condition is not merely possible but is definitely promised to us, finds its proof in these glorious words.

This startling reality can be one of the hardest biblical truth for humans to grasp. It places full responsibility on us for our mental state and our physical environment. It also demands that we accept personal responsibility for any lack of dominion we endure. It strips us of our ability to rationalize that which afflicts us and forces us to exercise power that scares us. As former slaves found out, freedom is not easy. Folks, it ain’t easy being God’s children either.

Accepting the mantle,
Z gardener

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If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him? (Matthew 7:11).

We are the children of God; and if children, then sons, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ, as Paul says. At the present time we find ourselves full of limitations and disabilities because we are spiritually but children—minors. Children are irresponsible, lacking in wisdom and experience, and have to be kept under control lest their mistakes should entail serious consequences to themselves.

…That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
But is under tutors and governors…(Galatians 4:1).

But when the fullness of time is come, he realizes that it is the voice of God Himself that is in his heart, making him cry: “Abba Father.” Then at last he knows that he is the son of a great king, and that all his Father has is his for the using, whether it be health, or supply, or opportunity, or beauty, or joy, or any other of the thoughts of God.

When we recognize and accept God as our father and allow ourselves to be guided, controlled and directed by our heavenly father, we claim our inheritance as children of God. Then if we follow the will of our heavenly father and are obedient and steadfast in our words, thoughts sand deeds, we mature spiritually and become full heirs of the love, power and grace of God. This is a process, not an event. Just as we are born helpless and ignorant, then grow into adults, so spiritually must we grow learn and mature to become fully developed spirits. Then we will have dominion over all of creation and can fill our garden with all that God has to offer.

Processing daily,
Z gardener

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Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
(Matthew 7:6).

Intelligence is just as essential a part of the Christian message as is love. God is love, but God is also infinite intelligence, and unless these two qualities are balanced in our lives, we do not get wisdom; for wisdom is the perfect blending of intelligence and love. Love without intelligence may do much unintended harm—and intelligence without love may result in clever cruelty. All true Christian activity will express wisdom.

Never rely upon your own judgment to say who is ready for the Truth and who is not, but rely for guidance upon the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. If you are praying regularly every day for wisdom, and fresh opportunities for service, the right people will be brought to you.

Remember that those with whom you associate closely will have your personal conduct under constant inspection. The quickest way to spread the Truth is by living the life yourself. Then people will notice the change in you and they will come round of their own accord, begging to share your secret.

As believers, we will set the standards by which others gauge our faith and our willingness to manifest that faith. Our behavior is the greatest witness to our faith and its power in the physical world. If we are to bring others into awareness and acceptance of God, then we must be the expression of God’s love here below. While we should not cast our pearls before the swine and dogs, cast them we must. And if a few get trampled, we are no less for it, we just learn not to cast them there again.

Expressing faith,
Z gardener

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The student having now gained an understanding of what the Great Law is and how it works, is in a position to take the next great step and understand how it is possible to rise above even the Great Law itself, in the name of the CHRIST.

This does not mean that the laws of the physical or mental planes are broken. It means that man, because of his essential divine selfhood, has the power of rising above these domains into the infinite dimension of Spirit where such laws no longer affect him. The law of reaping what one sows, often called the Law of Karma, is actually law for mind only; it is not law for Spirit. In Spirit all is perfect and eternal, unchanging good.

So man has the choice of Karma or Christ. This is the best news that has ever come to mankind, and for that reason it is called the glad tidings, or the Gospel. Karma turns out to be inexorable only so long as you do not pray. For any given mistake, you must either suffer the consequences, which we call being punished, or wipe them out by the Practice of the Presence of God.

It must not be supposed, however, that the consequences of a mistake are to be cheaply evaded by a perfunctory prayer. Sufficient realization of God to alter fundamentally the character of the sinner is required in order to wipe out the punishment that otherwise must always follow upon sin. When the sinner becomes a changed man, and will not even desire to repeat his sin, then is he saved, for Christ is Lord of Karma.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
(Romans 12:2).

As we look forward to a new year and decade with hope, confidence and anticipation, let us remember that all the good and joyful things we hope for are within our grasp if we reach first for God. When we begin each day with the Holy Spirit guiding us, there is no goal beyond our reach. And better yet, any goal we do attain will be good for us and those we love.

Happy Holy New Year,
Z gardener

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