You cannot claim too much for yourself provided you claim the same thing for all other human beings. In fact, it is our duty to claim all good things and to continue claiming them until they demonstrate in our outer experience. Of course, this law works both ways and therefore you must be very careful not to claim the negative things that you do not want.
On the western ranches the owner of a steer brands it with his name, “Bar A Ranch” or some such cipher. Then if it should wander into strange territory, it will always be returned to him. On the other hand, when an animal without his brand wanders into his corral, he says, “Than is not my steer,” and out it goes.
Many a foolish person puts his mental brand on a steer that he does not want in the least, and is surprised when the animal stays obstinately at home. People say my rheumatism, my forgetfulness, my poverty, et cetera, branding the steers they do not want instead of turning them out of the corral.
When you really want something, brand it deeply with your own name and it will be yours.
… but every one … shall keep himself to his own inheritance (Numbers 36:9).
What we brand as ours is important. Yet, how we brand ourselves is even more critical to our welfare and drives what we brand as ours. It also determines our ultimate success. If we don’t really believe we deserve happiness and joy, it will escape us. Whether due to some past or current mistake or weakness; insecurity about our motives or goodness; or lack of self respect foisted on us by others; our negative opinion of ourselves is the foundation of our negative outlook and actions toward life and others.
That is why we must accept the truth that God loves us unconditionally. That is not to say that we should ignore, gloss over or rationalize our faults. In fact, the exact opposite is true. That is what the season of Lent gives us the opportunity to do. To look inside and identify those traits we need to bury. Yet even with these faults, God loves us and desires the best good for us. It is that unconditional love that gives us the ability and the obligation to claim the best for ourselves and those we love. So, when we claim something, let us be sure that it fulfills God’s wish that we rejoice and be glad in all things.
Staking a claim to joy and health,
Z gardener
Good Morning Garden 
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