Feeds:
Posts
Comments

What Does God Expect?

November 12, 2008 by zgardener

As children of the Most High we have a divine heritage and therefore a right to expect that God will take care of us in every way. The Bible is full of promises as to what God will do for His children, but perhaps Jesus put it the most plainly when he said,
 
What man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
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 7:9-11).
 
So you have a divine right to expect all these good things from God. But what does God expect of us? Well, God has a right to expect that we will put Him first in our hearts. Then God expects us to have a lively faith. Faith in itself is a reliance upon the goodness of God.
 
And lastly, God expects us to go to Him in prayer — as a son who knows that even before he has asked, the loving Father has answered.

That which God expects of us is no small thing. If we truly put him first, then we must put ourselves last. We must sublimate our will, our desires and our priorities to His. We must also believe and strive to follow His instructions for how we live our lives. That means refusing to judge, condemn, be afraid, doubt, worry, hate and the list goes on. We must forgive, love, rejoice, be grateful, be humble and that list goes on. Finally, we must commune with God a speak to him with our hearts and prayers. The good news is that God will love and protect us even when we fall short of these aspirations. But we must believe and we must try. That is what God expects.

Putting Him first,
Z gardener

Posted in Good Morning | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

Accept No Second-Bests

November 11, 2008 by zgardener

In the depths of his being man always feels intuitively that there is a way out of his difficulties if only he can find it. The infant, as yet uncontaminated by the defeatism of his elders, simply refuses to tolerate inharmony on any terms, and therefore he demonstrates over it. When he is hungry he tells the world while many a sophisticated adult goes without. Does he find a pin sticking in some part of his anatomy? Not for him a sigh of resignation to the supposed “will of God,” or a whine about never having any luck, or a sigh that what cannot be cured must be endured. His instincts tell him that life and harmony are inseparable.
Refuse to tolerate anything less than harmony. You can have a happy and joyous life. But to do so you must seize the rudder of your own destiny and steer boldly for the port that you intend to make. What are you doing about your future?
 
For not the hearers of the Law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified (Romans 2:13).

If we knew today was our last day, would we spend it fretting over our problems or cramming in every ounce of joy and harmony we could find? Would we grouse about our mate’s shortcomings or look into their eyes and profess our eternal love? Would we fuss about our children’s weaknesses or take them in our arms with tenderness and thanksgiving? Would we complain about getting up early for work or joyously breathe in the cool morning air with gratefulness and peace? Would we walk with our heads down filled with self-pity or with our head erect witnessing all the joy and blessings with which God has surrounded us? We all know the answer to these questions. The only question left is, will we live today as if it is our last while preparing to live each each additional day we have in harmony and appreciation for all God’s gifts?

Seizing the rudder,
Z gardener

 

Posted in Good Morning | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

Alter Your Life

November 10, 2008 by zgardener

There is no need to be unhappy. There is no need to be disappointed, or oppressed, or aggrieved. There is no need for illness or failure or discouragement. There is no necessity for anything but an abounding interest and joy in life.
As long as you accept a negative condition at its own valuation, so long will you remain in bondage to it; but you have only to assert your birthright as a free man or woman and you will be free.
Success and happiness are the natural conditions of mankind. It is actually easier to demonstrate these things than the reverse. Bad habits of thinking and acting may obscure this fact for a time, just as a wrong way of walking or sitting, or holding a pen, or musical instrument may seem to be easier than the proper way, because we have accustomed ourselves to it; but the proper way is the easier nevertheless.
Unhappiness, frustration, poverty, loneliness are really bad habits that their victims have become accustomed to bear, believing that there is no way out, whereas there is a way; and that way is simply to acquire good habits of working with the Law instead of against it.
 
Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law (Psalm 119:18).
 
It is our own perceptions and ways of thinking that block us from God’s infinite bounty and joy. These blessings bloom all around us but our eyes are blinded by the sense of self. The Garden God gave us is filled with the aroma of flowers and the warmth of the sun, yet our vanity, pride and ego dulls the senses and focuses us on the finite and mundane activities of the day. That is when fear and doubt enter our minds, clouding our judgement and concealing the truth that God wants us to be happy and joyful. Open our eyes this day Father and make us aware of your divine law of love and fullness.

Eyes wide open,
Z gardener

Posted in Good Morning | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

Your Invisible Dictaphone

November 7, 2008 by zgardener

           Your destiny depends entirely upon your own mental conduct. You may think that you know this already, but if you do not act upon it, it is certain that you do not really know it. Most people would be amazed to discover how much negative thinking they indulge in. Thought is so swift and habit is so strong that unless you are very careful you will constantly transgress.

Suppose that, quite without your knowledge, an invisible Dictaphone were strapped on your shoulders the first thing tomorrow morning, and that you carried it about all day until the last thing tomorrow night. Then suppose that this record were played over to you so that every word you had uttered for a whole day was repeated to you. Well, if you are an average human being you would probably be embarrassed. Yet it really does happen that everything we say, and think and do, is recorded – in the subconscious mind – and our daily experience is simply that record being played over to us by the Law of Being.
Never forget that the circumstances of your life tomorrow are molded by your mental conduct of today.
 
I have chosen the way of truth…(Psalm 119:30).

Let all of our thoughts, words and deeds this day, create the tomorrow for which we pray.

Thinking rightly,
Z gardener

Posted in Good Morning | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

You Are Always Treating

November 6, 2008 by zgardener

You are continually treating your conditions with the thoughts that you hold concerning them. What you really think about anything, is your “treatment” of that thing. Many people have the idea that they are only “treating” when they call it “treating.” But no matter what you call it, your thought concerning any subject is a treatment. This is the reason visible conditions are always the expression of invisible thought.

 
If you will begin systematically to treat every side of your life with a series of positive, correct thoughts, and keep to this practice for even a few weeks, you will be amazed to find how much everything will change for the better.
 
…be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…(Romans 12:2).

Just for today, try replacing each negative thought with it’s positive parallel. If you have an ache think of it as being well, if afraid of something declare it as a source of joy or if angry turn that anger into thoughts of peace. This will demonstrate two things. One is that disciplining one’s thoughts is very demanding. It will also demonstrate how much better the world is when we are thinking about it in a positive way. One other thing, it will become clear that how one sees the world is a matter of choice, not fate or external circumstances.

Seeing clearly,
Z gardener

Posted in Good Morning | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

Bluebeard Draws the Line

November 5, 2008 by zgardener

          We make spiritual progress by putting God into every corner of our lives. Most people on the spiritual path are willing to give God a generous portion of their lives, but there is often one little corner where they do not wish the divine Light to shine.

 
Bluebeard, you remember, kept open house, with the exception of one little room – and there he drew the line. His current wife, or any of the neighbors could go all over the premises and welcome, until they came to that one little room, the Bluebeard chamber, that was forbidden. Yet that one little locked-up room contained the tragedy of the house.
 
The contents of the Bluebeard room need not be anything that we usually call horrible. There may just be selfishness, laziness, spiritual pride, or any of the more “respectable” but very deadly sins. There may be an old grudge or bitter remorse.
 
Open every door of your soul to God. Have no place where the light of His presence does not shine.
 
The secret things belong unto the Lord our God… (Deuteronomy 29:29).

What if today we emptied ourselves of every grudge, resentment or shame that we carry? What if we let go of every fear, doubt and worry? What would our day be like if we spent it in grateful rejoicing and gladness? My guess is we would be so blessed that we could never go back.  Why don’t we find out?

Finding out,
Z gardener

Posted in Good Morning | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

God Says Now

November 4, 2008 by zgardener

           God’s time for your demonstration in now. The time God wants you to be healed is now. The time God wants you to be in your true place is now. The Bible says that the day of salvation is now.

 
God is ready the moment you are. There is nothing to wait for except the changing of your own consciousness. People often make the mistake of saying, “I know my demonstration will come at the right time.” But the only time to be harmonious and satisfied is now. The time to be happy is now and the place is here. Did not Jesus say, The kingdom of heaven is at hand, and by this he meant close by.
 
Do not keep yourself out of the Kingdom of Heaven by inventing postponements, but change your consciousness now, for it can all happen in a moment.
 

…that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed (Romans 13:11).

Wake up and know that all God has in store for us is within our reach today. God longs for us to live harmoniously in a happy and satisfied state.  Our consciousness is the only obstacle to our joy. The day we change our consciousness to that which God has ordained, is the day we arrive in the kingdom of heaven. Rejoice and know that submission to God’s will is the gateway through which we enter the Garden he created for us. Today is THE day the Lord has made. Will we rejoice and be glad in it?

Rejoicing,
Z gardener

 

Posted in Good Morning | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

Triumph Over Danger

November 3, 2008 by zgardener

Read Psalm 91.
 
Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet..
 
Here the lion stands for a difficulty of which we are so afraid that it seems to us a very lion in our path, rushing at us in the open. How different, on the other hand, is the attack of the adder, or snake; for it creeps upon us in the dark. And here we are promised that our complexes, dragons though they be, shall be dissolved by the realization of God. There is nothing that can be done by any form of psychotherapy that cannot be better done by the Practice of the Presence of God.
 
The last three verses are in themselves a glorious psalm of ringing joy and triumph.
Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him. There is nothing hypothetical or contingent here. The statement indicates the fixed decision – I will deliver him. And why? – because he has set his love upon me.
 
I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. In the bible the “name” of anything means the nature or character of that thing. Now the nature of God is perfect, omnipresent, all-powerful good, boundless love; and to “know” this is to be set on hand above all our difficulties.
 
The last two verses gather up all the implications and promises of this wonderful poem, and present them to the fearful or doubting heart as a song of triumph. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation. 
Now, either God is telling the truth here or He is not. There is no room for interpretation, no hazy symbolism or mysterious figures. God is promising to honor us and to deliver us from danger and fear if we “dwell with Him”. The only question is whether we believe Him enough to follow His will instead of our own. To quote Paul Simon “My will has been broken by my pride and my vanity”.
Following His will,
Z gardener
 

 

Posted in Good Morning | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

Our Promise

October 30, 2008 by zgardener

Read Psalm 91.

 
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. This clause has been taken to indicate some kind of favoritism on the part of God, whereas, of course, such a thing is impossible. It means simply that those who pray are saved from trouble that would otherwise overtake them, and that does, in fact, overtake those who do not pray.
 
Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. In the Bible, the word promise is the name given to a statement of some spiritual law. So, a Bible promise is a statement of the consequences that naturally follow from certain states of consciousness. If Boyle’s law were written in the Bible idiom, it would read something like this: “As I live, saith the Lord, whenever thou shalt double the pressure of a gas, thou shalt halve the volume, temperature remaining constant.” In the language of natural science, our Bible promise would run: “ By meditating regularly on the Presence of God with you, and directing your life in accordance with that fact, you become immune from any kind of danger.”

Being immune from danger is based upon “directing your life” in accordance with God’s presence. Frankly, that is a tall order. And honestly, we will never do this perfectly. However, the more successful we are at putting God in charge of our lives, the less danger and hurt we will experience. The good news is, with mental and spiritual discipline, we can become so proficient at directing our lives by God’s will that we can become virtually immune to danger. How much immunity we have depends upon how much we live with God in our lives and spirits. How safe do we really want to be?

Seeking more shelter,
Z gardener

Posted in Good Morning | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

Our Deliverance

October 29, 2008 by zgardener

Read Psalm 91.
 
And now the Word of Truth is represented as addressing you with an authoritative assurance that your prayer will be answered, that is some way or other – not necessarily in the way that you expect – you will be rescued from your difficulty.
 
Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wing shalt thou trust: His Truth shall be thy shield and buckler. You are to have no apprehension, for your protection is now assured in one of those illustrations from everyday life, in which the Bible abounds. The mother hen, at the slightest threat of danger, gathers the little chicks under her wings, covering them “with her feathers”; thus does God shield you from all danger once you have elected to trust Him. His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. It is the knowledge of the Truth about God and man that makes the demonstration.
 
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. The arrow that flieth by day and the destruction that wasteth at noon refer to any difficulty of which you are consciously aware. It is, so to say, a daytime problem. The terror by night and the pestilence that walketh in darkness, on the contrary, imply something that, unknown to you, is working in your subconscious mind. Modern psychology has shown that most of our difficulties have their roots in the depth of the subconscious. These are indeed terrors of the mental night and pestilences of the darkness.

To know and understand this is one of the great keys to peace. To have the confidence that God Almighty will deliver, cover and shield us gives us the authoritative sureness that we shall not be afraid of anything. If we continue to be afraid of anything, then we are not truly acknowledging this truth and are not dwelling in the secret place of the most high. In other words, we are not doing our part. When we do our part, God will most assuredly do His.

Under the wings,
Z gardener

Posted in Good Morning | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »