[acimlessons_list] LESSON 348 - DECEMBER 14

[Sue Roth]

LESSON 348 - DECEMBER 14

"I have no cause for anger or for fear, 
For You surround me. And in every need 
That I perceive, Your grace suffices me."

PRACTICE INSTRUCTIONS

See complete instructions in separate document. 
A short summary:

* Read the commentary paragraph slowly and personally.

* Pray the prayer, perhaps several times.

* Morning and evening: Repeat the idea and then spend time in Open Mind
Meditation.

* Hourly remembrance: Repeat the idea and then spend a quiet moment in
meditation.

* Frequent reminders: Repeat the idea often within each hour.

* Response to temptation: Repeat the idea whenever upset, to restore peace.

* Read the "What Is" section slowly and thoughtfully once during the day.

COMMENTARY

"You surround me." Close your eyes and be quiet, and think of the Love or
Presence of God as a golden light. Imagine that light shining on the front
of you. Feel its warmth, its golden glow, like the radiance of the sun on a
bright, summer day.

Now, become aware of that same light behind you. The Love of God is shining
on you, front and back. Let yourself feel the safety of it.

The Presence of God is also on your right, and on your left. It is all
around you, above you and below you. You are surrounded by this golden
light, immersed in it. You are surrounded by perfect safety (1:5), perfect
benevolence. Allow yourself to feel what that is like.

In this Love there is no cause for anger or for fear. There is no cause for
anything except the perfect peace and joy you share with God.

	God's grace suffices us in everything that He would
	have us do. And only that we choose to be our will as
	well as His.	(2:1-2)

Whenever you can today, stop for a moment or two and visualize yourself
surrounded by the Love of God.

WHAT IS A MIRACLE?

Part 8: W-pII.13.4:2-3

There must be faith before a miracle: the desire to see it, the choice to
ask for what we cannot now see, and to believe that what our ego-generated
perception shows us is false. But when that faith arises, when we become
miracle-minded, that faith will produce its own vindication:

	Yet faith will bring its witnesses to show that
	what it rested on is really there.	(4:2)

When I place my faith in a miracle, there will be evidence-witnesses-to
prove that what I put my faith in truly exists. When, for instance, I am
willing to look past my brother's ego and to see the call for God in him,
something will happen that will witness to me that the call for God in him
is really there. Perhaps my forgiveness will be met with gratitude. Perhaps
my response of love will be met with love returning. Perhaps, in someone of
whom I never believed it possible, I will see a spark of light. Faith will
bring its witnesses.

	And thus the miracle will justify your faith in it,
	and show it rested on a world more real than what you
	saw before; a world redeemed from what you thought was
	there.	(4:3) 

My willingness to believe in love's presence will show me love's presence. I
will see what I choose to see. I will see that the world of spirit is more
real than the world of mere matter. Sickness will give way to health.
Sadness will be replaced with joy. Fear will be transformed to love. And
where I thought I saw sin and evil, I will see holiness and good.

It is the transformation of my mind that brings about a different world. It
is my readiness to invite the miracle that opens the way for it. The changes
in the world I see are not the miracle; they are its results. The miracle
<brings> witnesses; it reveals a world different from what I thought it was.
First, though, the change of mind, the faith. Then the witness to faith,
justifying it, validating it.