12d • General discussion
Lesson 50: I Am Sustained by the Love of God, discussion
This is one of my favorite lessons in the workbook. Feel free to look it up in your book or in your ACIM app, if you have one.
"Here is the answer to every problem that will confront you, today, tomorrow, and throughout time. In this world, you believe you are sustained by everything but God. Your faith is placed in the most trivial and insane symbols; pills, money, 'protective' clothing, influence, prestige, being liked, knowing the 'right' people, and an endless list of forms of nothingness that you endow with magical powers."
This first paragraph is mind-blowing to me. How does the author of this book know me so well? Pretty much everything I ever try to use to be successful or secure on my own is listed in the very first paragraph. It is incredibly true, and yet I did not fully realize how much my faith was going toward "nothingness." I love all of the "insane symbols," and I find nothing wrong with any of those. I think I just need to pay attention to my motives when using them. I need to remember that they are nice to have, but they are not the point of my life. Being loved by God, loving God and reflecting God's love to myself and others is the real point of my life.
"All these things are replacements for the love of God." "Do not put your faith in the worthless. It will not sustain you."
I LOVE how direct the author of ACIM is throughout the book. There is so much authority in the manner in which it is written. The worthless will not sustain me. How many times do I turn to the worthless for help when I can turn to God, who has all power, and ask Him for help?
"Only the Love of God will protect you in all circumstances." "It will transport you into a state of mind that nothing can threaten, nothing can disturb, and where nothing can intrude upon the eternal calm of the Son of God."
This whole paragraph is incredible to me, and I am only quoting part of it. If I can understand that the Love of God is so powerful, it will protect me in any circumstance, it would not be possible be afraid of anything. I have been sitting with this idea for a while today. If I can let this sink in, how I see everything will change.
One point I want to make is that it mentions the "Son of God" here, and I think this is where many Christians believe this is sacrilegious. Saying that we are the Sons of God. It is my interpretation that calling us "Sons of God" is meant to drive home the point that Jesus lives within us, and we are, in fact, God's sons. The pronouns can definitely be unsettling throughout the book because it is written in a masculine form. It is my understanding that it was written this way to drive home the point that we are all the same... we are all one. These attributes of the book may feel like stumbling blocks to you, but I would encourage you to keep reading it. This book in no way says that we are Jesus. Also, change the pronouns however you want to. Don't let these things stop you from reading this insightful book. This book has strengthened my love for Jesus, the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and God. I encourage you to continue reading it and decide for yourself.
"Put not your faith in illusions. They will fail you. Put all your faith in the Love of God within you; eternal, changeless, and forever unfailing." "It is a declaration of release from the belief in idols. It is your acknowledgement of the truth about yourself."
I love this so much. The part inside of me, which is referred to in the Psalms as the Secret Place of the Most High, is "eternal, changless and forever unfailing." And yet, I still look to the outside world for help. One thing that the book, A Course in Miracles, really drives home for me is that I am God's child and God lives in me...which means holiness lives in me. Please understand that it does not say that I am holy by myself. It says that I am only holy because of Who made me, and Who lives inside of me. If I can turn to the Love of Who lives inside of me for help, I will understand that I actually do not have any problems.
In the last paragraph of this lesson it says, "...allow peace to flow over you like a blanket of protection and surety. Let no idle and foolish thoughts enter to disturb the holy mind of the Son of God. Such is the Kingdom of Heaven. Such is the resting place where your Father has placed you forever."
We are getting into more language which can be confusing for us Christians. "The holy mind of the Son of God" sounds a little provocative and possibly controversial. I believe the author uses this terminology to drive home the fact that if Jesus lives inside of you, you are indeed Holy and you are indeed a son of God. You are one with Jesus when He is in your heart. You are not better than Jesus, and you are not the same as Jesus. But you are still one with Him. In John 14:20, Jesus says, "On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I am in you." This language is so hard for me to understand because it is hard to picture. When I realize it is spiritual rather than physical, I know it is impossible to picture. ACIM is very big on driving home the fact that Jesus is in the Father, and Jesus is in us, and we are in Him. It has actually helped me understand this concept more.
This particular lesson in the book is one of my absolute favorites. It is incredibly comforting to know that whatever happens, I am sustained by the love of God.
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Lesson 50: I Am Sustained by the Love of God, discussion
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