Spiritual Solutions

PATIENCE

29th Day, Monday. Read Hebrews 11:17-40; 12:1-6.

Patience is a state of mind that beholds the world from the harmony of the Christ Mind, a freedom from personal thinking. It is an attitude of mind characterized by poise, calmness, and a quiet restful trust, especially in the face of trying conditions. It has its foundation in love. “Great peace have they that love thy law; and they have no occasion of stumbling.”

The first requisite in the development of patience is spiritual understanding. The larger our vision of life, the more freedom we feel, and we are spared the friction and frettings that come to those who are centered in personality.

Whether one is patient or not depends on our view of life. If we are selfish and self-centered and live in a material world, bound by our own interests, we lack the qualities that go to make up patience.

We may take the gift of patience and make use of it. We may receive it by faith, and then work it out in every department of our being by daily practice of Truth.

Patience gives self-control. We unfold the capacity to direct our behavior in right ways, a result of spirituality.

I realize that I am feeding my consciousness on divine patience. When my thoughts are in harmony with divine law, they develop my body into God’s beautiful, indestructible temple. “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith.”

I affirm: “The serene, calm, trustful Spirit now accomplishes all the desires of my heart. I rest in peace.”

Questions:

1. Define “patience.”

2. What is the first requisite in developing patience?

3. What happens if we are self-centered and live in a material world?

4. What does patience give us?

I am patient, for my faith in God assures me that all things in my life are working together for my good.

Remember, God is Blessing You, Right Now!

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 Rev. Alan A. Rowbotham, a Unity minister for over forty years, invites you to subscribe to his free inspirational newsletter, Spiritual Solutions.

Please feel free to publish this article in your blog or newsletter or share it with a friend, as long as you include this resource box.

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Today, Monday, April 11, is the twenty-ninth day of Lent. Lent is the period of time during which we can prepare ourselves for the Easter experience.
 
 
Assignment 29
 
We must understand this world in which we live. We must know it has its right place in the scheme of life. We must not become “spiritually bound.” To be “spiritually bound” is to be off balance spiritually, to go overboard in that direction. We must remember we are physical, mental, and spiritual beings and we must keep our balance in all three. To be truly spiritual is to live in this threefold awareness.
 
There is not a world to overcome if you mean by overcoming, “to fight.” There is a rare old meaning to the word overcome, it means to “spread and flow over.” We must let the spirit of us; the love of us spread and flow over the mind and body of us until we are a perfectly integrated being. This is balance and this is the truth of the whole person. We must remember in trying times, we are being tried but only that we may grow strong and true. To overcome is to keep one’s peace. To keep one’s peace is to be patient.
 
Much of moving through worldly experiences depends on the growing influence of patience in our lives. Patience is akin to love. Patience is the art of waiting, the ability to stand still undisturbed because we are aware of “so much more” than the situation at hand or the act of waiting. Patience is a quiet trust that takes command of the situation. Patience is non-resistance and non-resistance is the greatest power on earth. To “resist not” is man’s highest expression of being. It is a constant alertness and reassurance, while we are waiting for the real to come through.
 
We think of patience as long suffering, and endurance, and we come to a state of mind where we give up and feel the uselessness of going on. The word “suffer” means to “allow” and when we allow anything we permit or approve it. The truest meaning of suffering is to “bear” and to bear is to bring forth.
 
Patience is the ability to let the good of God come forth through us. We are to allow it and to bring forth or complete it; because there is but one power and that power is always working for our highest good. Jesus said, “If patience possess you, you shall win your soul” (Luke 21:19) and “Bring forth fruit with patience.” (Luke 8:15)
 
 
(This series of Lenten messages was first developed by Unity minister Dr. Sue Sikking, founder of Unity-by-the-Sea, Santa Monica, California, author of God Always Says Yes and Seed of the New Age.)
 
 
God is Blessing You, Right Now!
 
Rev. Alan A. Rowbotham
 
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Rev. Alan A. Rowbotham, a Unity minister for over thirty-nine years, invites you to subscribe to his free inspirational newsletter, Spiritual Solutions, at www.spiritualsolutionsblog.com
 
To subscribe for free weekday inspirational quotes, Rich Words, go to www.alanrowbotham.com
 
Feel free to share this article in its entirety with a friend.
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Life is exciting! 

There’s just so much you can achieve.

Yet in the desire to attain success, impatience can set in.

If you let impatience rule, then you start looking for ways to speed towards the outcome and in doing so neglect the vital foundations that you need to get there.

Often, it pays to be ’slow but sure’ rather than ‘fast and rash.’

After all, giant oaks rise slowly from tiny acorns. It takes years of patience for a tree to grow. There are no short-cuts for the oak … no quick growing formula. It all takes time and nourishment.

As that acorn takes root, pushes through the soil and grows up under the light, it begins to establish its foundations in order to be strong and tall.

Its only goal is to become a great oak tree and it becomes just that in its own time.

So, first things first … focus on your roots or foundations.

Sai Baba said…

“A house must be built on solid foundations if it is to last. The same principle applies to man, otherwise he too will sink back into the soft ground and becomes swallowed up by the world of illusion.”

Whether you wish to succeed in business, sport, science, the arts or simply as being the best person you could possibly be, make sure your foundations are strong.

These solid foundations will carry you so much further through life. You’ll be able to depend upon them. 

Concentrate on what needs to be done.

Don’t cheat because you’ll only be cheating yourself.

Stay focused, work productively, prioritize what needs to be accomplished and just do it!

Remember, all things have their time.

So, like the oak, grow firm roots and success will follow.

(Thanks to Karl Moore, of www.KarlBlog.com for another great article)

God is Blessing You, Right Now!

Rev. Alan A. Rowbotham

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In the Second Letter from the book, The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence, we learned again of his early trials in seeking to practice the presence but also that he stayed in faith and continued his practice. He quit all other devotions and practices in favor of a simple attention to God’s holy presence and a silent, secret conversation of the soul with God. It is interesting that when speaking of his soul he speaks of it as having a feminine nature, calling his soul “She.”

Even when his mind wanders from his attention to God’s presence, he finds himself recalled by what he refers to as “inward motions so charming and delicious” that he is afraid to mention them to his correspondent and says he would rather that the Reverend reflect upon his wretchedness than upon the great favors which God does him. It’s rather like any one of us who, upon receiving some kind of good, can’t believe our good fortune and feel that if we delight in it too much somehow it could be taken away from us.

In that regard, let me remind you that nothing is too good to be true. And do not feel that to experience the presence of God in a continual and delightful way is delusional because, as Brother Lawrence says, the soul which thus enjoys God desires herein nothing but Him. And if this be delusion, it belongs to God to remedy it.

Let us now turn to the THIRD LETTER:

We have a God who is infinitely gracious and knows all our wants. I always thought that He would reduce you to extremity. He will come in His own time, and when you least expect it. Hope in Him more than ever; thank Him with me for the favors He does you, particularly for the fortitude and patience which He gives you in your afflictions. It is a plain mark of the care He takes of you. Comfort yourself, then, with Him, and give thanks for all.

I admire also the fortitude and bravery of Mr. ________. God has given him a good disposition and a good will; but there is in him still a little of the world and a great deal of youth. I hope the affliction which God has sent him will prove a wholesome remedy to him, and make him enter into himself. It is an accident which should engage him to put all his trust in Him who accompanies him everywhere. Let him think of Him as often as he can, especially in the greatest dangers.

A little lifting up of the heart suffices. A little remembrance of God, one act of inward worship, though upon a march, and a sword in hand, are prayers, which, however short, are nevertheless very acceptable to God; and far from lessening a soldier’s courage in occasions of danger, they best serve to fortify it.

Let him then think of God the most he can. Let him accustom himself, by degrees, to this small but holy exercise. No one will notice it, and nothing is easier to repeat often in the day these little internal adorations. Recommend to him, if you please, that he think of God the most he can, in the manner here directed. It is very fit and most necessary for a soldier, who is daily exposed to the dangers of life. I hope that God will assist him and all the family, to whom I present my service, being theirs and

Yours, etc.

FOURTH LETTER

I have taken this opportunity to communicate to you the sentiments of one of our society, concerning the admirable effects and continual assistances which he receives from the presence of God. Let you and me both profit by them.

You must know his continual care has been, for about forty years past that he has spent in religion, to be always with God, and to do nothing, say nothing, and think nothing which may displease Him, and this without any other view than purely for the love of Him, and because He deserves infinitely more.

He is now so accustomed to the divine presence that he receives from it continual succors upon all occasions. For about thirty years his soul has been filled with joys so continual, and sometimes so great, that he is forced to use means to moderate them, and to hinder their appearing outwardly.

If sometimes he is a little too much absent from that divine presence, God presently makes Himself to be felt in his soul to recall him, which often happens when he is most engaged in his outward business.

He answers with exact fidelity to these inward drawings, either by an elevation of his heart toward God, or by a meek and fond regard to Him; or by such words as love forms upon these occasions, as, for instance, My God, here I am all devoted to Thee. Lord, make me according to Thy heart. And then it seems to him (as in effect he feels it) that this God of love, satisfied with such few words, reposes again, and rests in the fund and center of his soul.

The experience of these things gives him such an assurance that God is always in the fund or bottom of his soul that it renders him incapable of doubting it upon any account whatever.

Judge by this what content and satisfaction he enjoys, while he continually finds in himself so great a treasure. He is no longer in an anxious search after it, but has it open before him, and may take what he pleases of it.

He complains much of our blindness, and cries often that we are to be pitied who content ourselves with so little. God, saith he, has infinite treasure to bestow, and we take up with a little sensible devotion, which passes in a moment.  Blind as we are, we hinder God and stop the current of His graces. But when He finds a soul penetrated with a lively faith, He pours into it His graces and favors plentifully; there they flow like a torrent, which, after being forcibly stopped against its ordinary course, when it has found a passage, spreads itself with impetuosity and abundance.

Yes, we often stop this torrent by the little value we set upon it. But let us stop it no more; let us enter into ourselves and break down the bank which hinders it. Let us make way for grace; let us redeem the lost time, for perhaps we have but little left. Death followed us close; let us be well prepared for it; for we die but once, and a miscarriage there is irretrievable.

I say again, let us enter into ourselves. The time presses, there is no room for delay; our souls are at stake. I believe you have taken such effectual measures that you will not be surprised. I commend you for it; it is the one thing necessary.

We must, nevertheless, always work at it, because not to advance in the spiritual life is to go back. But those who have the gale of the Holy Spirit go forward even in sleep. If the vessel of our soul is stil tossed with winds and storms, let us awake the Lord, who reposes in it, and He will quickly calm the sea.

I have taken the liberty to impart to you these good sentiments, that you may compare them with your own. It will serve again to kindle and inflame them, if by misfortune (which God forbid, for it would be indeed a great misfortune) they should be, though never so little, cooled.

Let us then both recall our first fervors. Let us profit by the example and the sentiments of this brother, who is little known of the world, but known of God, and extremely caressed by Him. I will pray for you; do you pray incessantly for me, who am, in our Lord,

Yours, etc.

God is Blessing You Right Now!

Rev. Alan A. Rowbotham

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 Rev. Alan A. Rowbotham, a Unity minister for over thirty-six years, invites you to enjoy more articles and/or subscribe to his free inspirational newsletter, Spiritual Solutions or go directly to the Spiritual Solutions Blog

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