To access the Voice of God within, the seeker must be in a state of peace, undisturbed by fear or deep concerns. The question is, how is this to be accomplished when our very survival in this world forces us to focus on our many concerns. In addition to this, most have the added burden of assisting others who depend on them. After all, many sincere seekers have more fears related to letting down loved ones than of caring for their own needs.
Think back on the many movies you watched where the brave hero had little fear for his life as he confronted the bad guys, but then melted in fear after they captured and put a gun to the head of a loved one.
Fortunately, most of us do not encounter such extreme situations, but a loving parent still gets a taste of such fear when he is short on funds and feels he cannot take care of loved ones – or maybe has a sick child that he seems powerless to help.
Indeed there are dozens of situations we all face that call us to express concern and fear that seem to be great barriers to peace. Then, when one is at a low ebb, his peace may be disturbed by something quite trivial. Many seekers are somewhat ashamed of themselves for allowing themselves to be disturbed over small things. An upset over a small thing can create the same barrier to peace as an upset over a big thing.
If the strategy of the seeker is to wait for all concerns to pass so he can then obtain the peace, he will be waiting forever. As long as the attention is on this world there will always be concerns that can generate fear, and thus reinforce the barrier between the seeker and the kingdom of God within.
What, then, is to be done? After all, everyone but maybe a naked hermit living in the woods has to pay attention to his life in this world.
Here is the principle that needs to be absorbed:
There are two worlds, the material and the spiritual. If your focus is on the material the spiritual will be away from your consciousness, almost as if it did not exist.
If your focus is on the spiritual, the reverse will be true. It will be as if the material world does not exist and a deep peace will settle in.
The first focus is easy and everyone does it. The second is more difficult and requires a decision supported by the strength of will.
The seeker indeed must take care of business in the material world, but the secret is to only focus there as needed. Most people put much more focus in the world of illusion than required. For instance, if you have a problem at work, what good does it do to think about it all evening when you are a home and can do nothing about it?
To shift to a maximum amount to the spiritual world you must see yourself as the observer, as if watching a movie as you handle the cares of the world. Then when you have taken the steps to handle your problem, shut the movie off and focus on the real world of Spirit.
All have power, even in the midst or turmoil, to shift focus to the inner world and partake of the peace of God.
Your assignment today is to practice shifting your attention between the two worlds. Try once an hour to put your mind on hold and see the whole material world as a dream that has no effect on you. Then, for a minute or two, feel your consciousness shifting to the inner world. You will know you have achieved some success when you feel at peace.
The more distracting the circumstance you find yourself in, the more powerful will be the result of this exercise. Of course, use common sense in keeping enough attention on this world to avoid accidents.
Copyright by JJ Dewey
Day 28 - I will understand why I fear
Day 27 - I will find the source of my fears
Day 26 - False gods are sustained by desire
Day 25 - I will begin the journey home
Day 24 - I will trust the Inner Voice over the outer
Day 23 - Words hide truth as well as reveal
Day 22 - I will identify my outer gods
Day 21 - My first false gods
Day 20 - I will replace theory with experience
Day 19 - I am discovering the key to recognizing the true God
Day 18 - I will obey the first commandment
Day 17 - I accept the true God over the false today
Day 16 - I will find the source of guilt
Day 15 - I see a difference between guilt and regret
Day 14 - I will discover the cause of guilt
Day 13 - I will be honest about my feelings
Day 12 - I will let my feelings express themselves
Day 11 - I will communicate my grievances and let them go.
Day 10 - I will change my mind today
Day 9 - The Two Grievances
Day 8 - I will find my grievances
Day 7 - I will examine my feelings today
Day 6 - My feelings hide the light of the soul
Day 5 - I use my feelings; my feelings do not use me
Day 4 - I am not my feelings
Day 3 - I see this world for what it is
Day 2 - I See My Body For What It Is
Day 1 - Who or what am I?
NOTICE: Although posted here with permission of the author, I am not the originator of this content and should the originator eventually see fit to begin posting here, I will leave it to him.