LESSON SEVENTY ONE

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: The Course text is in bold face. The Guidance is in normal type In His Guidance, He has asked Me to capitalize the pronouns You and We as an acknowledgement of the Divinity of All of Us, an acknowledgement of Equality, an expression of His Love and respect for You. When You see the word ‘YOU’ capitalized in the Guidance, know that He is not just speaking to YOU, He is honoring YOU.

Workbook PART I

Lesson 71

Only God’s plan for salvation will work.

Well, of course!  Who could have a better one than the Master Planner of all things that are both good and real?

¹ You may not realize that the ego has set up a plan for salvation in opposition to God’s. It is this plan in which you believe. It is amazing how much faith You put in the ego, for You firmly believe that it’s Your own mind; and not the interloper that it is. Since it is the opposite of God’s, – the plan of ego – you also believe that to accept God’s plan in place of the ego’s is to be damned. This sounds preposterous, of course. (It sounds preposterous because it is!) Yet after we have considered just what the ego’s plan is, perhaps you will realize that, however preposterous it may be, you do believe it. For You have long taught Yourself to trust in the ego.  One of its pseudohyms, most popular, is “self-reliance”.  It is divisiveness but masquerading as a virtue.  Don’t be fooled by it.

² The ego’s plan for salvation centers around holding grievances. It maintains that if someone else spoke or acted differently, if some external circumstance or event were changed, you would be saved.  In other words: it’s their fault, never Yours. Thus the source of salvation is constantly perceived as outside yourself.  Things will be better when They change, not Me!  Thus You are innocent, and They are the Ones who are guilty.

³ Each grievance you hold is a declaration and an assertion in which you believe that says, “If this were different, I would be saved.” The blame belongs to every One but Me! How incredibly innocent I am! The change of mind that is necessary for salvation is thus demanded of everyone and everything except yourself. It’s pretty tricky; it gives You a “Masters” in projection!  You can pat Yourself on the back and say: “Good job Son of God! You are not guilty.”

⁴ The role assigned to your own mind in this plan, then, is simply to determine what other than itself must change if you are to be saved. According to this insane plan, any perceived source of salvation is acceptable, provided that it will not work. That’s typical of the ego motto: Seek and do not find. This ensures that the fruitless search will continue, for the illusion persists that, although this hope has always failed, there are still grounds for hope in other places and in other things. Another person will yet serve better; another situation will yet offer success.  All problems are perceived to be “out there”: it’s a Brother, it’s the economy, or, better yet than all of these, it’s fate!

⁵ Such is the ego’s plan for your salvation. Surely you can see how it is in strict accord with the ego’s basic doctrine, “Seek but do not find.” For what could more surely guarantee that you will not find salvation than to channelize all your efforts in searching for it where it is not? The ego is truly brilliant at unproductivity!

⁶ God’s plan for salvation works simply because, by following His direction, you seek for salvation where it is. Turn quietly with all Your heart to God. Listen peacefully – or hear in upset – for His loving ever-Presence to communicate with You. It’s not difficult. But if you are to succeed, as God promises you will, you must be willing to seek there only. Don’t get distracted by the ego’s ploys, which do split Your mind! Otherwise your purpose is divided, and you will attempt to follow two plans for salvation which are diametrically opposed in all ways. The ego’s aim for You is that You always seek fruitlessly. Failure is its one goal; for You, that is! The result can only bring confusion, misery, and a deep sense of failure and despair.

The ego mindset can never help You.

⁷ How can you escape all this? Very simply. The idea for today is the answer. Only God’s plan for salvation will work. There can be no real conflict about this, because there is no possible alternative to God’s plan that will save you. His is the only plan that is certain in its outcome. His is the only plan that must succeed.  So which One is synonymous with Love? God or the ego?  Would You not trust wholeheartedly in What Loves You forever?  I did and overcame crucifixion.  I am not special unless it is because of my overwhelming Love of God and All My Others; including every single One of You.

⁸ Let us practice recognizing this certainty today. God truly Loves You! And let us rejoice that there is an answer to what seems to be a conflict with no resolution possible. All things are possible to God. Words of happiness because they are True! Salvation must be yours because of His plan, which cannot fail. He will never leave You nor forsake You, and neither will I!

⁹ Begin the two longer practice periods for today by thinking about today’s idea and realizing that it contains two parts, each making equal contribution to the whole. God’s plan for your salvation will work, and other plans will not. Why bother with them when God is present; and He always is! Do not allow yourself to become depressed or angry at the second part; it is inherent in the first. And in the first is your full release from all your own insane attempts and mad proposals to free yourself. These are the foolish ways of the ego. They have led to depression and anger. But God’s plan will succeed. It will lead to release and joy. Sing hallelujah! To turn Your trust to God is Your private revival meeting!

¹⁰ Remembering this, let us devote the remainder of the extended practice periods to asking God to reveal His plan to us. Ask Him very specifically: (and here come Your favorite words Sun~Rose! Here in this lesson:)

¹¹ What would You have me do?
Where would You have me go?
What would You have me say, and to whom? They always make You feel so relaxed; imagine if You actually used them! The peace brings You just a step from Heaven.

¹² Give Him full charge of the rest of the practice period, and let Him tell you what needs to be done by you in His plan for your salvation. He will answer you in proportion to your willingness to hear His Voice. Refuse not to hear. Determine to hear! It’s that important! The very fact that you are doing the exercises proves that you have some willingness to listen. Bless those of You who have a lot of willingness.  You will move mountains with Your Love! This is enough to establish your claim to God’s answer.

¹³ In the shorter practice periods tell yourself often that God’s plan for salvation, and only His, will work. Be alert to all temptation to hold grievances today, and respond to them with this form of today’s idea:

¹⁴ Holding grievances is the opposite of God’s plan for Salvation. And only His plan will work. (Love does uphold You belovèd Brothers, belovèd Sisters!)

¹⁵ Try to remember the idea for today some six or seven times an hour. There could be no better way to spend a half-minute or less than to remember the Source of your salvation, and to see It where It is.

This gifts You with at least half a dozen experiences of God’s Love every single hour that You will to do this

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

[Thank you Dear Brother]

*Sun~Rose is the scribe of the recently published book, “YOU ARE LOVED AND SAFE: PREP NOTES FOR EXPERIENCING GOD’S LOVE“, Jesus’ Guidance on the Miracle Principles

She is also author of, “RADIANT LIFE: RAW FOOD AND THE PRESENCE OF LOVE”

BOTH now available on amazon.com