ABUNDANCE, SPIRITUAL
--- Ideas in consciousness of the omnipresent supply and support of
the one Mind; invisible substance, with infinite capacity of expansion
when held in mind, affirmed, and praised. "All things whatsoever
the Father hath are mine" (John 16:15).
AFFIRMATION---A
positive statement of Truth. By the use of affirmations we claim and
appropriate that which is ours in Truth.
AFFIRMATION, ACT
Of --- The "yes" action of the mind; the act of affirming;
the declaring of Truth; the mental movement that asserts confidently
and persistently the Truth of Being in the face of all appearances to
the contrary.
AFFIRMATION, PURPOSE
OF --- To establish in consciousness a broad understanding of the divine
principles on which all life and existence depend. By affirming Truth
we are lifted out of false thinking into the consciousness of Spirit.
CAUSE AND EFFECT
---The law of sequence; the balance wheel of the universe. "Whatsoever
a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Gal. 6:7). Man lives in
two worlds, the world of cause (the within) and the world of effect
(the without).
CHRIST, INDWELLING
--- The Son of God or spiritual nucleus within each person. All our
thoughts must harmonize with this spiritual center before we can bring
into expression the divine consciousness. Each man has within himself
the Christ idea, just as Jesus did. Man must look to the indwelling
Christ in order to recognize his sonship, his divine origin and birth,
even as did the Savior. This real self is "closer..... than breathing,
and nearer than hands and feet." It is the kingdom of God in each
person. "Neither shall they say, Lo, here! or, There! "Christ
in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:27).
CHRISTIANITY, PRACTICAL
--- The teachings of Jesus practically applied to the everyday life
of man. Practical Christianity is not a term applied to au arbitrary
theory of human origin; neither is it a revelation in humanity from
some prophet whose word alone must be taken unquestionably as authority.
It is in this respect, different from most religious systems of the
world. Its students are not asked to believe anything that they cannot
logically demonstrate to be true.
CONSCIOUSNESS ---The
sense of awareness of knowing. The knowledge or realization of any idea,
object, or condition. The sum total of all ideas accumulated in and
affecting man's present being. It includes all that man is aware of
spirit, soul and body. Divine ideas must be incorporated into our consciousness
before they can mean anything to us.
CRUCIFIXION ---
The crossing out in consciousness of errors that have become fixed states
of mind; the surrender or death of the whole personality in order that
the Christ Mind may be expressed in all its fullness. The crucifixion
of Jesus represents the wiping of personality out of conscious We deny
the human self so that we may unite with the selfless.
DEMONSTRATE ---"To
prove by reasoning, as by deduction; to establish as true" (Webster).
To demonstrate Truth is to effect a change of consciousness. This includes
the elimination of error and the establishment of Truth. It is a metaphysical
law that there- are three steps in ' every demonstration: The recognition
of Truth as it is in Principle; holding an idea; and acknowledging fulfillment;
"Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer believing, ye shall receive"
(Matt. 21:22).
DENIAL --- A denial
is a relinquishment, and it should not be made with too much vehemence.
Let us make our denials as though we were gently sweeping away cobwebs,
and our affirmations in a strong, bold, positive attitude of mind. When
we poise ourselves in divine mind our affirmations and denials will
be made in right relations We will know just when to let go of a thought
and when to lav hold of another.
FAITH --- The perceiving
power of the mind linked with the power to shape substance. Spiritual
assurance; the power to do the seemingly impossible. It is a magnetic
power that draws unto us our heart's desire from the invisible spiritual
substance. Faith is a deep inner knowing that that which is sought is
already ours for the taking.2 "According to your faith be it done
unto you" (Matt. 9:29).
FAITH, BLIND ---
An instinctive trust in a power higher than ourselves. Because blind
faith does not understand the principles of Being, it is liable to discouragement
and disappointment.
FAITH, ULNDERSTANDING
--- Faith that functions from Principle. It is based on knowledge of
Truth. It understands the law of mind action; therefore it has great
strength. To know that certain causes produce certain results gives
a bedrock foundation for faith.
METAPHYSICS ---
The systematic study of the science of Being; that which transcends
the physical.
PROSPERITY --- The
consciousness of God as the abundant, everywhere present resource, unfailing,
ready for all who open themselves to it through faith.
Prosperity is based on the conscious possession of the idea of God's
abundance in back of all things. Things come and go, but the idea of
abundance endures. Things appear at its command. Jesus had no visible
possessions, but He could supply thousands of persons with food through
praising and giving thanks to the invisible Spirit of plenty.
The difference between spiritual prosperity and material prosperity
is that spiritual prosperity is founded on understanding of the inexhaustible,
omnipresent substance of Spirit as the source of supply; the material
belief is that the possessions of things constitutes prosperity.
SUBSTANCE --- The
divine idea of the underlying reality of all things. Substance is everywhere
present, pervades-all things, and inspires to action. It underlies all
manifestation and is the spiritual essence, the living energy out of
which everything is made. Through substance all the attributes of Being
are expressed. It sustains and enriches any idea that is projected into
it.
Divine substance is man's supply. Out of it he forms whatever he will
according to his faith and understanding. By entering into the silence,
acknowledging divine substance, affirming his faith in and oneness with
it, man becomes conscious of substance.
TRUTH --- The Absolute;
that which accords with God as divine principle; that which is, has
been, and ever will be; that which eternally is.
WISDOM --- Intuitive
knowing; spiritual intuition; the voice of God within as the source
of our understanding; mental action based on the Christ Truth within.
Wisdom includes judgment, discrimination, intuition, and all ' the departments
of mind that come under the head of knowing. This "knowing"
capacity transcends intellectual knowledge. Spiritual discernment always
places wisdom above the other faculties of mind and reveals that knowledge
and intelligence are auxiliary to understanding.
PRAYER --- Communion
between God and man. This communion takes place in the inner most part
of man's being. It is the only way to cleanse and perfect the consciousness
and thus permanently heal the body.
Prayer is the most
highly accelerated mind action known. It steps up mental action until
man's consciousness synchronizes with the Christ Mind. It is the language
of spirituality; when developed it makes man master in the realm of
creative ideas.
Prayer is more than
supplication. It is an affirmation of Truth that eternally exists, but
which has not yet come into consciousness. It comes into consciousness
not by supplication but by affirmation.
