Tag: carnal mind

Who is your enemy?

Published on by lindseybiggs1 Comment

I’ve been reading a great article that I find so apropos to the things going on in the world today. It’s entitled “Truth Handles Crime“.

I have learned from this article is that no person, neighbor or nation is our enemy. Mankind, as the spiritual image and likeness of God, is wholly spiritual, good, trustworthy, and honest. The only enemy we have is what the King James Version of the Bible terms the “carnal mind” (Romans 8:7).

The carnal mind tells us lies about ourself and our neighbor.  It tells you that you are jealous, evil, stupid, worthless, incapable, etc. It often comes in the pronouns “I am” (sick, fearful, tired, sensual, angry, unsatisfied) or “they are”(mean, spiteful, trying to take away what is mine/out to get me).

These lies are the enemy. They are trying to defile the Christlike image of God. And these lies have no power because they are not true. When one of these evil “suggestions” comes to our consciousness, we need to recognize what it is, where it is coming from, see that it is a lie and has no power (and not let it in to our thought).

The Bible tells us that “I am” is the name of God. This means “I am” can only be associated with God and His likeness – that which is  good, loving, kind, compassionate, strong, trustworthy, eternal, honest, productive, and healthy. This is true of each of us; we naturally express and embody these qualities and inherently want to know/do good.

The article states:

“As we understand these things clearly, we cease to regard each other as enemies. We no longer think that we must get rid of individuals or groups who seem to menace harmony. We refrain from fearing our neighbors and do not appear dangerous to them. It will become increasingly plain to all men that the only agressor there is, is mortal mind, and that it is an illusion. Then its suppositional acts of trespass, invasion, deceit, and destruction will no more have power to harm us, and will cease to seem to occur.”

I believe that holding to the true image of men and women in God’s image and likeness, detecting and uncovering mortal mind/the carnal mind, is what will aid us in overcoming political unrest, a desire to terrorize, feeling impoverished and anything else that would suggest the hate, division and unworthiness of groups or individuals.

Spiritual reasoning helps in overcoming challenges

Published on by lindseybiggs1 Comment

When you’re faced with a problem that seems too big and real, it’s helpful to do some spiritual reasoning.

I like to start with God, divine Love.  Things get much clearer when you start with the one Ego or Creator.

I think of God as Love, ever-present and eternal, which is always with me.  God is speaking to us and has the ability to communicate with us in just the right way.  He/She is able to make Herself heard.

God is infinite, limitless so we can lift ourselves up out of the perception of materiality and finiteness, into the realm of permanent, changeless Good.

God is Spirit and Her substance can never be defiled.  God, Spirit, is our substance so there can’t be anything missing or lacking.

When we get a glimpse of who and what God is then we can get a sense of who we are.  God’s offspring is pure, light, holy, with infinite ability and capability.  This offspring is spiritual and in the image and likeness of it’s Creator.  So there isn’t any blemish, lack or loss.  God’s creation is complete, harmonious, always good and beautiful.

There are lots of theories and speculation out there that try to present otherwise.  They say our birthright isn’t perfect and joy and health aren’t natural.  It says we pray to God because we are separate from Him, and prayer isn’t always effective.

All of these subtle suggestions are what is termed the carnal mind and what is illustrated by a serpent in the Bible.  We hear the account of Jesus himself confronted with the carnal mind in Matthew 4.  Jesus overcame material suggestions and claims, similar to the same ones we hear today i.e. matter is our life, God isn’t all-powerful, and money is power.

He conquered these by knowing and understanding His relationship with His Father.  The Word of God, Spirit, gives us life and energy to do and to accomplish all we need; God is ever-present, always loving and protecting us (we don’t need to “test” God but we can apply and demonstrate this fact when faced with a challenge); the carnal mind cannot give us anything.  All fulfillment, opportunity, joy, supply, and talent come from God and are spiritual.

So today, if you’re faced with a challenge try to spiritual reason in this way, the same way that Jesus conquered and overcame the challenges he was faced with through trust in his ever-present Father-Mother God.