Tag: confidence

Praying about your future

Published on by lindseybiggsLeave a comment

When praying about the future and the need to make important decisions, I love praying with these 3 ideas:

  • He knows the angels that you need, And sends them to your side, To comfort, guard and guide.1
  • God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies. Never ask for to-morrow: it is enough that divine Love is an ever-present help; and if you wait, never doubting, you will have all you need every moment.2
  • For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.4

I love to think of God’s angels as divine messages that we need at just the right moment. They supply us with peace, comfort, health, safety, and also meet our daily needs.

These angel messages counteract messages of doubt, despair, or lack. They assure us that we are at one with Christ, the true idea of God; that we are inseparable from God’s love and care. These ideas lead us and guide us to the best way to express that Truth in a way that blesses.

St. Paul was very sure of his inseparability from God, good. He said:

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.4

And what was he able to do with that understanding? He was saved during a shipwreck, healed of a snakebite, and able to help and heal others. God has given each us the power, ability, and understanding to follow Him/Her with confidence, joy, clarity, and courage.

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.5

 

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I The Christian Science Hymnal, No. 9
II Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 307
III Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
IV Romans 8:38-39 NIV
V I John 4:4 NKJV
Photo credit: Image by Muhammad Ma’ruf from Pixabay

See yourself through God’s eyes

Published on by lindseybiggs1 Comment

How do you see yourself? As the spiritual image and likeness of infinite Spirit? As unlimited, beautiful, flawless, and perfect? If you see yourself as anything less, than take a look at yourself through God’s eyes!

You are of purer eyes than to behold evil…Habakkuk 1:13

When we start with our Creator — infinite, spiritual, and perfect — then it is natural for us to express God’s likeness.

We don’t need to allow ourselves to see anything less than the whole, talented, valuable, beloved, and free child of God.

When we start with our Source, we find a direct route to knowing our spiritual identity.

So what do we do with those negative messages coming to us? The Bible tells us of the supreme power and authority of good in our consciousness.

…those [thoughts] who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. You shall seek those [thoughts] who contend with you,but you shall not find them; those [thoughts] who war against you shall be as nothing at all. Isaiah 41:11,12

When we think of this passage in terms of thoughts, we see that any self-doubt, insecurity, fear, or lack — will be as nothing. We do not have to accept the negative messages coming to our consciousness. We can stand “porter at the door of thought”1 and allow only goodness to be manifested in our human consciousness and experience. When we awaken to our spiritually identity, moment by moment, it is like turning on a light and the darkness flees.

Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand…For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Do not fear, I will help you.” Isaiah 41:10, 13

God is helping us to know the truth about ourselves. With God on our side, it doesn’t have to be hard. We can shut out the unhealthy and negative thoughts because they do not have validity or authority in God’s kingdom.

You don’t have to believe the negative voices in your head. They will NEVER be true. You are the loved and blessed child of a good, God. You will never be anything less. Put that limited picture of you behind you. See yourself through God’s eyes today.

—
1 Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 392

Inspiration for the future

Published on by lindseybiggsLeave a comment

One of my favorite Bible verses is Jeremiah 29:11.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (NIV)

What I love about this passage is in the original Hebrew language it uses the word “shalom” to describe God’s plan. Shalom is one of those words that is packed full of meaning. It means peace, welfare, goodness, prosperity, total and complete wellbeing all in a single word. Imagine that! God’s will for you is goodness, welfare, peace, prosperity, complete and entire wellbeing. “God’s will” is a verb — it’s an action word. So, God is enforcing goodness, health, and wellbeing in your life.

When Jeremiah, the prophet, spoke this message to the people of Judah who were exiled in Babylon, it was a much needed message of hope. After the tumultuous events of 587 BCE including the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem and the Babylonian conquest of Judah, God’s promise was that God would restore the land and abundance, God would return the people to their home and out of exile, and there would be joy and celebration. It didn’t look like there was peace, but this message assured them that that was indeed God’s plan and so it came true.

This message is true for you, too! One time when I was feeling anxious about the future, I remembered this passage and God’s promise. This reminded me that God is in charge and God’s will is only good. God didn’t cause me to feel anxiety or doubt about my future, and I could overcome these thoughts by trusting God’s presence and power. I felt such a sense of peace and an assurance that God, good, was with me.

So the next time you are tempted to doubt or despair, know that God is not out to get you. Instead trust and remember that God’s plan for you is shalom — goodness, joy, peace, health, prosperity, and wellbeing, and God is willing this in your life!