Tag: St. Paul

Our God-given freedom

Published on by lindseybiggs3 Comments

I once heard an analogy about a slave who worked for his master. He was unaware that the laws of the land had changed and he was no longer legally a slave. And no one told him. So he kept working for his master day in and day out.

To me, the point in this allegory is that even though God made us free, we have to know we are free in order to experience the benefits of that freedom.

Christ Jesus famously stated:

“…ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8 KJV)

What is Truth? This is a question that each person has to answer individually; but I believe we are each God’s child, and our tender, loving divine Mother-Father has given us freedom – freedom from sickness, disease, sin, limitation, lack, and sorrow. This is what Christ Jesus showed us.

We may think of freedom as democracy and individual rights. That is certainly one aspect of freedom. But we aren’t completely free until we realize that the material senses – the limitations, lack, sickness and death that are presented to us – cannot bind us.

When Jesus spoke of freedom the people around him said, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.” (John 8:33-34 NKJV)

“Truth brings the elements of liberty. On its banner is the Soul-inspired motto, ‘Slavery is abolished.’ The power of God brings deliverance to the captive. No power can withstand divine Love. What is this supposed power, which opposes itself to God? Whence cometh it? What is it that binds man with iron shackles to sin, sickness, and death? Whatever enslaves man is opposed to the divine government. Truth makes man free.” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Eddy, p. 224)

Freedom comes from knowing God and knowing who man is – made in the image and likeness of divine Love.

The following excerpt is the most complete, detailed and pure description of man that I have ever come across:

“Man is not matter; he is not made up of brain, blood, bones, and other material elements…Man is spiritual and perfect…Man is idea, the image, of Love…that which has no separate mind from God; that which has not a single quality underived from Deity; that which possesses no life, intelligence, nor creative power of his own, but reflects spiritually all that belongs to his Maker…Man is incapable of sin, sickness, and death.” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Eddy, p. 475)

I’ve prayed with this description of man since I was a child and it has freed me from sickness, fear, lust, addiction, and lack.

Once we see and know who we are, we will never again believe anything that tries to say otherwise.  When we know God, how loved we are and that God made each of us spiritually and perfectly, we won’t believe anything that goes against that relationship.

Each day we can celebrate our independence and freedom from material limitations.

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1 NKJV

Overcoming shyness

Published on by lindseybiggs4 Comments

I’ve never really been a shy person; I was even called a “social butterfly” in elementary school.  And many people today would be surprised to find that I dealt with shyness.

There came a time when I felt incredibly shy.  I didn’t enjoy it much because I didn’t feel like myself.  So I decided to seek a spiritual solution to this problem as I do with many challenges.

I talked with a Christian Science Practitioner who told me she had dealt with shyness herself.  And through the help of her mother and prayer she was healed of this problem.

This was encouraging.  She shared the idea that shyness is really a type of selfishness because you are thinking about yourself instead of the other person.  She suggested that I try to love everyone around me.

Well I instantly felt a lot better, feeling confident that there was a spiritual solution, and that it was something as enjoyable as loving more.

Over the years I worked on this.  I found cherishing each person’s spiritual identity, and striving to listen to them, to what they’re saying and also to what they are not saying (to what their heart was calling out for) to be a blessing.

When I loved the person I was talking to, the way God feels about them, I was able to listen, be more sensitive, and really enjoy each friendship.

In fact, striving to listen a lot more throughout my day, even when there is only silence around me, enables me to hear God’s voice which tells me who I might bless and leads activities throughout my day.

A teaching of Christian Science is that God is Mind (which Paul refers to in the New Testament).  And because God is all and is good, He or She must be the only real Mind.  This Mind is always clear, uplifted, meek, patient, kind and compassionate.   When I realize that this is the true Mind, then all the other mental “noise” quiets down, and I can listen clearly.

There are still situations that I find uncomfortable, as most humans do.  But sometimes it’s because someone else might be feeling uncomfortable, hostile or unloved.  Being aware of this helps me support each individual in feeling safe, secure, and loved.

It’s a joy to have positive interactions with people and has been such a blessing to me as well as to others.

I’m grateful that there are harmonious solutions to situations like these.  And it can be as simple as opening up to a greater awareness of Divinity and Her spiritual image and likeness – man and woman.

Finding companionship spiritually

Published on by lindseybiggs2 Comments

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26145336@N08/3052356321

 

Recently, in my prayers, I ask “What would make me feel better?”

 

There are many ways to pray but this is an interesting idea that has come to me.

 

When I respond to the question “what would make me feel better”, the answer is generally spiritual things.

 

For instance, if you’re having relationship troubles, you might think, “what would make me feel better”, and the answer may be: companionship, a more harmonious relationship, feeling loved, or more patience and affection.  The wonderful thing is that all of these are attained spiritually.  They are inherent in our relationship with God.  Which means they are already present within us.

 

The Bible says, “For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel;” (KJV Isa. 54:5) So really it is God, our Best Friend, Husband, Redeemer, who is supporting us, never leaves us and always sees the best in us.

 

St. John says that God is Love itself.  (John 4:8)  This implies that God is the one and only Source.

 

And elsewhere in the Bible it says, “…in him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28).  So can we ever be separated from Love or outside the realm of it?

 

No.

 

“…Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God” (Rom 8:35).

 

So where does this feeling of loss or a lack of love come from?  The carnal mind, which Paul says is hostile or resistant to God.

 

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.  To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law – indeed it cannot…” (NRSV Rom 8:5-8)

 

We discover this “mind” is an enemy to us – to our happiness and health. Our inherent spiritual nature is childlike, innocent, free, totally fulfilled and content each moment.  Spirit supplies all that It’s offspring needs, and this reflection has to be as satisfied and complete as the Source is.

 

So let’s put away any sense of lack, loss, confusion or impatience with the help of the law of Love, the nature of Spirit, which says that all is happy and complete and free today.