Our God-given freedom

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

Not guilty!


Have you ever considered your innocence? The wonderful fact that you are not guilty?

The world is always trying to tell us we are guilty of something: not being good enough, past regrets or even simply because of this mortal existence.

Spirit is the creator; and Spirit creates everything in Her own image and likeness. Since Spirit has never fallen from Her perfect state that means we haven’t either. Goodness, innocence, purity, joy, childlikeness are all inherent in us. 

Sure, we’ve all made mistakes, fallen short of our own or other’s expectations; perhaps in the moment of that mistake we were governed by fear – fear of what would happen or what wouldn’t happen based on what we would we should do; in a sense we forgot, in that moment, who we were as the perfect, image & likeness of Spirit/Love/Truth with a rich, divine inheritance. 

These instances of mistakes can never change who we really are.

“If you believe in and practise wrong knowingly, you can at once change your course and do right.”¹

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.”²

So we don’t need to be plagued by guilt today. We can drop whatever it is, perhaps even taking some footsteps to right a past wrong. 

I experienced this first hand yesterday. I suddenly found myself feeling quite unwell physically. I started to pray about this with the books and study resources I have for prayer/meditation. I called a Christian Science practitioner for metaphysical treatment (this is someone who prays to know the supremacy of divine Mind in your experience and that no other thought that is negative or sickly can reside in your consciousness. It is wonderfully effective and demonstrates the connection between mind, body and spirit).

Just before bed it occurred to me that I was feeling guilty about a mistake with a friend. Even though the situation wasn’t a big one there was still lingering guilt and fear about it. I decided the best thing to do was to email the friend and apologize. I wanted this person to know my intentions and that I didn’t want things to be awkward. 

After sending the email, I felt a lot better. I also watched an online lecture called “You’re not guilty” which shared a lot of great points:
1. You are not guilty of disappointing God
2. You are not guilty of creating your problems
3. You are not guilty of spiritual ignorance.

I went to sleep feeling peaceful. When I woke up I was hungry, feeling a lot better, and I received an email from my friend who said no worries and that all is well.

Recognizing our spiritual status as not guilty enables us to act that way, to love who we really are, and to love our neighbor better by recognizing their status as spiritual and not guilty! 

Have a blessed day! 🙂

¹Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy
² King James Version, The Bible, Psalms 37:23, 24
 

Gratitude journal


I have a gratitude journal where I jot down lists of the things I’m grateful for.

This morning I decided this would be a great way to start the day. There is a line from a hymn which says “Our gratitude is riches, Complaint is poverty…” (Christian Science Hymnal, No. 249)  I knew that the practice of gratitude would open me up to see all the good, all the ways our Father/Mother is expressing Herself.

I had a great weekend with friends. We did a lot of awesome activities and it was really fun. At first I thought I would write down the things we did and the friendships I had that I was grateful for. But I was moved beyond that to really be grateful for the qualities I see & feel expressed, which give proof that the Source of these qualities is real and tangible.

My list went like this:

Thank you for

  • Spirit
  • Love
  • Truth (these are synonyms, or other names for Deity. And I knew that from this Source comes the following that I am grateful for…)
  • virtue, integrity, honesty, kindness, willingness, innocence, affection, tenderness, patience, meekness, kindness, compassion, non-judgemental, no condemnation, purity, joy, unselfishness.

It is such a blessing (and healing) to get to experience and/or express any of these qualities.

What are you grateful for today?