SC#17:
I Read Have Much
But I have not read the Bible. Maybe a glimpse here or there…
So am I qualified to speak on these topics?
I don’t see why not. I am a certified minister with Universal Life Ministry online.
I have studied spirituality all of my life in my own ways.
And I have read many things these past couple years that speak to the very lines I will be quoting.
My point here is not to give a religious sermon on anything to do with the Bible.
My point is to offer a reframing of ideas that have been taught before and yet are being taught still by all of God’s teachers.
And who is God to say that I am not allowed to speak about the words God has offered to humanity throughout time? Whether I’m well-versed in the good book or not?
Let’s Look At Some Veres
Law of Attraction
Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 7:7-8 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
These types of verses have actually been frequently quoted in modern spiritual books and teachings of various kinds. They may most notably be referred to in any of the law of attraction teachers out there, especially Esther or Abraham Hicks
I don’t feel I need to wax on about them, for they are fairly straight forward. And the law of attraction teachers can do a much better job espousing their greater depths.
Needless to say that to one who is totally aligned with their being, with their nature as part and parcel and one with God, with the creator energy of the Divine and their own True Self as an expression of that universal power of creation… anything that you seek to find or have or do or accomplish can be achieved through aligning to the desire, maintaining that belief, and following through on the guidance to get it done.
That may be the most simple explanation of the concept ever, but I hope it is enough for now. Seek the specialists for more. Hicks is a great start.
This next verse claims what Hicks and others say, that we already have what we want available to us in the infinite realm of possibilities… it is simply a matter of believing, lining up with it, and allowing it to be in your actual physical existence:
1 John 5:14-15 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
Gratitude and the Manifesting Mind
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
A big part of law of attraction, especially in our physical lives, is that of manifesting. This is the holy act of creating whatever it is you wish to be, do, or most often have. You want the car, the job, the house, the spouse, the money…
And the teachers have always taught, and always will teach, that gratitude and a thankful heart are the powerful means of telling the universe, God, whatever you call it, to bring what you wish into your life.
Napoleon Hill and Joseph Murphy and countless others will mention the power of guiding your thoughts to what you wish to have, and claiming gratitude for it. EVEN BEFORE YOU HAVE IT.
For in claiming that is already is, you are accepting that you are part of the universal soul of God and that all things are already in existence and already possible. And your gratitude is an acknowledgement that you have it now (you may read it as “you MAY have it now” but masters of this can see that it as TRULY HAVING IT already).
Because as Colossians 3:15 and the next one show, we are members of one body (one universal spirit of God) and that we are all branches of the same vine. The fruit therefore is already apparent, already made manifest, if you will but recognize it and seize it. And if you cannot see it, by choosing to look away from holding your belief in its very possibility, you may not bear the fruit you seek.
John 15:4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
Fear, Anxiety, and Finding Strength
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Following from the last, there is a sense of trusting that what you want is possible, is in fact now, if you believe and do not fear.
But then fear goes much further into our physical lives than even the fear of not having. Fear comes to overwhelm us in almost all areas of life, if we allow it.
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
The teachings of old are the same as the powerful teachings I’ve been reading in Paul Selig’s books, most recently “The Book of Freedom.”
This concept of fear has overridden humanity’s innate connection to God, to its own divinity, and to its ability to live a life of peace and abundance here and now. Fear is punishment in the fearful acts of hate, violence, condemnation and self-recrimination and any variation of negative expression. Fear hurts others but often hurts ourselves most.
But we do not have to be in fear, and we have the option of transmuting it in Love. The energy of love heals all and the light of love blesses even the darkness to raise it to a higher field.
It is claimed that “the kingdom of God is at hand,” and it is so. We are in a world in which we can truly CHOOSE to claim our own plot of heaven RIGHT HERE AND NOW.
But fear itself precludes us from doing so. The fear of failure for trying and the hurt to the ego; even the fear of succeeding and what that might entail, as if the power might overwhelm us. The fear of lack; the fear of limitations; the fear of other’s opinions; the fear of taking action (AKA procrastination); and I could go on all day, I am sure.
You can think of your own list of fears.
But the teachings are always the same, thousands of years ago as today:
In Love there is no fear. Fear cannot be present when the power of love is activated. And God’s love is enteral and all-consuming, so it can wash away all fear. It is a choice we have to align to that love, accept that love, and to love ourselves.
For self-love is actually an acknowledgement of loving not only ourselves, but all people, and loving God as well. For God is all and we are all one in God. To love the self is to love all.
Eternal Life in God
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 6:47 Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.
As God is all and we are one with God, and God is eternal, then we are eternal.
No, maybe not our physical bodies in this lifetime. But our spirits.
In reading Neale Donald Walsch’s “Home With God” primarily, as well as through other teachings scattered in my library, I’ve come to own this belief in the eternal life of our soul.
The idea being that our life in this physical body is quite limited in scope, and we limit ourselves to viewing death as this frightful end.
Romans 8:6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
When we see past this physical limitation of one life to live and therefore one death… when we can have faith in the knowing that our soul is eternal in God… when we see the greater part of us as outside of our physical form but lasting eternally in what we could call the spirit world… then truly life is ever after.
So we needn’t fear death, for death is not the end. It is a transition only. But there is eternity for our soul to continue onward. Even many who may believe in one lifetime understand an afterlife of eternity, for better or worse.
How much more exciting would it be to have so much more? To be and have all that God can be and can have, and that we get to choose for ourselves as we go?
Isn’t it freeing to know that this life is not all? That we don’t have to do it all, complete it all, live it all this one time only? Forget YOLO, you’ve got eternity to get it done. And you never will get it done, for there will always be more calling you on.
My one caveat is that it does not take belief, as John 6:47 comments, to have eternal life. As the life of our soul is already eternal, believe it or not, it is so. But believing in it is so much more freeing.
1 John 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
Wrapping Up These Bible Verses
Again I am no Bible thumper, reader, or scholar.
I am fascinated by what is available to all the world and to each of us to study and from which to learn truth.
And though truth can seem malleable and subjective, there are teachings that are eternal and in their own ways true, if you will allow, if you will choose.
To know that we can align to our true desires, allow ourselves to attract all we want to us, manifest with gratitude, do so without fear, and not even fear the death of our own physical selves?
What powerful, wonderful, overarching teachings to hold dear to you, whether they are from the good old book or some new book you’ve come across.
And there are many teachings out there, generation after generation, teacher after teacher, sharing these same concepts with us time and again.
They are always available to us. And they are always hopeful and helpful and loving. And we can choose to believe in them or not. And the teachers can keep shouting it or whispering it or whatevering it they wish at us… but it is up to us to accept.
My Own Account
I used to live my life without these core beliefs, and it wasn’t the life I had wished for or planned on having.
And I used to fear so much in life, in accomplishing my life, as well as fearing my own death… as if I had to get it all done in this one life or what a waste.
So for me personally I find these teachings refreshing and freeing and inspiring. And I choose to believe them, and hold them close to my heart, and reap the benefits for holding such beliefs.
There is really no harm to be done by holding such beliefs, and if they assist in creating a better life and a better world, why on earth not hold them? Why old limiting, fearful, self-deprecating beliefs and create from those? Why not do better?
(Remember that, naysayers and haters).
And with great satisfaction and deep gratitude to the messages, the messengers, the teachers, and God, and to my own soul for choosing this path and showing me the steps along the way to learn these things, incorporate them as I go, deepen my understanding of them, and share them with all I can…
I am truly blessed. And I truly hope these concepts may bless you, too.
Go in peace, abundance, love and gratitude all your days. Do so without limitation, without hesitation, without fear, and with deep appreciation. Know you are eternal and you are pure God-stuff. Has it not been said, “Ye are Gods?”
John 10:34 Is it not written in your Law: ‘I have said you are gods’?
Psalm 82:6 You are gods; you are all sons of the Most High.
Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed this post.
Please comment and share and be at ease.
Many, many blessings to you all,
Matthew