How I Used Truth - Lesson 9 - Annotation 10
What part does faith play in the process of bringing good into manifestation in our life? What other conditions should be observed for perfect results?
10. Faith plays a very important part in the process of bringing good into manifestation. Faith as the "perceiving power of the mind" becomes aware of our desired good and provides the motivating power for the appearance of good in our experience. The need to have understanding coupled with faith is brought out clearly in Lesson Five of How I Used Truth. Desire may remain only a longing or a yearning unless understanding faith takes over and lays hold of the particular idea back of the desire. Man's formative power of thought is then able to produce a mental picture based on the divine idea of perfection.
It seems sometimes that we let go of faith, as mentioned in the text on page 94 (How I Used Truth 94). We never actually lose contact with faith for it is a divine quality that is always part of our spiritual nature. If, however, we think that circumstances or negative appearances are more powerful than faith, or more powerful than God-power, we are not able to express faith in its fullness. Unless we consciously activate faith so that it may bring forth good in our mind, body, or affairs, then fear, frustration, and anxiety take over and build malformations of substance.
The other two conditions that are to be observed (as brought out in the text) are first, not to talk indiscriminately about our plans, and second, to continue with the spoken word, to be steadfast in our faith.
In order to focus our mind upon divine substance we have to learn how to conserve our mental powers. The word focus comes from a Latin word meaning fireplace or hearth. The fireplace or hearth -- which symbolizes the love center -- was the place where the family gathered for warmth and food. When we focus our attention upon Truth, we are gathering together all the forces of our mental and emotional faculties. By focusing we become one-pointed or unified in consciousness and so are able to concentrate upon what we truly desire to manifest.
It is important that we know when and if we should discuss with others the plans we have in mind. If we are not divinely guided to talk about what we are doing, we stand in danger of scattering our mental forces. If under divine guidance we refrain from discussing our plans, we do not do so from fear or distrust of others but for the purpose of allowing the mental picture to become firmly established without any cross-currents of negation or fear entering in.
"Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart" (Luke 2:19).
Until God has revealed the full extent of the truth concerning any plan for our life we are not in a position to explain it clearly to others. We read in I Cor. 14:9, "Unless ye utter by the tongue speech easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken?" Scattered thoughts only bring scattered presentation of plans.
"Every thought that goes forth from the brain sends vibrations into the surrounding atmosphere and moves the realm of things to action. The effect is in proportion to the ability of the thinker to concentrate his mental forces. The average thought vibration produces but temporary results, but under intense mind activity conditions more or less permanent are impressed upon the sensitive plate of the universal ether, and through this activity they are brought into physical manifestation" (Charles Fillmore Christian Healing 63).
The second condition, "to continue with the spoken word" (How I Used Truth 96), is vital in following through with that upon which we have focused our attention. The "spoken word" sustained by our faith can, like a magnet, draw the visible substance to produce the actual manifest form or body of our good -- whether it be a home, clothing, food, money, work, education, or any form of good. The text (page 94) states:
"The first action brings that which is desired from the formless toward the external as far as the psychic; the continued action brings it forth still farther and clothes it with visible form or material body" (How I Used Truth 94).
Unless we are steadfast in "speaking the word," all of the mental work done faithfully and consistently will come to naught. If we allow ourselves to be diverted from our purpose by negative appearances, or by the limited viewpoints of others, we will fail in our manifestation of the desired good. If we are consistent, however, we will surely reap the good results. In the story of Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem, it is said of the Children of Israel that "the people had a mind to work" (Neh. 4:6). In bringing forth health of mind and body, harmony, prosperity, and success of affairs, our "mind to work must include the willingness to continue speaking the word of Truth.
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Preceding Entry: Show how we may use the words "Let there be" as our "spoken
word" to bring forth some demonstration of good in mind, body,
or affairs.
Following Entry: What is meant by absolute Truth?
