Lessons In Truth - Lesson 5 - Annotation 5
Should denials and affirmations be confined to set forms or set rules?
5. No. denials and affirmations need not be confined to set forms or set rules. However, there are rules covering both of these processes that we need to clearly establish in our mind. Such knowledge enables us to make effective use of the two processes in our spiritual unfoldment.
As brought out in the preceding lesson, denials erase unwanted thoughts and error beliefs that have lodged in the subconscious phase of mind; they also reject anything that is not acceptable at any given moment. In regard to denial Charles Fillmore says:
"We do this releasing by . . . letting go of the old or that which has done its part and is no longer useful" (Prosperity 176).
Denials build the "no" attitude of mind which releases us from harmful thinking and undesirable conditions.
Affirmations are positive and constructive; they strengthen our faith and will power so that we are able to meet victoriously all the experiences of life. All of us need to use affirmations continuously whether we say them audibly or silently, or when we just hold affirmative attitudes of mind.
When we let Spirit within guide us, we will know what denials and affirmations to use, and how to use them. In the beginning, however, it is necessary to discipline our mind by definitely working with both denials and affirmations until the ideas back of the words become attitudes of mind that work automatically as the need arises. Sometimes just lifting up our heart in gratitude and thanksgiving, without an audible word, becomes our most powerful denial of any power other than God as well as a recognition (affirmation) of His presence.
Neither denials nor affirmations need be confined to set forms. Sometimes when they are, we find ourselves bound by the "letter" and miss the "spirit" or quickening quality within.
Often it is helpful to change the wording of either a denial or an affirmation in order to convey to our consciousness the true meaning. It may be that certain words are not familiar to us and find no response in our feeling nature. In such a case, it is better to present the ideas in words that have a vital meaning for us. Our question is not dealing with "set forms" so much as the danger of confining our affirmations to them instead of letting the ideas back of the words have freedom to accomplish their work in our life.
So long as we keep in mind that the purpose of affirmations is to establish divine ideas in the human consciousness, we will never find ourselves confined to set forms. Rather we will be able to use so-called "set forms" of affirmations and Bible texts with a sense of freedom, for the words will be so at one with the ideas they contain that they will be our own soul's language.
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Preceding Entry: Copy the four affirmations listed in the text and explain each in your own words.
Following Entry: Are supply and demand equal?
