ACIM Podcasts

There is no will but God's.

The idea for today can be regarded as the central thought toward which all our exercises are directed. God's is the only Will. When you have recognized this, you have recognized that your will is His. The belief that conflict is possible has gone. Peace has replaced the strange idea that you are torn by conflicting goals. As an expression of the Will of God, you have no goal but His.

There is great peace in today's idea, and the exercises for today are directed towards finding it. The idea itself is wholly true. Therefore it cannot give rise to illusions. Without illusions conflict is impossible. Let us try to recognize this today, and experience the peace this recognition brings.

Begin the longer practice periods by repeating these thoughts several times, slowly and with firm determination to understand what they mean, and to hold them in mind:

There is no will but God's. I cannot be in conflict.

Then spend several minutes in adding some related thoughts, such as:

I am at peace.
Nothing can disturb me. My will is God's.
My will and God's are one.
God wills peace for His Son.

During this introductory phase, be sure to deal quickly with any conflict thoughts that may cross your mind. Tell yourself immediately:

There is no will but God's.
These conflict thoughts are meaningless.

If there is one conflict area that seems particularly difficult to resolve, single it out for special consideration. Think about it briefly but very specifically, identify the particular person or persons and the situation or situations involved, and tell yourself:

There is no will but God's. I share it with Him.
My conflicts about ______ cannot be real.

After you have cleared your mind in this way, close your eyes and try to experience the peace to which your reality entitles you. Sink into it and feel it closing around you. There may be some temptation to mistake these attempts for withdrawal, but the difference is easily detected. If you are succeeding, you will feel a deep sense of joy and an increased alertness, rather than a feeling of drowsiness and enervation.

Joy characterizes peace. By this experience will you recognize that you have reached it. If you feel yourself slipping off into withdrawal, quickly repeat the idea for today and try again. Do this as often as necessary. There is definite gain in refusing to allow retreat into withdrawal, even if you do not experience the peace you seek.

In the shorter periods, which should be undertaken at regular and predetermined intervals today, say to yourself:

There is no will but God's.
I seek His peace today.

Then try to find what you are seeking. A minute or two every half an hour, with eyes closed if possible, would be well spent on this today.

Today's reading comes from ACIM Gather:

http://www.acimgather.org/beginners.htm

Tips for Beginners undertaking study of A COURSE IN MIRACLES

My congratulations on your beginning a great journey!

1. Familiarize yourself with a textbook (T), a Workbook for Students (365 lessons) (WB), and a Manual for Teachers (TM).

2. Read the INTRODUCTION, the famous paragraph beginning, "This is a course in Miracles", found just behind the table of contents in the T, over several times. Review it frequently until its profundity begins to penetrate your being. One study group I have attended reads it at the start of each meeting.

3. Turn to the end of the volume, TM page 73, entitled CLARIFICATION OF TERMS. Read the Introduction and the six essential small essays and the EPILOGUE in this section. These should be read over several times because they contain terms and concepts that are the basis for ACIM and do not mean what you might expect by common usage. You need not read all these in one sitting, nor is it recommended, because there is so much critically important information in them and you want to give yourself time to assimilate them.

4. Turn to the WB, (about the middle of the book) and read the INTRODUCTION over carefully. The author is very specific about how to undertake the lessons.

5. Start with lesson #1 and try to do a lesson every day, sequentially. Do not be discouraged with the fact that the first 40 lessons seem to negate everything you hold true. This is a "divine software program" for your mind and you will come to see the value in "deactivating" the "old program" prior to installing the new one.

6. Read the first article in the Textbook (TB) , "Fifty Characteristics of Miracles". This will give you an idea of what a miracle is and further clarify what Course is about.

7. Do the lessons as close to daily as suits you.

8. Try to read a few paragraphs or a few sections in the TB as frequently as you are moved to, beginning with Chapter 1. There is no rush. Reading and reflecting lets it sink in. Only every other sentence is profound. The other ones are just important.

9. Any time you wish, feel free to read sequentially in the TM, especially if you want to see where ACIM is going. In fact, The Teachers Manual is easier reading than the Text.

10. The idea of the course is not scholarship. It is forgiveness, peace and happiness.

Lovingly,
Philip B. Rothenberg, MD

Philip B. Rothenberg, M.D., is a retired plastic surgeon, practicing in Houston, for over 20 years, he has enjoyed long-standing interests in spirituality, alternative medicine, healing, archeology and comparative religions. He is a devoted student of A Course in Miracles and facilitates Carmel's ongoing ACIM study group every Monday night at 7:30 P.M. in the Carmel Temple Annex.

Thank you Philip.