The Holy Spirit is not a form. Devotion is not directed to a teacher or image. Give each day to the Holy Spirit. Ask the Holy Spirit for the miracle of experiencing perfect equality with everyone you meet. Giving yourself over to the practice of the ACIM lessons can be a devotion. Pray and follow guidance. God is not a personality. The way to worship God is to practice forgiveness and be as God created you. Be peaceful. See your Self beyond the body.
Guidance
Giving It All over to the Holy Spirit
It doesn’t matter how high your principles are; if you don’t apply them, it’s not going to give you peace of mind. If you took just ONE spiritual principle and applied it in your life across the board with all your situations, you could reach Enlightenment so much faster than by trying to accumulate hundreds of principles. And if you really wanted to boil “A Course in Miracles” down to one idea or principle, it would be the serenity prayer: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” The things I cannot change would be anything of this world of form, of time and space; the only thing I CAN change is my mind; and the wisdom to know the difference is the Holy Spirit’s Love which has already been given.
Practice Hearing the Holy Spirit
“A Course in Miracles” points to the truth. Practice hearing the Holy Spirit. The power of our joining is massive and we can’t mess it up, in spite of what the ego tries to tell us. The Holy Spirit is always giving us gentle guidance, moment to moment. Open to that and relax into it. The Holy Spirit is the Voice for God and as you deepen in your practice, the gifts of the Holy Spirit get more and more apparent. As we sink into our prayer to the Holy Spirit, which is our true desire, the fruits of the Holy Spirit can be reaped instantly.
Am I Hearing Holy Spirit or Ego
David Hoffmeister shares on “tuning in” and listening to the Holy Spirit and Jesus, and shares examples from his own life. Listening to the Holy Spirit rather than the ego takes a lot of discernment. On the most basic level, it is asking yourself, “How do I feel?” The deeper you go into miracle-working, the more you start to see there is, in truth, no difference between major and minor decisions. “A Course in Miracles” is a tool to use to help the mind tune into inner guidance from the Holy Spirit.
GPS: God’s Positioning System
There are many tools the Holy Spirit has given us to align back into our true nature. Whether it’s using the “Rules for Decision” in the book, “A Course in Miracles,” or the first two commandments in the Bible, all these tools help us keep the Kingdom of Heaven in focus.
Next Steps Are in the Now
“Who would defend himself unless he thought he were attacked, that the attack were real, and that his own defense could save himself? And herein lies the folly of defense; it gives illusions full reality, and then attempts to handle them as real. It adds illusions to illusions, thus making correction doubly difficult. And it is this you do when you attempt to plan the future, activate the past, or organize the present as you wish.” (W-135.1) The destination is now; the means are given simultaneously with the end. Like a musician or an athlete in the flow of the moment, the experience is the end. The Holy Spirit will guide you in the present where you lose the sense of a personal self. Join in stillness and listen for your next steps. The Holy Spirit will use your skills.
Dismantle and Be Held
God did not create you to strive to be a better self. That is a defense against “Be still and know that I am God.” (T-4.in.2:2) Let go of the images and open to love and light. There is no sacrifice in this, only the discovery of Self. You may experience disorientation; don’t try to figure it out; surrender. Be held by a mighty companion. Spirit will guide you.
Speak Your Desires
Trust that Spirit knows the prayer of your heart. The ego is afraid of joining. If you are attracted to someone, speak your mind openly. We come together to heal and awaken.
Hearing Internal Wisdom
Ready to hear your own internal wisdom speaking instead of the racket of ego? When ego thoughts are very loud, it can be hard to hear the whisper of your heart. Tune in. At first you begin with tiny impressions that seem to lead you by their feeling nature. They are very subtle. Watch for synchronicity. It can often be quite simple and practical. As you open yourself to guidance more and more, it can become like a clear stream of thought. The same Presence speaks to everyone, yet it is highly individualized.
Including Everything in and Guidance
How can I align my mind with Spirit and feel guidance in each moment? What thoughts or beliefs do I have to release? When you hear about “releasing” or “letting go” of something, another way to think of it is “letting in” more and more of the world you interact with. Many beautiful “A Course in Miracles” quotes point to this non-dualistic, inclusive viewpoint. In the perspective of Oneness, loss is not possible! It is mistaken perception.