Practice Love

How do you become an expert on something? Isn't there a kind of pattern? If you want to be an expert at golf, isn't it highly effective to observe the best, the professionals -- to seek out lessons and practice, practice, practice? Is it not good to continually monitor yourself and/or have experts check your progress and the elements of your game? Yes. This same strategy for excellence in any given endeavor can be utilized to acquire and nurture the most important thing in the universe and throughout eternity.  -- expressing and being the pure expression of Love! There is nothing higher. It should permeate everything you do, every decision your make, all responses to that which comes into your experience. We are each given a talent of Love. We have it by reflection of Him who is Love. Jesus instructed that we do not "hide" our "talents" but take them in hand and work to multiply them (Matthew 25:14-30). It has been the purpose of this recent series of blogs to analyze this "greatest thing in the world" (Drummond) and perhaps inspire its multiplication.

Henry Drummond explains that talent "develops itself in solitude— the talent of prayer, of faith, of meditation, of seeing the unseen;" while "character grows in the stream of the world’s life. That chiefly is where men are to learn love" (14). He also notes that while the elements of Love can be analyzed for deeper understanding, "love is something more than all its elements— a palpitating, quivering, sensitive, living thing" (14). So to multiply this talent of love, we must first desire to let it take over our being, study it, and then consciously work to assimilate this living thing as seen in perfect expression in the life of our Master, Christ Jesus. Just as one who would become an expert at golf, or tennis, or another language, or in cooking, or anything else, must study the masters in these fields, we must observe Jesus' practice of love, as preserved in the Gospels and in the writings of Paul and early church fathers. He is the Way-shower and illustrates what this thing, Love, looks like in our present experience. Through spiritual sense we can discern the pure unselfish thought and motive behind his words and works, and make ourselves like him. Practice, practice, practice love. Meditate in prayer on this precious living thing. We each have this love within by reflection, as "image and likeness" (Gen. 1:26).

Drummond elaborates this point with the passage,We love— because he first loved us (I John 4:19). He continues, "Look at that word “because.” It is the cause of which I have spoken. “Because he first loved us,” the effect follows that we love, we love Him, we love all men. We cannot help it. Because He loved us, we love, we love everybody. Our heart is slowly changed.

ACTION STEP: Today, choose a portion of the writings about Jesus, and look for how love is expressed in your selected passage(s). Next, keep the lesson of love, the way he expressed it in the verse(s), and find a parallel in your experience today in which you can actively follow that example. Before going to sleep tonight, think over his example of love and review how you did with it during the day. What did you do that was like it, what could you have done better, and what opportunities might you have improved? Pray to feel Love and ask that His angels be with you to better express it tomorrow. Make a habit of love. This is the "greatest thing in the world," and the most healing and comforting.


Drummond, Henry (2011-01-01). The Greatest Thing in the World, Experience the Enduring Power of Love (p. 14). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Practice Love and Find Healing

I hope everyone maintains a beautiful Christmas feel in their hearts and souls today, December 26, and every day forever. The magical feel of this celebration in its spiritual sense has its source in Love.

Author of The Greatest Thing in the World, Henry Drummond, writes these motivational words that urge us to live in Love and practice loving: "Now the business of our lives is to have these things [the elements of love as analyzed in the past series of blogs, found in I Cor. 13] fitted into our characters. That is the supreme work to which we need to address ourselves in this world, to learn love. Is life not full of opportunities for learning love? Every man and woman every day has a thousand of them. The world is not a playground; it is a schoolroom. Life is not a holiday, but an education. And the one eternal lesson for us all is how better we can love" (13).

ACTIVE WATCH: take the above idea and act on three of the thousands of opportunities to learn and practice love that come your way today. You can do this whether you go out or are shut in, you can do this if you are among people or alone. Your thoughts, when laced with Love, go forth with spiritual power to help and heal, and this unselfish loves does not come back to you void, but blesses you as well. Is there a place, a person or situation, where the opposite of love is felt when you think on it or live with it? It is a claim that love is absent, but God is Love and ever present. In those difficult emotional circumstances, take your thought away from the trigger [that which incites the negative reaction or feeling] and simply anchor conscious thought to God, to Love. Leave the personal sense for a minute, turn your back to it, and face the Light of Love entirely. He will care you for and adjust the situation.

At the end of the day today, think back over opportunities you had to express love. How did you do? Did you find three times to consciously choose love? Try it again tomorrow! Find four opportunities. Create a habit. Practice love. Jesus reassures us, "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light," (Matt. 11:30). Where Love is, the burden is light. Where love is expressed everything is eased.

Drummond, Henry (2011-01-01). The Greatest Thing in the World, Experience the Enduring Power of Love (p. 13). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Christmas Eve Healing through Love

Added note: One grace of Love is forgiveness -- and I ask forgiveness that I've been writing I Corinthians 15 through this series, when in fact, to my discomfiture, it is chapter 13! We will have to address the 15th chapter after this out of curiosity if nothing else!!!!  Love includes humility so here I am. Stuff happens, as they say.

So here is today's offering:

I Corinthians 13: 5-6

[Love] thinketh no evil; 

Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 

Henry Drummond interprets thinketh no evil as guilelessness. He writes, "Guilelessness is the grace for suspicious people. The possession of it is the great secret of personal influence. You will find, if you think for a moment, that the people who influence you are people who believe in you. In an atmosphere of suspicion men shrivel up; but in that atmosphere they expand, and find encouragement and educative fellowship" (11). 

Example. A mother called me for prayerful support and help because her teenage son had been arrested for car theft. He pleaded innocent. He explained what happened to his mother, but she didn't really believe him. I told her to give him the benefit of the doubt -- what if he was innocent and his story was true but she did not believe in him? Bad all the way around. What if she believed in him but was wrong? That was the higher way -- and what if he was telling the truth? Either way, better to accept and believe in your child and be proven wrong, than to join the accusers and then find him or her innocent. If nothing else, the support rather than suspicion, is healing and shows highest love. As it turned out, this teenager's story was true, he was innocent, and this mother was so very happy that she told him she believed him and was on his side no matter what. The relationship was strengthened through this exercise of guilelessness. Show confidence, not suspicion, and nurture love in your relationships.

Drummond elaborates, "Love “thinketh no evil,” imputes no motive, sees the bright side, puts the best construction on every action. What a delightful state of mind to live in! What a stimulus and benediction even to meet with it for a day! To be trusted is to be saved" (12). 

Let's go on a Christmas Eve 'watch' and express the above concept from Drummond -- spreading that wonderful aspect of Love as a gift to all we meet or think upon. Merry Christmas Eve!

Drummond, Henry (2011-01-01). The Greatest Thing in the World, Experience the Enduring Power of Love (p. 12). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. 

Love is Not Provoked

In further contemplation of the healing power of Love in our lives, let us consider the next passage in our series on I Corinthians 15, "Love is not provoked." Henry Drummond, author of The Greatest Thing in the World, calls the elements of love described in Corinthians, "ingredients." This would infer that the entirety is as a recipe for love that heals, comforts, saves, and produces peace.

Drummond asks that we consider this ingredient, love not provoked, to be synonymous with a bad temper. If one is easily provoked they may suffer an ill temper, be prone to quick anger. Many believe this misfortune simply to be built-in temperament, perhaps even inherited -- something that can't be helped and that is difficult to control. On the contrary, being easily provoked or angered is not the true nature of man, and certainly it is not something one would inherit from our heavenly Father, divine Love. Man is the "image and likeness" of God, and God is patient Love, tender and kind (Gen. 1:26).

Drummond writes, "For embittering life, for breaking up communities, for destroying the most sacred relationships, for devastating homes, for withering up men and women, for taking the bloom of childhood, in short, for sheer gratuitous misery-producing power this influence [evil temper] stands alone" (10). He continues to dissect the ill-temper, "What is it made of? Jealousy, anger, pride, uncharity, cruelty, self-righteousness, touchiness, doggedness, sullenness— these are the ingredients of this dark and loveless soul" (11).

There is an antidote, and it is the light of Christ in our consciousness, heart, and soul. It is the true nature of God that comes to us on eagle-wings! What are the exact spiritual counter facts of these elements of ill-nature? These make up your true and eternal nature. Not jealousy, but generosity; not anger, but patient loving-kindness; not pride, but humility; not uncharity, but love in good deeds; not cruelty, not gentleness; not self-righteousness, but humbleness in spiritual understanding; not touchiness, but Christly response; not doggedness, but pliable and open-minded; not sullenness, but joy. This produces the feeling and experience of a Light-filled loving individuality that blesses all and opens the way for healing.

Drummond has more text on this one ingredient than any other. I will add a final snippet of his wise counsel. To reach the core of the bad-temper issue, he explains that "the Spirit of Christ, interpenetrating ours, sweetens, purifies, transforms all. This only can eradicate what is wrong, work a chemical change, renovate and regenerate, and rehabilitate the inner man" (11).

Drummond, Henry (2011-01-01). The Greatest Thing in the World, Experience the Enduring Power of Love (p. 11). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Healing Power of Unselfishness

As we analyze the healing power of Love as illustrated in I Corinthians 15, we arrive at "seeketh not her own." Not seeking what it is your right to have for yourself, but rather turning from "self" to seek that which will benefit others. Such unselfishness should bring a win-win situation; it should bless everyone.

Henry Drummond explains in his book, The Greatest Thing in the World, "Unselfishness. “Love seeketh not her own.” Observe: seeketh not even that which is her own. ... “Seekest thou great things for thyself?” said the prophet; “seek them not.” Why? Because there is no greatness in things. Things cannot be great. The only greatness is unselfish love. The most obvious lesson in Christ’s teaching is that there is no happiness in having and getting anything, but only in giving. I repeat, there is no happiness in having or in getting, but only in giving. Half the world is on the wrong scent in pursuit of happiness. They think it consists in having and getting, and in being served by others. It consists in giving, and in serving others. “He that would be great among you,” said Christ, “let him serve.” He that would be happy, let him remember that there is but one way—“ It is more blessed, it is more happy, to give than to receive.”

I have been considered a most precious gift from Jesus that is ever-present for our receiving -- this is the kind of gift that transcends the "things" and moves to the "heavenly treasures" we need.  Once we have it, we can give it without measure. It is a gift of the highest nature -- peace.

Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).

Prayerfully meditate with gratitude on receiving more of this peace right now. Feel after it. Seek it for others by exuding it from your heart and soul, especially in 'stormy' circumstances. The peace and calm of God are upon you. Seek peace for yourself for the purpose of helping other find peace for themselves, it is the gift of Christ with healing power in its wings.


Drummond, Henry (2011-01-01). The Greatest Thing in the World, Experience the Enduring Power of Love (p. 9). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Love in small things heals

Following the passages of I Corinthians 15 on love, we now consider love expressed in small ways -- in Paul's language, "Love does not behave itself unseemly."

Henry Drummond, whose small book we have recommended, The Greatest Thing in the World, explains this as the "fifth ingredient" of love, and defines it "courtesy" (8). He elaborates, "This is love in society, love in relation to etiquette. ... Politeness has been defined as love in trifles. Courtesy is said to be love in little things. And the one secret of politeness is to love. Love cannot behave itself unseemly" (8). This is an interesting word choice, "unseemly." What does it mean exactly?

Dictionary-reference.com defines it as "not in keeping with established standards of taste and proper form; unbecoming or indecorous in appearance, speech, conduct, etc.; an unseemly act; unseemly behavior." Additionally, unseemly means "inappropriate for time or place."

It has been said that if you love, if you love God, if you love your fellow man, you will automatically keep all the Commandments. The same is true for deporting yourself harmoniously in any situation, with anyone, in any culture, in any circumstance. When consciousness glows with even a small pinpoint of love -- in the way of compassion, forgiveness, patience, understanding, gentleness -- words and actions will be at least polite. Oppositely, the unseemliness of words and actions fueled by anger, self-righteousness, cold indifference, fear, and so forth, leads to discord and strife, and to scenes that may later cause remorse, embarrassment, and require a good deal of forgiveness.

The love that does not "behave itself unseemly" is not personal love which could switch to animosity be tainted or lost. The real love is God's love, the Love that is the one I AM. It is the nature of the Infinite. Know that since "man" is the "image and likeness" of God (Gen. 1:26), you reflect and include in your eternal identity, this perfect Love that is all Light and never feels less than absolute peace and lovingkindness. Nothing is lost in a mirror -- it shows everything that is before it. Just so, you include the fullness of God's Love right now and always. Holding to this fact about yourself, you will feel it and express it more and more. It will take over for you in situations that are uncomfortable or fearful. It will protect you and govern your words and actions.

To nurture this outcome, be sure to take at least five minutes to prayerfully meditate on this truth about yourself reflecting the perfect Love that is God. Do this each day at least one time -- more is better -- you cannot do it too much! When one does not behave unseemly, this additionally acts as a mental medicine that permeates the body "searching the joints and marrow" so that health shows forth more tangibly (Hebrews 4:12). No part of body can act in an unseemly manner when Love brings its healing presence to every cell and fibre. Prayerfully meditate on Love as Light, "in whom in no darkness at all" -- nothing unseemly at all (I John 1:5).


Drummond, Henry (2011-01-01). The Greatest Thing in the World, Experience the Enduring Power of Love (p. 8). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Love not "puffed up" brings specific healing

We have reached the part of this healing by Love mini-blog series where we will consider the passage from I Corinthians, “Love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.”

In Henry Drummond's book, The Greatest Thing in the World, he calls this "humility." To "vaunt" is to brag or speak boastfully. It is not a loving nature or character to speak with exaggerated or excessive pride about yourself. It is so much more loving to be meek and humble, and it is so much more powerful as well. A side-effect is that others will like/love you more (rather than be repelled). To not speak of your wonderful accomplishments unduly -- but as necessary with gentleness, always keeping the value of others in mind -- is truly loving. This meek-love is an element of healing that especially targets puffed up or swollen areas on the body, as the mental state is so powerful when applied through prayer to the fear-producing appearance. This medicine of Love brings the healing power of humility exactly to where it is needed.

Do not fear being under-appreciated. God, the one Intelligence and Creator, is actually expressing His own qualities in you and loving your unique manifestation of these. He knows all things. You are appreciated and valued beyond measure throughout eternity. Without you, God would not be complete -- the universe would not be complete. You are necessary and loved.

You are "daily His delight" (Proverbs 8:30).



Drummond, Henry (2011-01-01). The Greatest Thing in the World, Experience the Enduring Power of Love (p. 8). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Empty the Envy in Favor of Love and Healing

In this mini-series on healing through Love with focus on I Corinthians 15, the following verses have already been considered -- the new addition is at the end -- "love envieth not."

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and though I gave my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing. Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; 

To "envy" is to "see against." Its origin contains the Latin video, to see. 

Henry Drummond's book, The Greatest Thing in the World, based on this Scripture, translates this short passage to one word, "generosity." Why? He explains that envy "is a feeling of ill will to those who are in the same line as ourselves, a spirit of covetousness and detraction;" it is a feeling of ill will to anyone who possesses or accomplishes something another wants, or wants to do better.

Drummond admonishes us to have "the grace of magnanimity." He urges that we recognize the one and only thing that truly should be envied — "the large, rich, generous soul which “envieth not” (7). Envy the one who does not envy!

Okay, so let's stop all this "seeing against" and instead see through God's eyes. Pray, "Father what do You see?" He will show you.


There is an equality, not an imbalance. God's perfect Self is expressed perfectly, Each one of His children is endowed with spiritual gifts unique to his or her identity.

The whole is the allness of the one Perfect Being, or I AM, moving and acting harmoniously to the glory of the One, our Father, God. Paul writes, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28). As image and likeness (Gen. 1:26) we each include (like a mirror reflection) all the wonderful and good qualities of the one Infinite -- each in our own way. We are part of the whole. God would not be complete without  you. Therefore, envy not -- there is not one good thing that you do not already include that will manifest to His glory and your happiness and fulfillment of purpose.

See from God's eye-view and make best use of all the gifts you already have. Look not at each other in a limited, personal, and faulty way, but look to God and you will become consciously and tangibly all that He is in your own uniqueness -- nothing lost and nothing withheld. You are like a mirror held up to all good. Focus on that!

The right motive is the desire to show forth Good clearly and fulfill your purpose in harmony with all the universe and glorify God. Hell means unable to see; heaven is clear spiritual vision that "envieth not," but loves generously with magnanimity. The good you see in another is good that is part of yourself, good that is God expressed, good that makes all things harmonious, healthy, and balanced. Praise God by praising good and being grateful for it as seen in each one of us.


Drummond, Henry (2011-01-01). The Greatest Thing in the World, Experience the Enduring Power of Love (p. 7). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Love is Kind; Kindness Heals

LOVE is kind; (I Cor. 15). Kindness brings healing. Henry Drummond, in his book, The Greatest Thing in the World, tells us that love is "active." He asks us to notice "how much of Christ's life was spent in doing kind things -- in merely doing kind things" (6). To be one with Love we must love, and kind words and actions are an element of this Love.

This is the 5th in the mini-series on the healing power of Love -- focus on actively expressing kindness.

Kindness. As an adjective, etymologically from Old English, it is "friendly, deliberately doing good to others" (http://www.etymonline.com/).

It is within our power to deliberately do good to others. It is, in fact, one of the most pleasant things to do. It expresses active, but very gentle, love -- and love heals.

Etymologically, the original denotes, "natural, native, innate," illustrative of the fact that man in God's "image and likeness" (Gen. 1:26) naturally and innately includes and expresses this element of Love -- kindness.

It also carried a sense of "the feeling of relatives for each other," a sentiment Jesus expressed in teaching us to begin prayer, "Our Father..."

Proto-Germanic "kundi '' natural, native" aligned with "kin" shows the development to the present day word, kind. The unfolding of this word or concept passed through, and continues to blend with "benign, compassionate" or "with natural feelings" (c. 1300.)

In earlier blogs I recommend that you keep a gratitude-kindness journal. If you are an early riser with some time, you might journal in the morning. Write 2 things you are grateful for, and three things that you could do today to express kindness. It's also great to track in a few words, kindnesses shown to you. To speak with love, and earlier blog entry, is to speak with kindness.

ACTION STEP. Either in journal, or just for the coming day, note three ways you can and will deliberately do good to someone, or some one of God's creatures as pictured above! Love heals. Love is kind.



















Drummond, Henry (2011-01-01). The Greatest Thing in the World, Experience the Enduring Power of Love (p. 6). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

4th in Mini-series Heal by Love

Following along I Corinthians 15 and Henry Drummond's small book, The Greatest Thing in the World, we now move to the portion of the passage he entitles, "The Analysis." Drummond compares Love to the compound of light that comes out through a prism in many colors.

Paul, in writing of this great thing we call love, has broken it into nine beautiful pieces:

• patience
• kindness
• generosity
• humility
• courtesy
• unselfishness
• good temper
• guilelessness
• sincerity

These are the more modern words that Drummond uses to clarify Paul's writing, for example, Paul writes, "Love suffereth long," translated "patience."

We will take one of these elements per day in this mini-series, look at it more in-depth, and find ways to apply it to our lives. Then we must each go on "watch" to do our best at maintaining it (try a 24-hour watch with each of the nine). You may not be perfect, but when you slip, just remember to come back over to the patience line.

Be patient with yourself.

Drummond notes that these nine elements make up "the stature of a perfect man" (5).

Drummond writes that patience "is the normal attitude of love; love passive, love waiting to begin; not in a hurry; calm; ready to do its work when the summons comes, but meantime wearing the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit" (5). ACTION STEP: Write a few of those inspiring words on a small piece of paper and put it either in your pocket to pull out at time during the next 24-hours that you are on watch, or tape it up somewhere that you look frequently.

The angel response to my desire for healing said gently, "All you have to do is love." That is all we have to do. So, all we have to do is be patient. We must at least work on it and go on a watch. Also, please watch that you do not declare against yourself by repeating the lie, I have no patience, or I am not a patient person. We can overcome this lie. God, Love is patient, and we each reflect the one God and His true nature.

Patience. The quality of bearing provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like (Websters). It is also quiet, steady persevance, even-tempered care, and diligence.

Please add any helpful parts of that definition to that small paper you have written a few Drummond words upon.

Jesus said, "In your patience possess ye your souls" (Luke 21:19).

As a final benediction or blessing on you and your endeavors, Paul writes in Romans, "Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus" (15:5). Do your best. It's like turning to the light. Surely there will be some measure of healing and uplifting of character and nature. Your efforts are all supported by the infinite One who loves you.


Drummond, Henry (2011-01-01). The Greatest Thing in the World, Experience the Enduring Power of Love (p. 6). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Sacrifice with Love

In this third of a mini-blog series, we continue to analyze and apply Paul's explanation of Love in conjunction with healing (emotionally, physically, financially, in all ways). You are encouraged to get Henry Drummond's short writing, The Greatest Thing in the World, paperback or Kindle, from Amazon.

Today's passage from I Corinthians 15: "And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and though I gave my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing."

Drummond notes that you "can take nothing greater" than love with you wherever you go, and you "need take nothing less." Basically, even if you make the ultimate sacrifice of your own life, if you did it without love, there would be no profit, no real benefit, for you or anyone else. Imagine Jesus at crucifixion if he did not maintain his incredible love. He expressed love and compassion through his statement of forgiveness as they nailed him to the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." He was teaching the eternal, universal lesson of Life and of Love, and maintaining his God-given purpose to save. Nothing less that the greatest love could accompany Jesus' supreme sacrifice, and nothing less could have brought resurrection or ascension.

So whatever sacrifice you may have the opportunity to make today, do it with love, not out of obligation or fear. There are many kinds of sacrifices that we can make each day, ones that will benefit ourselves and others -- but only if permeated with love -- tenderness, compassion, forgiveness. You might sacrifice an hour of your time for some good purpose -- to care for someone that needs help or encouragement, or to work an hour for a colleague with a need. You might sacrifice that sarcastic remark, that judgmental attitude,  or a coldness toward someone or something. Warm yourself with tender Love and be moved with compassion. There are many ways and opportunities to "lay down your life for your friends" as Jesus instructed, but all must be done with love to be of any use.

Drummond writes, "You may take every accomplishment; you may be braced for every sacrifice; but if you give your body to be burned, and have not love, it will profit you and the cause of Christ nothing." So take love with you today and you need nothing less.

Drummond, Henry (2011-01-01). The Greatest Thing in the World, Experience the Enduring Power of Love (p. 4). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Healing through Love

Continuing the last post concerning healing through Love, we turn to the second portion of I Corinthians 15, "And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing."

Henry Drummond's short work, The Greatest Thing in the World, includes the following concerning this passage: "Love is greater than faith, because the end is greater than the means. What is the use of having faith? It is to connect the soul with God. And what is the object of connecting man with God? That he may become like God." To become God-like one must consciously realize himself to be the "image and likeness" of Him who is Love (Genesis 1:26). “If I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”

Moving a mountain, when considered as a thing happening in consciousness, represents freeing thought from some huge, menacing suggestion of permanent evil such as incurability, disease, aging, forgetfulness, bad temper, scarcity-mentality, and so forth. If by faith you manage to move one of these mountainous beliefs from consciousness, to shake the conviction of the danger, limitation, or threat, but you have no love -- you will not profit. We want to move the mountain through Love-imbued faith. The mental steps must be accompanied by Christly affection.

When I was healed of smoking through prayer (addiction-mountain), the one praying with me exuded so much love and compassion as to impress my heart and soul forever with the richness of Love's power.  It would not have been so transforming without the pure affection. Faith in God and in the prayer was a big part of the instantaneous release, but the lingering sense that I was loved profited me the most.

REPEATED ACTION STEP FROM THE LAST BLOG: Get Henry Drummond's book and check back here each day for extra help on implementing its ideas. Drummond challenges his readers to read this Scripture each day for a month, promising incredible transformation. Further, this blog will take a small portion of the Scripture each day to completion to aid in assimilating and applying the ideas that comprise this greatest thing that is within you -- this most powerful healing thing called Love.

Love is greater than the power of prediction through grace, it is stronger than anyone's personal understanding, and it is necessary to crown faith's moving of a mountain to raise the event to the level   of a full and permanent blessing. Have faith, but have more love.

Drummond, Henry (2011-01-01). The Greatest Thing in the World, Experience the Enduring Power of Love (p. 3). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

So How Do You Heal?

I woke up in the early morning hours and thought, "So how do you heal?" A response occurred in consciousness, "You have to be good and pure." I responded, "I can't be that good." Then, a true angel message came that countered, "You just have to love." 

With love you can heal others and be healed. 

But how do you love? What kind of love is this? 

These questions led me to remembering Henry Drummond's small book entitled, The Greatest Thing in the World, based on Paul's letter to the Corinthians. Although written and published back in the 1800's, it remains current, relevant, instructional, and life-changing. Drummond was an evangelist from Scotland. His concise analyzation of love, based on the Scripture in I Corinthians 15 remains a rich gift to the world.

The Scripture reads:

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and though I gave my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing. Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (Letter of Paul to the Corinthians).

Paul points out that three things "abide" -- are permanent --faith, hope, and love, but the "greatest" is love. Drummond, therefore, notes that the greatest thing in all the world, is love. Love is what heals. It heals grief -- emotional pain -- by turning it to unsolved spiritual energy and purpose, to gentleness, to comfort. Love has the power to heal anything of any nature, no matter what.

ACTION STEP: Get Henry Drummond's book and check back here each day for extra help on implementing its ideas. Drummond challenges his readers to read this Scripture each day for a month, promising incredible transformation. Further, this blog will take a small portion of the Scripture each day to completion to aid in assimilating and applying the ideas that comprise this greatest thing that is within you -- this most powerful healing thing called Love.

BEGIN. Begin now with the first verse and watch that you speak with love, with a loving tone, patiently. Anything you say that has not a sense of love makes your words "as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal" -- without power or influence -- empty. Put the tone of love in your voice.

Drummond, Henry (2011-01-01). The Greatest Thing in the World, Experience the Enduring Power of Love . Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. 

Tired of the Pain

Emotional pain, while different than physical pain, can be excruciating. If left to run its own course it can wreak havoc on one's health and tie up the good that might otherwise be done in so many areas of life, and for an indefinite time.

When physical pain is extreme many turn to morphine or some kind of drug for relief, but there is no morphine for the crying soul. In reality, healing is needed, spiritual awakening, rather than something soporific. When one gets tired of the emotional pain, this becomes a turning point.

Often the turning point is accompanied by a redirecting of the force of the afflicting thought-patterns to an energy of philanthropy in a motive to do good to others. To help, heal, uplift, make happy, aid, support, or otherwise bless our fellow-man or other creatures on the planet, supplies recovery power to the honest giver.

What is your top area of interest? How could you envision this helping others? What could you read about or research for hours that would feel like mere moments to you? Connect with this thing.

Ask God to direct and guide you, and then stop talking! In the book of Revelation, when the 7th seal is broken, there is "silence in heaven for the space of half an hour" (8:1). Quiet your thought and listen spiritually. You can do this. Angel messages will occur. You will be guided. "Ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full" Jesus taught (John 16:24). Ask what the Father wants you to do to bless others out of a pure heart, and expect to receive ideas that are good. These ideas are blessed and in accord with His will. They lead to unselfish, kind, uplifting, edifying words and actions. They rebuild your life, better and higher than before. They strengthen and bless everyone.

Redirecting thought spiritually with purpose can only work good. It does not indicate that one no longer cares very deeply about a loved one who has suffered misfortune or who has passed, in fact, it honors that one. Right, loving, and good activity goes on eternally and is always blessed of our Father. You may resolve to know that all your endeavors to move forward in this productive and positive manner, all of it shows honor, respect, and love.

The most important thing is to love and honor God which means that one must express the qualities of the I AM through kindness, gratitude, diligence, unselfishness, generosity, pure thoughts, good deeds, grace, spiritual power, affection, intelligence, wisdom, and so forth. This is the nature of the divine, and the true nature of man as God's image (Gen. 1:26). Employed by these things all that you put your hand to is blessed, and all who remain in your heart are blessed.

Tired of the pain? Redirect. Ask. Listen. Act. Bless and be blessed.

Emotional Immune Mechanism

Emotional Immune Mechanism

That stubborn, won't-go-away-or-budge, person, place, or thing, that has frustrated you forever -- what can be done? Must our happiness be stolen away all the time by this thing? Please take the following ideas into consideration as they might address something in your experience, and only decide to use what is helpful to you. Each instance is unique, and one must pray for guidance.

When the person, persons, or personalities, the hurtful or disrespectful words, actions, or lack of actions, the place, the thing, or whatever offensiveness obstructs your peace and joy, have proven thus far to be a changeless thorn in your emotions -- and all your attempts to fix, modify, or alter have failed -- now might be the time to let your emotional immune mechanism kick in.

What is this? It's a kind of survival, self-preservation strategy or action to defend your harmony and happiness. When a tough challenge confronts our mentality day after day, stealing our joy, we can often stretch our comfort zones and include it in a harmonious way. Often whatever the thorny thing is, it changes as we pray or think about it differently, so things adjust. However, you may have something like an indissoluble barbed piece of titanium that won't change or go away. Possibly you still have to include it in your life, sometimes daily, sometimes very closely. 

Then the question may be posed, what will you do with your own self about this? Will you continue to be upset, frustrated, angry, grumbly, fearful -- unhappy? Or will you decide on your own inner peace? Either way, the prickly nuisance or frustration stays the same. If you cannot change it, you can change you. Here is where the emotional immune mechanism kicks in. Think of the problem as a cell that has some element of destructiveness (destroying your peace and joy), and your comfort zone or response to all things that come to your attention, as the body surrounding and including that uneasy cell. You can't eject it or change it at the moment and it hurts. Therefore, surround the thing in a protective barrier mentally. Isolate it in an emotional coating that prevents its disturbing qualities from contaminating your day by day experience. Let it be confined and harmless to you. You are not that other person, group, place, or thing. You are not doing the hurtful act or saying the abusive words. Decide to maintain your peacefulness and harmonious life despite the presence of the annoyance. 

One mother's experience included several children who for years simply would not pick up after themselves. No strategy, no tactic, no words, penalties, threats, bribes, reasoning, or promises made the situation budge. She seemed up against an immovable obstruction to her peace and happiness. Realizing that she did have power to change her own thought and be in control of her own emotional state for peace and joy, she employed this emotional immune mechanism to maintain her health and harmony. The areas of the home where she lived, she simply kept clean because that is what she requires and thrives in -- doors to other rooms can be shut. This is the temporary fix. This is an excellent example of maintaining one's inner peace and happiness while working on a higher solution -- see 'what to do' below. 

What we have here is like a necessary bandage to handle a sustained misery-producing thing that is stubborn. The real remedy, that which will bring true adjustment for good, will lie in our determination to know spiritual truth and consent to see the joy-stealing 'cell' from God's eye-view where everything is "very good." 

Wrap the stubborn frustrating thing in a sack of immunity where it cannot hurt you, while you maintain your peace. It can be done. It is the thing you have control over. The sacked frustration thorn cannot truly affect you now. Most importantly, begin a special journal or document to gather ideas to pray with that address the issue directly. Let the divine Intelligence guide you through His Word and lift your thoughts to the spiritual and real. The basis of this work is the fact that God is good and man is His "image" (Gen. 1:26). When something opposite of good is occurring and encroaching upon your joy, it needs to be challenged by this truth. Man's true nature is the reflection of God's nature which includes every quality of good -- love, kindness, gentleness, right action, energy, logic, understanding, thoughtfulness, peace, and so forth. Declare for the opposite of that which seems annoying or hateful. 

WHAT TO DO. Begin a HEALING AND ADJUSTMENT JOURNAL.

STEP ONE for this Healing and Adjustment Journal, create two different lists of words. One list will include words that describe the problem (stubborn, ornery, lazy, mean, abusive, unforgiving, judgmental, critical, accusatory, defensive, spendthrift -- whatever is included in the (so far) unyielding joy-stealer you are now isolating with your emotional immune mechanism. Next, in another list, write all the words that are opposite these negative ones.

It is much easier and more complete if you use a thesaurus (if online go to thesaurus.com) or a dictionary, or both. This activity is the first thing you do for the journal in getting thought into a position of grace from God to directly affect the situation for good, for healing.

STEP TWO. Find verses in the Scriptures containing the words you have written in your journal, and write these on the next pages (however you decide to organize). BEGIN with the first word and its opposite. I have sometimes written a dictionary definition of each as a starter just to get thought moving. Find the words in the Bible (concordance or online search). Write the verses by the words and their definitions. PRAY with the concepts. Let your thought take the ideas or instructions given, and apply them to the disturbance right within your own thought. Consent for change of thought on your own part -- this you can do. The power of this prayer will bring adjustment to your situation in God's own way. Be patient. Give gratitude for any little sign of improvement. Do this consistently and things will adjust harmoniously through the divine power, the Love that loves you.

OPTIONAL. Put a brief note or phrase containing the main spiritual ideas from your journal into your pocket or wallet. Refer to as needed during the day. Keep the right ideas, the hope, the light, the truth in the front of your thought. This will no doubt feel difficult when the harsh or distressing person, place, or thing acts out before you again  -- but meet it silently with your higher spiritualized thought and it will yield as God's grace is acknowledged as present and all-powerful. Jesus said that we would know the truth -- the omnipotence of Good and man in His image -- and it would free us. It is our right as God's children to live in peace and be safe. 

OPTIONAL. After completing an exhaustive research, study, and application of the specific words or concepts needed to address your issue, you may wish to add a supplement with terms such as joy, sorrow, gladness, sad or sadness, happy, happiness, sighing, crying, tears, and so forth.

Isaiah 35:10 reassures us, "And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."

10 out of 10 frustration day?

What if you are having a day where your stress, grief, anger, fear, or frustration level feel nearly at a 10 out of 10? Move slowly. Do not make decisions, especially big ones. 

If you are reading this, you are most likely calmed to a lower number on that scale of 1 to 10, otherwise it would be almost impossible to even consider reading this or taking in any positive help by any means. That's the good news for the moment. 

Any mental or emotional state close to frozen fear, pit of mourning, or blind rage is toxic for the one stuck (temporarily) in this state, and even if held in, it is devastating for anyone around that individual. If it comes upon you, for whatever reason, prepare ahead as for an oncoming hurricane. For those live, or have lived, in hurricane territory, you know you must bring any that could become a flying projectile into the house or it becomes an instrument of destruction. Just so, in a temporarily severe emotional seizure, bring all loose, or unresolved, issues, questions, grievances, annoyances, and so forth -- into a place where they can't fly or strike anyone for the moment. Accusations and sarcastic remarks are missile projections launched from that which is normally balanced and nice, when the mental state approximates violent weather. If possible, put distance between yourself and others for a space of time. Spit everything out where there is no listening ear, or write it in a secret place where no one will have an opportunity to read it. Get it out. 

When the hurricane of emotion passes, and it will, two things may occur. You will be left feeling prostrate before God and in the perfect state of humility and meekness to ask for help and receive it. That intense grief, anger, fear, or frustration, is and was never truly part of you, it is/was like you were caught in a violent storm that is now past. Remember that the Scripture says, "God is of purer eyes than to behold evil" (Hab. 1:13). God sees all and always sees everything "very good" (Gen. 1:31). You would not feel guilty over a hurricane that passed over you, and you should not hold yourself in identification with intense sadness, depression, hate, or anger, either. The Scripture explains, "He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still" (Ps. 107:29). God calms and comforts consciousness, and there is no way to escape His Love or be separated from it even for a moment,  no matter how bad we might feel.

If you have experienced a tidal wave of emotion exceedingly overwhelming, and you are reading this, you are in both recovery time and preparatory time. Do not waste more precious moments by feeling guilty or in self-condemnation. The storm is past. The only thing that is really a part of you, that which is your forever true nature, is the goodness and love that you reflect of God as His "image" and likeness (Gen. 1:26). The negative emotions and thoughts wash off like mud that was never a real part of you. Let it go. Prepare ahead to weather any such onslaughts and they will cease or at least be less severe. I recommend a Journal. 

Begin, or continue in, or pick back up -- a journal. You might want a locked one! In Grief Coaching, I recommend a gratitude-kindness journal. In the case of preparing for possible hurricane emotions, your journal should include the occasional page where you spill and spit out what you hate, what is so upsetting. Later, go back and look over the issues that need to be addressed and pray for help from the Father. The ones that appear unresolvable and upsetting, these you will especially lay at the feet of divine Love. "I'm putting these things here because I have no control over them, and I really need Your help." Then leave them there at the feet of the Christ. The I AM that is all Love will move upon these things with His Law of harmony and there will be adjustment. You are not stuck. Nothing bad has power to resist the omnipotence of God, Good. Put your worries, fears, and frustrations down before the infinite One who loves you and cares for you, then listen for guidance, for He will send His angel-messages right to your thought. Watch things change and give thanks for every bit of evidence toward right adjustment. 

These angel-messages and changes for good are things you would write in your journal in the gratitude section. If you missed the blog about how to do the Gratitude-Kindness Journal, it is basically to take a few minutes each night, or morning, and write several things you are grateful for from that day (or previous day if you cannot do this until he morning), and several ways that you expressed or observed kindness. This is normally a before-you-go-to-sleep routine. The morning routine I recommend takes just 5 minutes as well. Plan some way to spiritualize your thought for the first 5 minutes that you are awake. Here are some ideas: open your Bible after a quick prayer for guidance and read; mentally (or audibly) sing a hymn and pray with the ideas in it (you might have a hymnal or something online or printed out ahead of time); listen to calming, spiritual music; take notes or annotate an ongoing Bible study; and always conclude by asking God what He would have you do for Him today. 

Help for Healthy Grieving

It is natural to wake up and look forward to your day, rather than be in dread. There is such a thing as healthy grieving, but grief that debilitates and extends over a long period time needs to be addressed deeply. A Grief Coach is trained and experienced to aid individuals specifically. This blog offers ideas, insights, and questions that will definitely help, but seek one-on-one sessions for best progress and results.

Consider turning grieving into something meaningful that honors or that would please a loved one who has passed on. Think of the good you could accomplish with focus, motivation, and energy. Are you ready to ease the pain and embark on some positive changes? Doing so does not mean you love less -- it may, in fact, indicate an increase of love.

The questions are, what would your loved one have you do? What would be pleasing? Most importantly, above all else, what would God have you do? What would be most pleasing to Him? May I recommend that you simply ask in prayer with an honest and open heart? It's good to do this right before going to sleep at night. Often you will awaken with some kind of answer or intuition, or it will suddenly occur to you during the day.

Grieving does not only belong to those who have had loved ones pass on, it accompanies many other events in life. We grieve loss of independence, loss of a job, loss of a home, loss of "face" or reputation, predicaments our children have gotten into, and more. But the DNA of our Spirit is resilient and kicks in at some point to rescue and relieve, to lift us up and cause us to move forward.

Grief is not felt in isolation either. Everyone involved feels it to some extent. It is best to deliberately work through the process, and ongoing support is a must. Know that I am here for you, even if only in blog. However, our Father, infinite Love is truly present with you, around you, and through you, every moment for all of eternity. The Scriptures say, "Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you" (James 4:8).

Goal: Move Forward with Purpose

Set a goal to move forward with purpose. We cannot go back in time, we are simply always in the present, but we can plan for the future prayerfully as God directs. If the past has good that we miss, let's honor that good in this present moment and have gratitude. If there are things we regret, let's wring out the lessons and wash clean in this present moment. Let's consent to go forward as divine Love directs. "Wash you, make you clean," says the prophet Isaiah.

When the Spirit leads you in setting a goal, you will be successful in reaching it, and energized, benefited, and blessed in the process.

What is a "goal?' The earliest use of the word according to Arcade Dictionary of Word Origins, occurred in the first part of the 1500's. It indicated the "finishing line of a race" as well as the "posts through which the ball is sent in football." Paul writes, "... let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, ..." (Romans 12:1). A goal is specific and measurable. It needs to be clearly defined. It needs to be time-specific -- a projected end date. We must think deeply about values when setting a goal, but most important, we must pray -- ask and listen. 

 A Spirit-led goal will include elements of unselfishness, philanthropy, and nurturing, and it will include elements that make you stretch, that force spiritual development, that exercise spiritual gifts that you may not realize you even have. It is important to have a goal in order to move forward with stability and purpose, and it must be one that is "win-win" and not injurious to anyone.

We are each given "talents" by our Creator, and often our special talent or gift produces a kind of good excitement within us. We are passionate about it. What is your passion? What could you happily spend hours and hours doing, reading about, practicing, studying or improving upon? How might you develop this to be of most benefit to others? It will surely turn back to bless you a hundredfold.

Take some time with these questions. Begin with prayer. Ask divine Love to lead your thought and make you discern His angel messages. Ask for increased spiritual intuition. You may have more than one passion -- let Spirit point out that which is in accord with His will for your life. Begin working in that direction. You will fly on the wings of divine Love when you move in accord with Him plan, and it is a joy.

If you do not yet have some kind of personal Journal, please get one right away. Dedicate a page to the above questions. Write them down. Then freely write all that comes to you in response. Let is rest for a day. Then go back prayerfully and read what you have written. Cross out and/or highlight; edit, add or delete. At this point you may realize at least one goal, even a small one that will lead you in a productive direction. Write it in large beautiful writing. If you don't have it yet, take another day and repeat the above steps. Stay close with the prayerful petitions listed as springboards to your heart-to-heart conversation with God. Talk to God, and then remember to listen! Angel messages and intuitions will come to your consciousness clearly.

A goal may be small and short-term. It may be a "baby-step." That's all right. Do that. A goal may be pretty big and take some time. Think out the steps. What will it take to reach that goal? Step by step divine Intelligence will direct you and keep you safe. If you have a big goal, work it through in your Journal on another page. It is similar to planning a long trip. You know the destination and then plan stops along the way. What will it take to reach your goal? List the unselfish and beneficial things that will occur when you accomplish your purpose in accord with Love's will.

If you go on a drive, you must know the destination, otherwise you will wander aimlessly, be confused, and be stressed or scared. Since we continuously move forward through eternity, we need to be aware of our destination, set goals to accomplish, and thus progress in accord with the Father's plan. This is the way that is secure. The I AM is always present with you, and innumerable angels surround and care for you, crowning your right actions with success. When divine Love gives you the goal, it enables its accomplishment.

Moving from one place to another brings change. It's okay. Change is inevitable, but we can embrace it as a discovery of more of the infinitude of the All-in-all, the Eternal One. Turn the stress over to the Father and take His gentleness to your heart instead. Lay your burden at His feet. You are held in His hand safe. He carries you forward. You are blessed and others benefited and helped as well. Redirect mourning into a brighter morning each day. In Zephaniah we are assured, "The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing" (3:17).

When Comfort Foods are Good to Indulge

Comfort foods. A good idea at times? Or steadfastly to be refused and resisted? Let us reason together, for at times of stress, countless people find moments of at least partial relief by eating certain things.

What is the number one comfort food? Did you guess chocolate? Chocolate is (surprisingly) not the number one comfort food in the U.S., it comes in second to macaroni and cheese!

Today, October 28, is both national "I love you Day," and national "Chocolate Day." Seems a good excuse to get some yummy chocolate comfort food, or to take some to another as a surprise! The two go together well, along with flowers (an embellishment for today).

It all points to a loved one and maybe some good memories that after a loss are painful because missed. Food can be a two-edge sword, one side a trigger of memories, the other a bandaid of stress relief. Certain foods, called comfort foods, are believed to create particular "feel-good" chemicals that give about a 20 minute lift -- but sometimes a 20 minute lift is exactly what is needed. Sometimes, especially in either early grieving days or on special dates or holidays, just getting the next 15 to 20 minutes under control in a planned activity, is the perfect thing to do. Sometimes, partaking in comfort food will bridge you over an abyss of threatening depression. Then it is a good thing to partake. There must be a balance, however, and not overindulgence.

We must get our real comfort food from Spirit -- be fed by Love divine. God is Father and Mother, and we are His beloved children. He holds us close and angel messages help us awaken to where we are in the arms of the Infinite tender Love. It is like waking to find yourself safe in bed rather than in a dream where you may be running through a field to escape a mad bull! Waking up from a bad dream, we are in a higher conscious state, a clearer sense of the real. Waking from the mesmeric false sense of separation or loneliness, we find ourselves held by the ever-present, the Love that fills all space, that knows and cares for you every moment. Pray for more spiritual awakening because this is the true comfort.

WHAT TO DO. Everything really depends upon how we frame it in our thinking. What Scripture is most comforting to you? Write it down. How can you reframe the one memory that may be triggering sadness, stress, anxiety, or overwhelming grief? Write that down. Now go on a strict 24-hour "watch" of your thought regarding this one thing, and keep that verse active in thought as well as visible on that paper.

Example: My late husband, being Italian, was well-known in our family for his magnificent spaghetti sauce (he called "gravy"). I cried over spaghetti for a long time after he was gone. One day, I decided to "reframe" this trigger, this negative impact of missing him that plunged through me when it came to making or eating "gravy." As I put the ingredients together, starting with the good imported olive oil, the garlic and onions, I said out loud, "I'm making this for you." It was to HONOR him. It was to take a wonderful gift that he had given me and lifting my concept of it up to honor him -- and make him smile -- that's how it feels to me. I made his "gravy" and thank him, and we smile. So it is reframed. It is a comfort food to me now rather than a trigger food. It makes me smile instead of cry.

Everything is how you think of it, so choose one thing that feels difficult and sad right now, reframe your sense of it, stick to that, and be comforted.

If chocolate speaks love to you -- indulge in a balanced way today -- celebrate national "I love you" day, especially in the comforting act of bestowing a chocolate gift to someone with at least a smile that silently speaks of love -- God's Love.

Rate Your Present Moment

Rate your present moment. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 the lowest (most depressed or sad), and 10 the highest (normal joy and energy) -- where are you now?

Spiritual awakeness to the eternal now, determines the height of whatever good is being discerned, experienced, felt -- especially in the midst of dark, sad, shocking things. At the worst of times, the Light that is God, Love, still burns within you. There is no getting away from it. Therefore, the scale you are considering has no zero. Even if you think you are at a "one," that indicates the presence of at least a flicker of hope --  a tiny but perceptible realization of God's presence of Good.

How can we get more spiritually awake (increasing the number on the scale of normalcy and energy of joy)?

Here is how NOT to do it. When we have a nightmare, sometimes we tend to stay there in bed ruminating over it. We might go over what happened and think out ways to escape, fix, or change whatever bad stuff presented itself in the dream. This elongates that which is causing dismay.

The best course is to shake yourself from the bed and get up. Put on the light and start actively looking around to see where you really are. Become active in even the most mundane activity, and it will assuredly draw you away from the nightmare. You quickly come into your true sense of what's real and where you are.

Spiritual awakening can parallel this strategy. Turn away from the dark evidence for just one minute, and let's see where we really are. The Scriptures say, "In Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28).
https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/search.cfm?Criteria=move+and+have+our+being&t=KJV#s=s_primary_0_1

If we are "in Him," we are now in Spirit, in the universe of Love that fills all space. Now get active. Engage in an activity of unselfish love. Ideas: ask someone what you could do to make their day better. Start a letter (or write a journal page) of forgiveness to someone. Give special attention to a pet. Call someone on the phone with intent to make them smile. Wash the dishes! Hold someone's hand. Do something.

Even the great prophet Elijah was so depressed once that he didn't want to live any longer. He ran away laid down under a juniper tree (I Kings 19:4). Angels came (the light, the awakening) and got him up -- provided food and drink. Be careful -- don't lay down again. Elijah was so distressed, that he did exactly that. But the persistent angels came again and forced him up. He went on the strength of the spiritual food, truths, and drink, water of life, provided, all the way to Mount Horeb -- (like the 10 on our scale). God's presence was seen and felt as a "still small voice." Elijah helped and healed many people after that, and so will you. "Rise and eat," as the angel said to Elijah. You, "rise and eat." Get your rating of present moment up at least one notch, then the direction upward shall continue. You are of great value to our Father and you are loved.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/search.cfm?Criteria=juniper+tree&t=KJV#s=s_primary_0_1

Expand Your Comfort Zone

How big is your comfort zone? You might think of this "zone" as a circle around yourself. Within the perimeter are all the things that you are most comfortable with, things you are most used to, or things of which you have most expertise. When something comes to your experience that is outside of your comfort zone, it can cause some degree of stress, from slight discomfort to downright dread, fear, or trepidation. In grief coaching, this uncomfortable thing is usually due to a loss, either of a loved one, someone that was depended upon in some way, or loss of a home, business, or relationship damage. Any change at all will cause stress -- but the huge changes -- like when my husband of many years passed away and I found myself alone -- hit like a tidal wave that smashes in all around that comfort zone perimeter. Jesus said that the "winds and waves" would come and "beat on [the] house" -- things will happen that are difficult and force change. In Hebrew literature, "house" means "consciousness," so these are things that occur which beat in on our consciousness. The "house" that "does not fall" is the one "built on the rock." This rock is Christ, and Christ Jesus illustrates our true dominion in every situation, shows our capabilities through oneness with the Father, Love, to stand strong like a rock through adversity. You do not stand by yourself through human endeavor, but you stand supported and impervious through oneness with God -- like a ray of light to the sun. It is through grace that you are carried through the emotional storm. Be still and hold to this truth -- God is All, and it is He that comforts (strengthens) you and holds you secure on the rock. Whatever comes to you, no matter how difficult or insurmountable it appears, operates to expand your comfort zone if you turn to divine Love and focus on the Light that is God, knowing He sustains and carries you through. Even Jesus said, "I can of mine own self do nothing," but he adds that "whatsoever I see the Father do, the son doeth likewise." You are the child of God, and as His image and likeness,  you reflect and repeat the good that God is, in every action, in every word and deed (when you turn your attention to Him). You are like a ray of light that gives attention to the sun, its source, nature, substance, and real being. In this allness of Spirit where we "live, move, and have our being," all is present, there is no separation -- and this is the eternal reality. WHAT TO DO: The first 5 minutes and the last 5 minutes of your day (minimum) find a way to devote thought, heart, soul, and mind, to the Creator, our Father who loves you. Spiritualize your thought. In one week you will have turned from the tempter's despressive suggestions to a solid hour and 10 minutes of pure awareness of God's presence, power and love. Expand and include challenges, your comfort zone will expand, you will be higher and stronger, more comforted and able to better comfort others as well.

Change = Stress; One Power = Peace

Any change = stress

Any change, perceived as good or bad, is said to bring stress. I do not really want to bring such an unwelcome companion along with anything I do, anywhere I go. Stress is pesty and persistent; it seems to resist our best efforts to just stay calm or maintain inner peace.

After a loss of a loved one, a loss of a home, of a business, a marriage, and so forth, there is so much drastic change that stress can flood in like an uncontrollable surge through huge open doors -- an incoming flood that threatens to drown one, and for which there is no perceivable end!

There is a mental strategy.

And it works.

First, in order to have stress, you must have two powers, one pushing against the other. It's like pressing  the palms of your hands together really hard for a sustained amount of time. If you suddenly took away one hand, however, then what? With one power, not two, there is no stress.

Second, prayerfully meditate on God, Good, Love, as the one Power.

Third, after your meditation, consciously state the fact of one power operating in the universe to every circumstance and situation.

	Rom 13:1	Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/search.cfm?Criteria=no+power&t=KJV#s=s_primary_0_1