Meditation and Living From the Sacred Mind

 

Lead us from darkness to light;

Lead us from illusion to wisdom;

Lead us from death to the deathlessness.

Lead us from conflict and suffering to harmony, peace, and happiness.

 

These brief words from the Upanishads, one of India’s spiritual classics, gives a brief but comprehensive view of what the spiritual journey is all about. As I meditated on the principles here, I became aware of the opposites that exist within the words and how these polarities in many ways describe the basic difference between living from our lower mind and our Sacred Mind. For example, when we operate in the confines of the lower mind, here is what we get:

 

Darkness

Illusion

Death

Conflict

Suffering

 

In contrast, living from the limitless position of our Sacred Mind, entire vistas open to us that we most likely overlooked before. When we arrive at a space where we can consistently allow our Sacred Mind to be in the driver’s seat, we encounter:

 

Light

Wisdom

Deathlessness

Harmony

Peace

Happiness

 

 I have consistently found that practices such as meditation, prayer, mindfulness, silence, and service help us acquire the ability to live more consistently from our Sacred Mind. It is because of this reality that here at Lifebrook International we spend so much time stressing the importance of spiritual practice, especially the practice of meditation.

 

Meditation is one of the most significant and beneficial practices in which we may engage. Putting aside the deep spiritual benefits derived from its utilization, there are numerous highly practical benefits as well. Medical science has discovered and verified the fact that regular meditation practice reduces stress and its resultant complications, lowers blood pressure, improves memory, slows aging, and aids in healing from both illness and injury. Mediation’s use as a stress reduction technique alone is ample reason to give it a fair trial, given the hectic lifestyle each of us maintains. The benefits, however, are far more than physical and psychological. As all lasting faith traditions have maintained, meditation helps us to find the Sacred Light that exists at the core of our being and provides a tested and proven method of making that Light an integral part of our daily living.

 

What I have discovered in my personal practice of meditation is that it is a way to deepen my contact with God and to make the power of divine energy more of a practical, pragmatic resource to use for God’s purposes. As countless mystics have asserted across the ages, meditation helps us know God as opposed to knowing about God. In so doing, regular meditative practices put is in contact with the very creative power of the universe.

 

As you expand your awareness of meditation, you will find that there are many techniques, each with its own goals and procedures. The trick is finding the method which may serve you best, then sticking with it in order to attain the deeper, more subtle benefits of the technique. While it is interesting to flit from one practice to another, much like a Humming Bird going from flower to flower, the most profound and lasting benefits of meditative practice comes from deepening your connection with one practice. As an old Buddhist adage implies, if you are looking for water, it is usually better to dig one hole 50 feet deep, rather than digging 50 holes one foot deep. Author and meditation teacher Jack Kornfield tells us:

 

To deepen our practice further, we must choose a way to develop our attention systematically and give ourselves to it quite fully. Otherwise we will drift like a boat without a rudder. To learn to concentrate we must choose a prayer or a meditation and follow this path with commitment and steadiness, a willingness to work with our practice day after day, no matter what arises. This is not easy for most people. They would like their spiritual life to show immediate and cosmic results. But what great art is ever learned quickly? Any deep training opens in direct proportion to how much we give ourselves to it.

 

Although finding our particular meditative practice is highly important, for many of us this is a difficult process. For some, this indecision is due to a general personality issue about making a commitment to anything. For most, however, it may be something else – it may be the result of having too many options to choose from.

 

Without a doubt, America has rapidly become a spiritual smorgasbord. A sincere spiritual aspirant has a wide variety of menu items to choose from ranging from the highly spiced cuisine of Hinduism to the bland austerity of Zen. While this far-ranging religious buffet has numerous benefits, it can also present several significant problems.

 

First, this plethora of spiritual options creates an army of metaphysical nibblers. Although well-meaning, these folks take a bite of this and a taste of that – a smidgen of Tibetan Buddhism and a morsel of Theravada. As a result, these seekers are always running from one sample to another without ever getting a real sense of what these various paths are about.

 

Related to the above described spiritual nibbling are other seekers who take a larger sampling of one of the available options, but never go too far. These are the aspirants who satisfy themselves with spiritual finger-foods but never get around to eating the whole meal. Content with the appetizers, this group seems capable of discussing the many spiritual paths that are available, but cannot speak to the deeper issues of any faith.

 

During the years that I taught regular workshops on spirituality, meditation, and Buddhism, I often encountered these individuals. I don’t mean to make light of their sincerity. The majority of these seekers were desirous of spiritual growth, but were unable, for whatever reasons, to get past the bombardment of what can legitimately be described as America’s Spiritual Circus. Whenever I would ask, “What is your spiritual practice?” they would respond:

 

“Well, I have done some Vipassana and some Sufi dancing, and last summer I went on a vision quest and, oh yeah, I did a sweat lodge.”

 

More times than not, these aspirants resembled the folks we just talked about, searching for water by digging 50 holes, one-foot deep, rather than one 50 foot hole. The results, of course, were predictable: superficiality, lack of wisdom, and spiritual confusion.

 

With the myriad spiritual options available to us today, it becomes increasingly vital that we learn to be discerning in terms of choosing a spiritual path. Moreover, it is equally important to be able to make a firm commitment to our chosen path and stick with it long enough to encounter difficulties, work through them, and come out the other side. Only then will we begin to make true progress.

 

Don’t misunderstand what I am saying. Sampling the spiritual options available to us is not a bad thing. In fact, without such sampling we will most likely never discover our best path. The point I am making is each of us must eventually move beyond mere sampling. We have to, as the Buddhist principle states, “take our one seat.”

 

In his insightful book, A Path With A Heart, Jack Kornfield speaks to the necessity of choosing one spiritual practice and staying with it:

 

Spiritual transformation is a profound process that doesn’t happen by accident. We need a repeated discipline, a genuine training, in order to let go of our old habits of mind and to find and sustain a new way of seeing. To mature on the spiritual path, we need to commit ourselves in a systematic way….Until a person chooses on discipline and commits to it, how can a deep understanding of themselves and the world be revealed to them? Spiritual practice requires sustained practice and a commitment to look very deeply into ourselves and the world around us…

 

It has often been said that there are many ways up the mountain and this is most certainly true. However, the existence of numerous ways to advance toward our goal does not mean that each of these ways is best for us. After a period of sampling, it is imperative that we select a practice and get on with the process of making this discipline a regular part of our daily living. To continue dabbling here and there can be exciting, but in the end will not produce lasting results.

 

If you happen to live in an area where there are several centers that teach meditation, I would encourage you to visit more than one and experiment with the various techniques, then select one that seems to resonate with you. If no such center is available, look around on line and try some of the myriad techniques available there. The point in the beginning is not so much which technique you select, but that you establish a disciplined practice. Experience teaching meditation over the years has taught me that the setting of a disciplined spiritual practice is the most important lesson a seeker can learn at the beginning of their spiritual journey. Unfortunately, discipline is not such a popular word these days.

 

As each of us continues on our spiritual journey it is vital to understand that the foundation of our growth is the establishment of a disciplined spiritual practice. Without such a practice, much of what we do will, in the words of that great sage Solomon, be “chasing after the wind.”

 

For many of us living in the contemporary culture, this reality is sometimes tough to swallow. There are many reasons that we are resistant to this cardinal principle of spirituality. Space doesn’t allow for a full treatment of this theme, but I would like to give at least a brief overview of two primary reasons we tend to skirt the issue of establishing a firm spiritual practice. These are: Lack of time and lack of discipline.

 

Whether teaching spiritual principles to workshop participants, business professionals, or college students, I have found the most frequent reason offered for the absence of regular spiritual practice in a person’s life is lack of time. I understand this all too well because it is a reason (read excuse) that I have often offered myself.

 

Granted, life in today’s hectic society is filled with seemingly overwhelming tasks and myriad obligations. I frequently find myself wishing for 28 hours in a day, rather than 24. And, at times, even those extra four hours would be insufficient. I know many of you can relate to what I am saying. However, I have found that in my life, if I am truly committed to growing spiritually, I can find a place to carve out the time. Will I have to sacrifice something I enjoy doing? Perhaps. Will I have to change my schedule around? Most likely. Without belaboring the point, suffice it to say that rarely have I found an individual who couldn’t find the time to establish at least a short daily session of meditation, prayer, Scripture reading, or another spiritual undertaking.

 

Think of it like this. If you honestly believe that your spiritual evolution is a high priority in your life, then regular spiritual practice is essential. One cardinal truth of the spiritual path is the fact that you are not going to get to the other side of the river unless you get in the boat. The important principle here is to just get started. Don’t plan beyond that. Begin with only five minutes. After a brief time, double it to 10 minutes and eventually work your way up to whatever you believe is right for you.

 

Often, our lack of setting aside part of our day for spiritual practice is not so much a lack of time as it is a lack of discipline. “Discipline” is not a politically correct word these days. This is unfortunate because without discipline, you are not going to progress in any area of living, especially your spiritual life. You may be desirous of advancing in your spiritual walk, but that is only a fantasy. Like the “Beauty School Dropout” in the movie “Grease,” you have the dream, not the drive.”

 

I wish I could tell you that there was an easy way to develop more discipline in your life, but that’s not the case, especially if you have a long pattern of being undisciplined. The fact is, you’re going to have to work at it. Without discipline, one’s life devolves into a chaotic mediocrity. Without discipline, there isn’t the slightest sliver of achieving a life of vital spirituality.

In closing, I hope it is obvious how connected lack of time and lack of discipline are. It seems each one feeds the other in an endless cycle that results in paralysis of action. Because we do not take the time to establish a regular routine of spiritual practice, we are not able to develop discipline; and without discipline, we never find the time to practice. And on it goes.

 

What is clear is the fact that we need spiritual practice that is disciplined, focused, and productive. Without such a practice, we wind up like a dog chasing its tail, or, in the words of Solomon, chasing after the wind.

 

© L.D. Turner 2009/All Rights Reserved

 

Singing Your Sacred Song

Mick Turner

The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but a life that never realized its full potential. You must decide today not to rob the world of the rich, valuable, potent, untapped resources locked away within you. It has been said that the wealthiest place on earth is not in bank vaults, Fort Knox, or underneath Bill Gates mattress. No, the wealthiest place on earth is the cemetery.

 

Beneath the gravestones lie so many dreams that went unfulfilled; so much potential that was never realized; so much purpose that was never discovered and manifested. I am reminded of the poignant verses of Tagore in the Gitangali:

 

The song that I came to sing remains
unsung to this day.
I have spent my days in stringing and in
unstringing my instrument.

I actually got goose bumps the first time I read Tagore’s words. I vowed at that moment that my song would not go unsung. Whatever contribution I was to make to this world would be made before I came to rest in that wealthy domain we spoke of earlier. I can also say that my song continues, with new lines, verses and melodies as my life unfolds. For this, I am ever grateful.

 

It is vital that every person understand that we are responsible for developing the potential stored within us. We must deepen our contact with our divine potential, which I call our Sacred Mind, and do all that we can to nurture, feed, and actualize our true potential. Further, we must recognize that as we move forward in developing our optimal potential, we can never afford to stop. In essence, when we travel the metaphysical journey, we are either moving forward or backward. There is truly no place to stand on the spiritual path.

 

Spiritual growth is a complex subject and we could waste much time and space exploring the more arcane aspects of personal unfolding. However, I choose instead to try to keep things as simple as feasible, especially in the context of a short article. With that in mind, let’s take a look at a topic that seems to cause many sincere seekers to go off the tracks and race down many unproductive rabbit holes. I am talking here about the subject of “purpose.” The issue of purpose is intimately connected with potential and it is often difficult to talk about one without delving into the other.

Many of us are so obsessed with “finding our purpose” that we ignore more important aspects of the spiritual journey. Granted, the Creator seems to have arranged things in such a way that each of us came to this planet with a unique mission. In spite of this, however, all of us share components of a more generalized, universal purpose. In my own journey, I have come to define a central aspect of this universal purpose shared by all believers as follows:

“I must become the optimal version of myself for the glory of God and the benefit of others.”

“Well, I can’t argue with that,” you might say. “But how do I pull it off?”

Good question. Space does not permit a detailed explanation of the complete methodology of becoming the best version of yourself and, besides, I believe that each of us must find our own personal way of unfolding our divine nature. Still, I think we can look at two practical things we can do: define and visualize.

Begin by spending time developing a definition of the best version of yourself. What qualities will your highest self possess? What kind of activities will be a central part of your life and your spiritual development? How will you earn your living? And most significantly, how will you be of service to others?

Once you have a workable definition, set aside a special time each day and see this best version of yourself in your mind’s eye. See yourself manifesting the qualities described in your definition, engaging in the activities you listed, and serving in your best capacity. This exercise of your imagination is a key component of making the best version of yourself a reality.

From the outset, you must learn to consistently see the best version of yourself and your life unfolding in your inner vision. The power of the mind’s eye is uncanny. It is through our capacity of thought and inner visualization that we are capable of taking something out of the realm of the unseen and making it a reality in the realm of the seen. This requires faith: faith in yourself and your abilities; and faith in the principles of optimal cognition. If you have a problem, see it resolved; if your have a business, see it succeeding; if you have a dream, see it unfolding according to your desire.

Let this positive image become a part of yourself, sinking down into the subconscious mind and your inner spirit, the central core of yourself.

A fundamental principle of Positive Psychology states that whatever you keep before your mind’s eye will affect you, either for good or for bad. If you consistently focus on negativity and dwell on your problems, your mindset will become darker and your problems will worsen. If you focus on limitation, lack, failure, and defeat, that is the kind of life you are going to create. Instead, try focusing your mental energy on success, victory, health, abundance, peace, joy, and happiness. Our innermost spirit, which is one with the Divine Source, has as its purpose the unfolding of your greatest good. Don’t lose sight of that truth. In order to create the kind of life you want, you have to get your thoughts and your inner vision in alignment with the power and purpose of your innermost spirit, called by our Quaker brothers and sisters the “Inner Light.”

This visualization process is not a fantasy or an escape from reality. It is, instead, based on centuries of practical application and positive results and utilizes one of God’s greatest gifts: a spiritual imagination. When life presents you with problems, many times there is nothing you can do about it. However, you can have complete control over your response to any problem life sends your way. You can have greater peace of mind if you just choose to have the right kind of thoughts. Focus your entire being on finding solutions, rather than wallowing in the problems at hand. Work diligently to find your Inner Light, and when you do, continue to take proactive measures to deepen and maintain your contact with this sacred aspect of your being.

Be persistent and keep at it in a disciplined, optimistic manner. Before you know it, you will hear your song ringing up from your Sacred Mind. From that point forward your life will be more positive and meaningful. And when the day comes when you leave this world, you won’t be making a deposit in the Bank of Dead Dreams.

(c) L.D. Turner 2009/All Rights Reserved

 

New eBook Almost Completed

Mick Turner

Two days ago (Saturday) I reached a major goal in my life. I completed the text for my latest ebook, finished with the editing and rewrite and it is now ready for conversion into electronic format. Other than the conversion, all that remains is designing a cover.

The ebook is entitled, Radical Encouragement: Reflective Essays on Christian Optimism.

There have been times when, due to other commitments, I wondered if I would ever bring it in on time. God must have given me the needed push because I did finish it two weeks ahead of my deadline date. A second ebook entitled, The Blessings of Biblical Success, is also near completion. It should also be ready for conversion in about two weeks.

Between this blog, my everyday living duties as a parent, my work at the newspaper, and the work on these two ebooks, I have been burning up the keyboards of late. Sometimes my mind feels like it is in overdrive and those are the good times. At other times it seems like it has turned into puddy.

I will post links to the book when it is available for download.

Blessings,

Mick

 

The Five Foundations of Positive Success

Mick Turner

If you are to be successful in pursuit of your goals and vision, you need to internalize these cardinal concepts, which I have termed the Five Foundations of Positive Success, into your core character. If one studies the lives of great men and women throughout history it is readily apparent that they, one and all, manifested these positive traits of great character in all that they did. Without a doubt, it was these very principles that led to their successful accomplishments. What are the “Five Foundations of Positive Success?”

 

Desire – Dedication – Devotion – Discipline – Determination

 

It is a foundational principle of success that every positive accomplishment that was ever made began as a desire in the mind of an individual. Desire is that initial impetus that gives birth to our dreams and it is desire that motivates us to achieve those dreams. All great things begin with positive desire.

 

Dedication is an act of the mind. From the outset, make a firm decision to follow your dream, no matter what it takes. If you dream is consistent with the will of God, benefits others, and brings glory to the Creator, then rest assured that it was He that placed this dream in your heart. Make a resolute commitment to believe in yourself and your abilities. It is a fundamental law of spirituality that God never places a dream in your heart without also providing you with the ability to achieve that dream. In addition, keep in mind that dedication is a mental act and is based on positive desire and positive thinking.

 

Devotion is an act of the heart. You will find that getting your emotions involved in your goals and dreams can be of great benefit. One of the most valuable lessons I learned early on in my ministry efforts is: If you don t fall in love with your vision, you will not advance toward its realization. Emotions flow from the heart and they can provide fuel to energize personal motivation. Emotions have been described as “energy in motion” and that is essentially what they are. Desire, coupled with faithful devotion, is the basis for creating a supportive environment for positive action in your life.

 

Perhaps the most valuable lesson I have learned over the years concerns the necessity of discipline in all areas of our lives. Without personal discipline, the achievement of Christian success is impossible. Without personal discipline, your dreams will eventually crash and burn so never, ever, short-change the importance of being a disciplined disciple.

 

Discipline is an act of the will requiring sacrifice and strength of character. It is important to realize that improving your level of competency in any field often necessitates experiencing short-term pain in order to achieve long-term benefit. This is a foundational truth for Christian success. In practical terms, your goals will often require that you, through acts of disciplined will, give up certain activities to devote more time to the pursuit of your vision and success.

 

Determination combines the mind, the emotions, and the will. In practical terms, determination means facing difficulties with optimism rather than pessimism. It means pursuing your dreams under all kinds of circumstances, good and bad. Determination implies that you keep going even when things get rough. When you possess determination, you maintain a positive attitude even when your progress is slow and particularly when other demands and responsibilities crowd in on your plans.

 

Determination does not come easy. It requires your conscious attention and consistent effort to apply your mind, your heart, and your will as well as the other four “foundations” of desire, dedication, devotion, and discipline.

 

The “Five Foundations of Positive Success” form the bedrock upon which the structure of any worthwhile goal is built. Without this quintet of character assets your chances of personal success is minimal. However, at times when we begin to incorporate new, more positive ways in which to approach life in general and our goals in particular, we encounter unexpected resistance arising from within ourselves. When this happens we have to keep in mind that our old, habitual ways of doing things are usually deeply ingrained. Making things even more difficult is the fact that, in spite of our best intentions, we often hold on to these negative patterns of thought and behavior simply because they are familiar. More baffling is our tendency to do this even though these very tendencies of negativity bring us less than positive results.

 

These deeply imbedded negative thought patterns and character traits are what the Apostle Paul called “strongholds.” Strongholds can be formed in several ways including traumatic, emotionally charged events, repetitious patterns of negative thinking, assaults from the Enemy, or a combination of any of these. No matter how particular strongholds are formed, they are often difficult to deal with.

 

As Christ-followers, our primary tools for tearing down strongholds, and preventing new ones from forming, are to utilize the spiritual weapons outlined by the Apostle in the sixth chapter of the Book of Ephesians. In addition, we must understand and accept that we cannot deal with strongholds with our own power alone. We need the help of the Holy Spirit and we elicit this assistance through prayer. Ask God to help you tear down an especially stubborn stronghold and also ask a trusted brother or sister in the faith to pray for you as well.

 

In addition, we must become acutely aware of our patterns of thinking. The reason for this centers on the fact that strongholds are constructed, like everything else, with the building blocks of our thoughts. Our goal is to consistently intercept the negative thoughts associated with particular strongholds and stop them in their tracks. Paul calls this “taking thoughts captive for Christ.” The success of many disciples has verified that the next step in dealing with strongholds is, after intercepting the negative thoughts, is to immediately replace them with positive thoughts.

 

Bear in mind that this cognitive process does not occur overnight. It took a long time to form these counter-productive ways of thinking and responding to life and it will take time to eliminate them. Yet always maintain your sense of hope and keep in mind that one positive thought overcomes the effect of many negative ones. Just as turning on one light can overcome the darkness in a room, lighting up your mind with a single positive thought can illuminate and eliminate dark patterns of thinking. Remain patient, keep praying, and trust God to provide the help he promised. If you keep at it, your success is assured.

 

To conclude, we have perhaps now traveled full-circle. In our discussion of the “Five Foundations of Positive Success” we discovered that it was often cognitive and behavioral strongholds that formed much of the resistance we encounter when attempting to put these vital principles into practice. Now, I would like you to understand the fact that, in addition to the spiritual tools outlined above that we can use to deal with strongholds, we can also use the “Five Foundations” as well. Think about it. Desire, dedication, devotion, discipline, and determination are all needed in combating these deeply embedded aspects of our thought life and behavior.

 

These five key principles we have been exploring are not optional if we want to achieve and maintain success in any field of endeavor. Further, these five principles are in many ways like “mirrors” in that each one of the five reflects the other four. The Five Foundations of Positive Success exist as a unified and interdependent whole. When you apply one principle, you automatically apply all of them in a number of ways.

 

I encourage you to continue to explore what these cardinal principles of success mean to you and to pray in earnest to the Father to help strengthen each of these vital characteristics in your being. It will be well worth your time and effort.

 

© L. Dwight Turner 2008/All Rights Reserved

 

Consecration: An Essential Prerequisite

Mick Turner

*** This article, in another incarnation, was previously published on this site some time ago. I updated it, and brought it forward as I feel its subject matter remains forever pertinent.

 

Did you ever wonder why some people who tread the road of spiritual development seem to soar like eagles while others seem to be walking in thick mud wearing heavy boots? Why is it that some aspirants sail smoothly to their goals and beyond while others stagger along and eventually abandon the search?

 

Obviously, the answers to these questions are highly complex, covering all manner of reasons why some seekers fall into the first group and some into the second. It is beyond the scope of this brief article to cover this subject in depth. However, there is one basic and simple factor that applies to everyone who commences the spiritual journey. In fact, it is at the commencement, the beginning, of the spiritual journey where some individuals lay the foundation for success while others sow the seeds of a less favorable outcome.

 

 I would also advise anyone who seriously considers undertaking a path of spiritual development to consider the fact that one must be serious about the work and make a heart-felt, disciplined commitment to the journey. In a word, if a person desire to advance spiritually, regardless of the path chosen, he or she must make an act of consecration.

 

Consecration requires that we make a conscious decision at the outset to deepen our daily contact with our Divine Source, however we perceive it, and allow that contact to transform both our character and our way of dealing with the world. Consecration is vital. Without it, the real work of the spiritual journey cannot be begun. Consecration means that we get serious about what we are doing.

 

Consecrating ourselves to our spiritual journey cannot be a half-hearted, half-baked decision. Instead, it requires that we have a willingness to “convert,” to turn around, and, based on that commitment, strive to be all that we can be under the direction of “Big Mind.”

 

Consecration requires that we acknowledge and accept. We acknowledge that we are not living at the level we were designed to live at and we accept that a better way exists. Through contacting and connecting with our Buddha-Nature, however faintly, we can develop spiritually and begin to live in a sacred manner.

 

We begin with acknowledgement, which in this context implies admitting to ourselves that we are functioning below our optimal level, probably nowhere near it in fact. In the spiritual context acknowledgement means coming to a living realization that left to our own unaided efforts, we can make little progress. We must admit that we are living far beneath our potential.

 

If we stopped with acknowledgement, we would be left in a dark place, indeed. If all we did was come to a living realization that we are not what we should be, and did not see any avenue of improvement, we would come to despair. There is, however, hope and that hope lies in acceptance.

 

After acknowledging our current status, we next need to firmly accept that growth is possible and that spiritual practices can be of immense help in facilitating spiritual development. This may seem simplistic and, in a sense, it is. Many people, however, spend much of their time in limbo, realizing that they are living far beneath their potential but not realizing, at the same time, that there is a way out. Being stuck in this darkness is a dismal affair.

 

As we move forward in the process of consecration, we come to accept that we live in a universe that is always changing and evolving, growing toward higher and higher levels of functioning. This is a transforming truth if taken to heart. It means that if we can connect with the vital Spirit within ourselves, which is a spark of the evolving universe, we, too, can change and grow. For those who are serious and consecrated to spiritual development, a wide range of practices from various traditions can be of immense help in facilitating this divine connection. Thus, we have the bright hope that by connecting with and cooperating with our Sacred Mind, we can begin to unfold our divine potential, discover our unique purpose in life, and move forward to becoming the optimal version of ourselves.

 

Once we acknowledge where we are and accept that we can improve, we can truly consecrate ourselves to the spiritual work before us.

 

Why is it important to make a conscious decision to consecrate ourselves to spiritual endeavor? The answer is simple. We have to commence our spiritual journey with a sense of reverence and seriousness. Let’s face facts. Many people are looking for shortcuts to spiritual development. Many individuals have the dream but not the drive, wanting to manifest spiritual qualities and reach enlightenment but lacking the self-discipline and self-sacrifice that is necessary. It is incumbent upon each of us, from the outset, to accurately ascertain what this path entails, the amount of dedication required to walk it, and decide if we are willing to move forward. If we are indeed willing, then we consecrate ourselves and get on with it.

(c) L.D. Turner 2008/All Rights Reserved

 

A Busy Day

Today has been one of those days where I feel as though I have been pulled in five directions at once, and then dragged through a keyhole. Mondays and Tuesday are often like that for me. One of the publications I write for is a weekly newspaper that is published on Wednesdays. As a result, the first two days of the week are like a mad dash or sprint toward the finish line. If you are a writer that deals with deadlines, you well know what I am talking about.

One important fact that I have discovered through the experience of this fast-paced writing relates directly to God’s provision. I have learned that no matter how much potential stress is involved in getting my various articles, two features, and two weekly columns  in on time, God is always there with me. I began to grow increasingly aware of the Spirit’s presence when I started keeping my daily appointment with God, even on Mondays and Tuesdays.

For awhile it was easy to rationalize why I could skip my prayer and quiet time due to the pressures and responsibilities I was about to face as deadlines loomed before me like fanged monsters. However, over time I discovered that things just always went smoother if I didn’t skip this vital part of my day. I know it sounds simple and even cliche, but the fact is, I need God more  on these days than on most others. Further, I know now he is there, even if I don’t pray on a given day. What is different is that I can sense him being there when I stop, slow down, and give the day to his care and service before it gets started.

How about you?

Mick

 

Five Foundations of Positive Accomplishment

Mick Turner

If you are to be successful in pursuit of your goals and vision, you need to internalize these cardinal concepts, which I have termed the Five Foundations of Positive Accomplishment, into your core character. If one studies the lives of great men and women throughout history it is readily apparent that they, one and all, manifested these positive traits of great character in all that they did. Without a doubt, it was these very principles that led to their successful accomplishments. What are the “Five Foundations of Positive Accomplishment”?

 Desire: 

Every positive accomplishment begins as a desire in the mind of the individual. Desire is the initial force that gives birth to our dreams and it is desire that motivates us to achieve those dreams. All great things begin with positive desire.

 Dedication:    

  Dedication is an act of the mind. From the beginning, make a firm decision to follow your dream, no matter how impossible it may seem. Keep in mind the fact that, if you could reach your dream without God’s help, then that dream most likely is not divine in origin. It is those visions that can only be accomplished with God’s help that can correctly be called “kingdom visions.” Make a resolute commitment of mind to believe in yourself and your abilities. Dedicate yourself to make every effort, to do all that you can, to realize your goal. Again, dedication is a mental act and is based on positive desire and positive thinking. 

Devotion:                    

    Devotion is an act of the heart. Get your emotions involved in your goals. If you don’t fall in love with your mission and vision you will not advance toward its realization. Emotions flow from the heart and are the fuel that energizes personal motivation.  Desire, coupled with devotion, is the basis for creating positive action in your life.  

Discipline:    

   Discipline is an act of the will. Discipline requires sacrifice and strength of character. Improving your level of competency in any field of endeavor will often necessitate experiencing short- term pain in order to achieve long term gain. In practical terms, your goals will often require that you, through acts of disciplined will, give up certain activities to devote more time to pursuing your vision. 

Determination: 

Determination combines the mind, the emotions, and the will. In practical terms determination means facing difficulties with optimism rather than pessimism. It means pursuing your goal of improving your life even when the going gets rough. Determination means maintaining a positive attitude even when your progress is slow and particularly when events crowd in on our plans. Determination requires concerted application of the mind, heart and will as well as the other four “Foundations”, desire, dedication, devotion, and discipline. 

The “Five Foundations of Positive Accomplishment” form the bedrock upon which the structure of any worthwhile goal is built. Without this quintet of character assets your chances of personal success is minimal. However, at times when we begin to incorporate new, more positive ways in which to approach life in general and our goals in particular, we encounter unexpected resistance arising from within ourselves.

When this happens we have to keep in mind that our old, habitual ways of doing things are usually deeply ingrained. Making things even more difficult is the fact that, in spite of our best intentions, we often hold on to these negative patterns of thought and behavior simply because they are familiar. More baffling is our tendency to do this even though these very tendencies of negativity bring us less than positive results. 

These deeply imbedded negative thought patterns and character traits are what the Apostle Paul called “strongholds.” Strongholds can be formed in several ways including traumatic, emotionally charged events, repetitious patterns of negative thinking, assaults from the Enemy, or a combination of any of these. No matter how particular strongholds are formed, they are often difficult to deal with. 

As Christ-followers, our primary tools for tearing down strongholds, and preventing new ones from forming, are to utilize the spiritual weapons outlined by the Apostle in the sixth chapter of the Book of Ephesians. In addition, we must understand and accept that we cannot deal with strongholds with our own power alone. We need the help of the Holy Spirit and we elicit this assistance through prayer. Ask God to help you tear down an especially stubborn stronghold and also ask a trusted brother or sister in the faith to pray for you as well. 

In addition, we must become acutely aware of our patterns of thinking. The reason for this centers on the fact that strongholds are constructed, like everything else, with the building blocks of our thoughts. Our goal is to consistently intercept the negative thoughts associated with particular strongholds and stop them in their tracks. Paul calls this “taking thoughts captive for Christ.”

The success of many disciples has verified that the next step in dealing with strongholds is, after intercepting the negative thoughts, is to immediately replace them with positive thoughts.  Bear in mind that this cognitive process does not occur overnight. It took a long time to form these counter-productive ways of thinking and responding to life and it will take time to eliminate them. Yet always maintain your sense of hope and keep in mind that one positive thought overcomes the effect of many negative ones. Just as turning on one light can overcome the darkness in a room, lighting up your mind with a single positive thought can illuminate and eliminate dark patterns of thinking. Remain patient, keep praying, and trust God to provide the help he promised. If you keep at it, your success is assured. 

To conclude, we have perhaps now traveled full-circle. In our discussion of the “Five Foundations of Positive Achievement” we discovered that it was often cognitive and behavioral strongholds that formed much of the resistance we encounter when attempting to put these vital principles into practice. Now, I would like you to understand the fact that, in addition to the spiritual tools outlined above that we can use to deal with strongholds, we can also use the “Five Foundations” as well. Think about it. Desire, dedication, devotion, discipline, and determination are all needed in combating these deeply embedded aspects of our thought life and behavior. 

 (c) L.D. Turner 2008/All Rights Reserved