{"id":111684,"date":"2023-10-04T16:57:33","date_gmt":"2023-10-04T23:57:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/?p=111684"},"modified":"2023-10-04T16:57:33","modified_gmt":"2023-10-04T23:57:33","slug":"relaxing-in-the-divine-presence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/archives\/111684-relaxing-in-the-divine-presence","title":{"rendered":"Relaxing in the Divine Presence"},"content":{"rendered":"

“In the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness, we ask deep questions.\u00a0 We ask, ‘What are you really focusing on?’\u00a0 Your divine nature is our primary focus.\u00a0 We call that the soul.\u00a0 Your divine nature is your soul.\u00a0 It is your God consciousness.\u00a0 It is in a oneness.<\/em>” – John Morton<\/p>\n

This article comes from a sharing session John had with the Doctor of Spiritual Science Year 4 class of Peace Theological Seminary & College of Philosophy\u00a0<\/strong>in May 2023.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We are responsible to take care of ourself, each one of us.\u00a0 Ask yourself, \u201cAm I okay?\u00a0 Is this working for me?\u201d\u00a0 There are all kinds of ways that would tell us if something is working, as well as all kinds of ways telling us it\u2019s not working.\u00a0 Be careful it\u2019s not self-imposed limitations.\u00a0 That is really the issue, the restrictions on what life \u201cshould\u201d be, that cause us to have a disturbance.<\/p>\n

If you would stop the pattern of how you think and change it to something like comfortable and pleasant, you would have more opportunity to be in the loving presence.\u00a0 What is there to do?\u00a0 Relax.\u00a0 Calm down.<\/p>\n

Every one of us knows what it is to be in fear of some kind.\u00a0 It\u2019s a normal, human condition.\u00a0 So now what?\u00a0 How do you want to address what is going on? There can be all kinds of concerns.\u00a0 You might ask, \u201cDoes that mean I might get hurt, at least at my ego level?\u201d<\/p>\n

What are you protecting?\u00a0 Your ego is not your true self.\u00a0 Why get caught up in that?\u00a0 If anything, it has come about through the god of opinion.\u00a0 That is where the ego gets its information.\u00a0 You can redirect how you program and construct yourself, including at the personality level.\u00a0 You can say, \u201cI\u2019d like to be more trusting.\u00a0 That could be one of the things I don\u2019t seem to do too well.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness, we ask deep questions.\u00a0 We ask, \u201cWhat are you really focusing on?\u201d\u00a0 Your divine nature is our primary focus.\u00a0 We call that the soul.\u00a0 Your divine nature is your soul.\u00a0 It is your God consciousness.\u00a0 It is in a oneness.\u00a0 There are aspects of how the soul individualizes, and then how it has become something of the Lord God of creation.<\/p>\n

How would we be attuned to that?\u00a0 Be open.\u00a0 It\u2019s already present.\u00a0 Let your consciousness move to a place where your mind is open.\u00a0 You may still have concerns.\u00a0 You can observe those, so your consciousness is going higher and becoming more expanded.\u00a0 You can start being in something that is higher consciousness.\u00a0 That is nice!<\/p>\n

When we do spiritual exercise you might wonder, \u201cWhere are we going?\u201d It\u2019s relaxed, open and in a particular way called spiritual. You may ask, \u201cWhat about all this other stuff going on?\u201d\u00a0 Relax and let go of that concern.<\/p>\n

Maybe you\u2019ve got the heat turned up in the oven cooking a turkey and it\u2019s supposed to be done in 45 minutes.\u00a0 You thought you could get some spiritual exercises done.\u00a0 Do you have an alarm?\u00a0 How are you going to know when it\u2019s 45 minutes?\u00a0 Maybe you set a timer.\u00a0 This is practical spirituality.\u00a0 If you are not going to be safe, do something to take care of that.<\/p>\n

There may be a reason why you are not relaxed.\u00a0 Sometimes that can be practical, like you\u2019ve got a hose running.\u00a0 If you keep it running, you\u2019re going to have a flood and then a big water bill next month.\u00a0 If you don\u2019t want another big bill like that, then don\u2019t use too much water.\u00a0 It runs like that.<\/p>\n

We are not able to control all things in the world.\u00a0 That\u2019s not really news.\u00a0 Set a dedicated time and place to be with your God consciousness.\u00a0 Create that in such a way that you don\u2019t have things going on, particularly at the Basic Self level.<\/p>\n

Learn how to take care of the space around you so it\u2019s a safe space.\u00a0 It\u2019s a clear, quiet space.\u00a0 Maybe at some point you go, \u201cI don\u2019t get that in this neighborhood.\u00a0 This neighborhood doesn\u2019t know what quiet is.\u201d\u00a0 Do you know what earmuffs or earplugs are?\u00a0 Soundproofing?\u00a0 You can do things to make it quieter where you are.<\/p>\n

These are practical things.\u00a0 If you keep doing all the 10% nitpicking things, when are you doing your spiritual exercise?\u00a0 There is always going to be \u201canother thing.\u201d\u00a0 Ad infinitum.\u00a0 There will always be some little detail you could get involved with.\u00a0 What is that worth to you?\u00a0 Is it really important?<\/p>\n

When we truly look, a lot of things are not very important.\u00a0 Is what color of socks you are wearing important to God?\u00a0 We often find out it\u2019s up to us and what suits us.\u00a0 That may not necessarily fit well in the world.\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t mean the world likes it or it is popular.<\/p>\n

What do you do about that?\u00a0 Take care of yourself.\u00a0 If you stay out of trouble, unnecessary difficulties, and dis-ease, that\u2019s going to play in your favor as unnecessary experiences you can steer clear of.\u00a0 You are developing an ability to do this, through wisdom and life experience.\u00a0 You\u2019re learning how to handle your life so there is a lot more pleasantness, ease, enjoyment and sharing good times with others.\u00a0 It can be this way.\u00a0 Your intention, focus, what you actually do and how you process are important.<\/p>\n

Work on a little more openness and relaxation in relation to what\u2019s going on so you can observe it without having to make a decision.\u00a0 If you are interpreting something as \u201cwrong\u201d, be careful.\u00a0 We have an approach in MSIA called, \u201cCheck it out.\u201d\u00a0 There is a lot of value in checking things out.<\/p>\n

This is how life revolves in this world.\u00a0 How you play it is up to you.\u00a0 When somebody like me comes along\u00a0and\u00a0asks, \u201cHow are you?\u00a0 Are you having a good time?\u00a0 Are you enjoying yourself?\u201d\u00a0 You can say, \u201cYes!\u00a0 It\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s an attitude of, \u201cWhatever it is, there are some challenges.\u00a0 But I just find a way to turn it into something I can laugh about.\u201d\u00a0 Even if it takes you a while, you are working on it.\u00a0 You\u00a0are<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0going to laugh about it eventually.\u00a0 It\u00a0is<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0going to be funny later.\u00a0 And it is later.<\/p>\n

God bless you.<\/p>\n

Blessing of Courage to Walk with the Lord
\nFrom Blessings Here and Now<\/a><\/h5>\n

Lord God, we become before You,
\nblessed in Your presence and the joy of who You are
\nand who we are together in fellowship.<\/p>\n

We ask that You touch each one of us now personally.
\nBless every part of us.<\/p>\n

Let us experience Your touch and the loving of who You are
\nin the depth of our being into every cell.<\/p>\n

Lord, we give You permission and we invite You
\ninto all aspects of our life,
\nknowing that where You go,
\nyou bring the Holy Presence that is the sanctity and the purity.<\/p>\n

We let go, and we release all that is past now.
\nWe come forth with You to do what You do,
\nfollow in Your way,
\nand walk with You stride for stride.<\/p>\n

Give us Your courage, the depth of Your knowing,
\nthat we may too, have the courage in the face of all that meets us,
\nknowing that Your will is done, as God’s will is done.
\nMay we align with Your will, Lord, to do the blessings of the Christ.<\/p>\n

We are grateful that You bequest us with a comforter
\nthat is the Holy Spirit.
\nNow we come to the oneness of that companion.
\nThe Holy Spirit is what we breathe and what we do in all of our ways.<\/p>\n

Extend this blessing, dear Lord,
\nto all those who are open across the planet.
\nMay all bear the Light and sanctify the place
\nwhere they may find themselves.<\/p>\n

We give the prayers of the heart up to You, Lord,
\nknowing that You know no burden.<\/p>\n

All is welcomed. All is forgiven.
\nIn Your grace we ask that this extend
\nto those who are in ignorance and in darkness,
\nthose who have forgotten themselves
\nin their fears, judgments, and the pains of their existence.
\nMay we comfort them in the Spirit and soothe them in their troubles.<\/p>\n

May we be part of that blessing that comes forth through Spirit
\nfrom the invisible into the visible — in the worlds beyond that is God,
\nthis world and all the universes.<\/p>\n

We do this by our faith and trust in You.
\nWe know we are upon a time where we are not to tarry,
\nto look back, to cast our vision on what is forsaken.
\nWe are in a time to go forth serving all,
\nloving all until that day
\nwhen we know ourselves in Your face.<\/p>\n

Baruch Bashan<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“In the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness, we ask deep questions.\u00a0 We ask, ‘What are you really focusing on?’\u00a0 Your divine nature is our primary focus.\u00a0 We call that the soul.\u00a0 Your divine nature is your soul.\u00a0 It is your God consciousness.\u00a0 It is in a oneness.” – John Morton This article comes from a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":111689,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[266,261],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-111684","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-john-mortons-current-story"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111684","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/44"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=111684"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111684\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/111689"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=111684"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=111684"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=111684"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}