Growth is life, and life is growth. Parents of a newborn child keep watching for signs of development with the child, and rejoice at each new phase. They would be extremely alarmed if the baby seemed to make no progress at all. We take this physical growth for granted. But what of the spirit? If … Continue reading Task 1 ~ Waking up to Spiritual Life
Task 2 ~ Dealing with the Infernal Marriage
Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Your name. Psalm 142:7 Sometimes we find ourselves in a bad mood, but have no idea how to get out of it. We try to change our own state of mind, but it doesn't work. Someone else comes along and tries to cheer us up, … Continue reading Task 2 ~ Dealing with the Infernal Marriage
Task 3 ~ Not Identifying with Negative Emotions
If people believed, as is the truth, that everything good and true comes from the Lord and everything evil and false comes from hell, they wouldn't take goodness in as their own and feel they deserve a reward for it, and they wouldn't take evil in as their own and make themselves guilty of it. … Continue reading Task 3 ~ Not Identifying with Negative Emotions
Task 4 ~ Letting Go of Criticism
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how … Continue reading Task 4 ~ Letting Go of Criticism
Task 5 ~ Applying the Golden Rule
"Whatever you want people to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets" Matthew 7:12. This is another form of the ancient law: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" Leviticus 19:18 We know that we should love one another, but it is not easy to love … Continue reading Task 5 ~ Applying the Golden Rule
Task 6 ~ Taming Your Wild Emotions
Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10 He arose and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. Mark 4:39 This task relates to the challenge of dealing with strong negative emotions. We can go for a day or … Continue reading Task 6 ~ Taming Your Wild Emotions
Task 7 ~ Dealing with Lying
Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile. Psalm 34:13 Remove from me the way of lying. Psalm 119:19 Some parents approached me with a concern about their two-year-old child. "We've noticed that our child is starting to lie. The other day we asked him if he had taken a cookie. He … Continue reading Task 7 ~ Dealing with Lying
Task 8 ~ Living in the Present
A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by or like a watch in the night . . . Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:1-4,12 Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day … Continue reading Task 8 ~ Living in the Present
Task 9 ~ Dealing with False Cause
Influx never takes place from the outside to the inside; it goes from the inside to the outside. Arcana Caelestia #6322 It appears as if things in the world flow in through the senses towards the inner realms of the mind, but this is a false impression. The inner flows into the outer. Perception arises … Continue reading Task 9 ~ Dealing with False Cause
Task 10 ~ Choosing Higher Delights
Then Peter said, "See, we have left all and followed you." So he said to them, "assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present … Continue reading Task 10 ~ Choosing Higher Delights
