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I read a story that Ernest Holmes wrote about praying for another person for good health and freedom from an addiction. Holmes and his friend spent several hours proclaiming out loud the Truth about the other person who was in a different hotel room down the hall. They affirmed that the person was whole and complete, free from addiction, living a peaceful and healthy life. Holmes calls this form of praying, spiritual mind treatment. Holmes would proclaim his truth affirmations for several minutes, then his friend would do the same. They did this for several hours, back and forth until they both believed the truth in the statement. Then, they went to sleep. The next morning, the man with the addiction told them that he felt free and handed them the unfinished bottle of liquor. According to Holmes, the man had remained sober.

I sometimes wonder if my prayers for others work. This kind of story helps me to know that they do. There is an added element that is necessary for prayers to work in accordance with the outcomes that we desire. That’s faith in the power of your prayers. Do you believe that it’s possible for someone to be healed? Do you believe that it’s possible to live in peace with family, friends, co-workers and community? Do you believe that it’s possible to be free with the financial support necessary to live a good life? Do you believe that it’s possible to live an easy and joyful life with fulfilling and satisfying work?

Have you ever overheard a conversation where someone was disparaging people that they clearly have never met? As I was at an airport recently, I happened to overhear a group at another table saying how much they despised a few people who are rich and have more than they do. They spent almost 30 minutes condemning these wealthy people for not sharing their money and resources with them and others. They used phrases like “it’s not fair”, “they must have taken an unethical short cut” and “they don’t deserve to have all of that.” I found it remarkable that none of these people had personally met the wealthy people that they were criticizing.

While listening to their conversation, it made me sad. I recognized that we can sometimes forget the Spiritual Truths and Universal Laws in which we operate. These Laws operate whether we recognize them or not.  I thought that it would be a great time to have a review and help you to “remember to remember” the following Truths:

What happens when you’re doing your spiritual practice every day, and you’re not getting obvious intuitive leads or directions to take steps along a path to achieve your goals? Most people decide to do nothing. If you’ve been to one of my workshops, you’ll remember my advice – “you’re not allowed to do nothing.” Without having a really clear and strong lead, you may find that you have an inkling of a hunch or idea. If so, do what I call “digging a ditch.” This means that you take some action and start moving in what you think is the right direction while continuing to ask for more leads and directions along the way.

Digging a ditch is faith in action. I recognize that this may be hard for some people to do. Many of us were taught that we have to do everything ourselves. A quote that I was told as a child is “There is no elevator to success, you have to take the stairs.” The quote promotes taking some form of action, and that’s a good thing. However, it doesn’t allow for spiritual intervention to help you so that your goals manifest in easy and unusual ways. One of my favorite authors, Florence Scovel Shinn, said “Intuition is a spiritual faculty and does not explain, but simply points the way.” Following your intuition and taking some action allows for unexpected channels to open which may produce results in miraculous ways.

If you’ve adopted the use of spiritual tools and principles that I write about in my books, I hope that you’ve recognized that your CSO spiritual partner can illuminate steps to take that don’t make rational sense. These leads or directions can come through strong thoughts, gut hunches and instincts, messages through others, or through signs external to you. As you commit to taking the first step of action with confidence and faith, things can shift so that your success manifests in easier and more joyful ways. Go ahead and start “climbing up the stairs” to success if you feel led by your CSO partner to do so, and you might unexpectedly find an escalator waiting for you at the first landing. Spirit’s ways are ingenious and filled with infinite possibilities.

I am so grateful to have been the guest speaker recently at The Center for Spiritual Living in Seattle. This is where I first started teaching success principles in classes and workshops over 10 years ago. It was such a treat to see so many friends in the two services and have a well attended workshop to share more about The Gratitude Formula.

One question that was asked in the workshop had to do with action and faith.  An attendee wanted to know if she was a demonstrating “doubt” and lack of trust in her ability to grow a thriving and sustainable business by continuing with a part time job that supported her when she was between clients in her own business. I told her that she had to make a choice on how to view the situation. Based on that choice she would then speak and think about the situation in ways that were consistent with her views. As she took action with her words, thoughts and emotions to declare her truth in the situation, that would become her experience. She needed to choose between the following two views: