Order as a Spiritual Practice

Order as a Spiritual Practice

PRACTICE

52 Weeks of Spiritual Practice

By Deborah Williams

The purpose of the 52 Principles is to develop a partnership, a connection with God. Connecting with God is why we are here; the soul’s desire. To be in communication with the Creator is ideally the most fulfilling life, our best life. The intent of the 52 Principles is God-realization through daily practice. Practice the principles with frequency and find God-consciousness through your own efforts. With practice, you will begin to encounter your experiences in a spiritual context as you begin to practice and master spiritual principles. This week’s spiritual principle is Order.

The essence of spirituality is creation. God has an operating system to order our spiritual and material life which works in our best interest. His rules of creation, seed and harvest time (Genesis 8:22), do not require our consent, agreement, or cooperation. Words are seeds and seeds reproduce after their kind (Genesis 1:11), whether we are conscious, or not.  Love produces love; hate produces hate; and corn produces corn. As we think, we are (Proverbs 23:7).

In God’s operating system we reap what we sow. Scripture counsels, Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at scorned, disdained. He deludes himself who attempts to delude God. For whatever a man sows that and that only is what he will reap. For he who sows to his lower nature, he will reap ruin and destruction, but if he sows to the Spirit he will reap eternal life (Galatians 6:7-9).Words of faith are seeds and the heart is the soil for faith seeds.  How do we plant or sow faith seeds? Seeds of faith are planted via the ears, eyes, mouth. What we think, what we say, what we hear; positive or negative. The objective of planting faith seeds is to penetrate the heart. Preparing the soil of the heart to accept the faith seeds through prayer and meditation is a process of commitment, discipline, patience, and perseverance. And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint (Galatians 6:9). God gave us the easy part – planting, sowing, and keeping out the weeds. The harvest is governed by dedication and persistence, but the Creator is responsible for its manifestation; nothing is impossible for a person who has a solid belief system (Matthew 17:20).

God’s presence in our life will show us how to move from point A to point B. Answers come when there is order. Life changing ideas come from God through prayer; heartfelt prayer. One word from God can change everything. God has something to say and He instructs and teaches us if we allow Him. We are encouraged, Come close to God and He will come close to you (James 4:8). When we are aware of His system, God becomes personal and we are animated and more aware of the present moment:

o   Events in life reflect our thoughts

o   People in our life are present for a reason

o   Attention creates our reality

o   Nothing is random, all things are in order

Self-Assessment:

Are spiritual principles working in your life?

How much time do you commitment to spiritual principles (prayer, mindfulness, love)?

Are you aware of God’s operating system?

When you sow seeds, what happens to your seed?

What are your faith seeds and how often are you planting?

What is your process in maintaining order in your life?

How is your prayer life or seed planting?

Order Practices:

o   Develop a prayer life. Make your first contact of the day and commune with God. Meet the day in silent unity with God and set a subtle intention on the day’s activities. Affirm, “Find me where you want me to be” and “Your will be done”. Be alert, authentic and pray what you feel, not what you think. God is concerned with your heart, not intellect. The Master taught us how to construct a simplistic form of prayer that includes recognition of God, requesting daily provisions, forgiveness, and protection; in essence the Kingdom of God. You can never pray too much. Sowing seed costs time in prayer and meditation.

o   Develop an orderly process for living. Retune the body and create order. Start with a few simple things.  Develop a daily regimen for the next ten days to put order in your daily life: everyday clean your house, make your bed every morning, don’t skip breakfast, and arrive at work 15 minutes early. Address the simple things to bring the body back to order.

o   Maintain order in the mind and body by developing a daily pattern for eating, sleeping, prayer and meditation, physical activity, order your work environment, limit drama, don’t rush through undertakings, and be mindful in all activities. Limit confusion, chatter, and drama to create peace and serenity.

God’s operating system is word to heart. What we speak, see, hear and do is planted in the heart and produces peace or chaos. Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life (Proverbs 4:23). Faith is belief. Plant faith seeds in the fertile ground of the heart.

How do you practice God’s operating system of order ? Develop your own spiritual practice.

Peace and Many Blessings