Courage as a Spiritual Practice

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Courage 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 Courage.

What does courage look like? Courage is defined as strong, valiant, and unbending to the world’s influence. Courage is a test of character. Lack of courage is a character flaw. If you do not have courage you cannot do what is required, you are frozen. It takes courage to do what is right, it takes courage to examine your thoughts and behavior and discard what is not working regardless of disappointing others. When you stand for right action or rightness, you submit to the Higher Self – the soul.

The essence of all our feelings can be reduced to two emotions; love and fear. Courage moves us to respond with love, opposed to responding in fear.  Find the courage to look at what you do; the good and not so good. No one is perfect, we all have shortcomings. You cannot change the not so good, if you are unaware. Examine what you do, so that when it is done to you (blessing or curses) you will be able to identify it without question. Have the courage to let go of the things that are not beneficial to yourself and others.

Freedom and peace requires courage and it takes courage to be faithful; you cannot be strong by yourself. It takes courage to decide to practice spiritual principles when others think it is a waste of time. What we value, strengthens and motivates us to move forward. It is courageous to trust God and let go of a false sense of control; God is our stronghold (Psalm 31:24). Develop the courage to honor Truth, and stand for rightness. You cannot buy courage and it cannot be given to you. Courage is developed from within. The fear of being wrong, alone, not knowing, and lack of control, damages our ability to move forward.  To be vulnerable and to move forward anyway is courageous. Have the courage to grow without question, hesitation, or complaint.

Self-assessment is a courageous act. Have the courage to ask the question, “Who am I and why am I here.” Get comfortable with asking questions. It takes courage to examine what is true by doing your own independent investigation of the truth.  Courage is asking the hard questions, and patience to wait for the answers regardless of challenges and hardship. Reality shifts as awareness expands. Courage is bringing all of who you are to the moment even if you have reservation. The alternative to personal growth is stagnation.

Self-Assessment:

Do you have a model of spiritual greatness?

Who do you admire and why?

What do you do in response to fear?

What decisions need to be made to move forward?

Are there things you cannot forgive yourself for doing?

What is it that you believe is wrong with you or others?

What is it that you refuse to admit about yourself?

What does loving the light out of others look like?

Do people know your authentic Self?

Are you kind?

Do you demonstrate your truth or deceive others?

Do you stand up for wrongdoing?

Are you aware and responsive to the feelings of others?

Courage Practice:

• What will it take to move forward to an abundant life?  (Abundant is not the bank account, house, car, investments, but something more.) Write the word “ABUNDANCE” on a sheet of paper and circle it. Then draw six lines from your abundance circle and list six things that will make your life abundant and happy at this moment. (Abundant is not the bank account, house, car, investments, but something more.) Then, under each item, write actions you could do right now, and have the courage to do them.  Begin to move forward on all levels of life and document your experience. The following is an example of an Abundance Circle: loving relationships, spiritual development, publishing book, physical health, and the distribution and success of Adinkra Note products.
• Assemble a small group and begin to have a dialogue about the spiritual part of who you are. Ask the question “Who am I and why am I here?” Share your meaningful coincidences. Have conversations that are deeper than the weather, politics, Facebook, entertainment, and celebrities in the news. The goal is to discover a deeper reality. Have conversations with family members and friends. Reveal your feelings about friendship, family and God.

Do you know someone who lives authentically, shines their light on others, and shares their gifts? Describe that person’s core qualities. Find the courage to live an authentic life; live out loud. Don’t die with your gift inside you.

Have the courage to discover the source of your pain. Have the courage to admit that you know what you know even when others disagree. Have the courage to be kind to others. Have the courage to live an authentic life. Have the courage to grow without question, doubt or difficulty. Have the courage to love and never grow tired of doing good (2 Thessalonians 3:13). The purpose of life is to develop the divinity within – find the courage.

Courage is a test of character. How do you exercise courage?  Develop your own spiritual practice.

Peace and Many Blessings

 

 

 

 

Meditation as a Spiritual Practice

Adinkranotes.com

 

Meditation 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 Meditation.

Meditation is the art of listening and tuning in to the inner voice that enriches spiritual growth. Meditation is contacting, the Higher Self, through the soul; the field of pure potentiality. The root word “medi” means to heal. The previous principle’s (kindness, compassion, humility, responsibility, love, etc.), involve interacting with others, but meditation is between you, the soul, and God. Meditation is a relaxed, conscious and disciplined effort to still the mind/body. Ideally, build a meditation practice, 30 minutes in the morning (meeting the day) and 30 minutes in the evening (leaving the day).

Meditation is the purest level of awareness; expanded awareness. A morning meditation is like meeting the day before it begins, which means you are present for the day before it is born. You are not required to do anything, your presence is enough. Meet the day with a feeling of peace, calm, love, creativity, harmony; the qualities of the Divine. Meeting the day provides an opportunity to bring awareness; a blessing on the day before it begins and the prospect of carrying peace throughout the day.

Meditation has a number of benefits. Stillness prepares the mind to receive direction from God, produces calmness, relaxation, sense of peace, increased coping skills, enhanced immune system, and an awakened consciousness. Meditation is an evolutionary process and eventually it will become as natural as breathing. Meditation is a practice but also a way of being with yourself and with life. Meditation is stillness and not the same as (golf, gardening, knitting, jogging, etc.).  The feeling of peace from the practice of meditation will flow into daily activities providing a sense of timelessness.

Spiritual unfolding is as unique as a thumb print and specific to your sacred Self. There are numerous meditation techniques, but what works is keeping it as simple as possible; be patience, consistent, and be disciplined. A two year old does not struggle to become three; the process of development unfolds in its own time. Develop a meditation process that feels natural and fluid. How long does it take to connect with a Higher Power; God? It takes as long as it takes. Meditation is like repair work; it takes time. Be still while He works. Stillness is the presence of God. The goal is to end with a feeling of newness, peace, harmony, love, and wholeness. Do not judge the sessions good or bad. Sometimes awareness is present and sometimes not.

Establish a clean and uncluttered space for meditating. To relax the body, take a few minutes and speak to every part of the body by telling each part to relax. Listen to thoughts and let them flow, think “peace be still” (Mark 4:39). Start your meditation with a Psalm, sacred scripture, or hymn to settle the mind. Pray/Chant in preparation (5 minutes) and meditate (20 minutes). Attempt to meditate at the same time and place daily. Meditate as if every time is the first time; keep it fresh with no expectations. Show up with an open heart/mind. When you find what works, be open to improvements. Meditation adapts to your level of awareness, and as awareness increases, your practice adapts to your expanded awareness. Settle the mind into silence. When we wait, the work is being done; know and be thankful. God is as close as our breath – “in the midst of you” (Haggai 2:5). Be still and know (Psalm 46:10) that God is sovereign and waits and welcomes us into His secret place (Psalm 91). Wait in silence and pray that your eyes are opened to Divine guidance.

Self-Assessment:

What is the soul?

What is your process of connecting to your Higher Self?
How often do you connect with your Higher Self? Are their difficulties?
What physical, mental, and spiritual benefits have you experienced from practicing meditation?
In what way has your meditation practice changed your life on a deeper level?

Meditation Practices:

Our life begins and ends with the breath. The breath comes in and goes out almost a billion times in an average lifetime. The breath is a movement of energy. Master it. Be aware of the movement of breath, then regulate the breathing and follow the breath during meditation. Just before the in-breath turns into the out-breath, notice the small gap. Be present in the gap and discover the true nature of silence.

Affirmations:

“Fulfill Your highest thought in me and renew my mind” (Romans 12:2).

“The Holy Spirit goes before me and shows me the way – Infinite Spirit shows me what to do.”
“You abide in me now, from the center, to the circumference of my being.”
“What I am seeking is also seeking me,”
“What is the next step to take?”
“Let Your will be done in me” (Luke 11:2).
“My answers are revealed in the stillness of my Spirit.”
“Abide in me as I abide in You” (John 15:4).

The purpose of life is to develop the divinity that is in us. With frequency, meditation is finding a point of contact. The mind is a magnet to the soul and the soul is a connector to the Source; God. The soul is the Higher Self, a step-down power of the Source; God. Know that your Higher Self (the soul) is working all things for your good and the good of all concerned (Romans 8:28); and you cannot do better than all.

How do you awaken to your inherently divine consciousness? Develop your own spiritual practice.

Peace and Many Blessings

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prayer as a Spiritual Practice

Adinkranotes.com
PRACTICE
52 Weeks of Spiritual Practice
By Deborah Williams

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 52 Principles are a basis to an active partnership with God. The concept of the principle’s potential inspires one to develop a disciplined Process to practice the principle, which results in a unique experience with God: intention, desire, and manifestation. This week’s Principle is Prayer, a spiritual process of growth.

Separation is a breakdown of communication.  Develop a partnership or “sonship” (Romans 8:19) with God by talking, asking, believing and expecting.  A close connection with God includes prayer as a daily Process.  Everything you think and say is a prayer. Prayers are like seeds; know what you are planting and allow it to grow. Would you dig up a seed to check if it is growing properly? Don’t kill it with doubt. Would you expect to grow corn while planting cabbage? Have a clear idea of the harvest, water the seed – see the end at the beginning. Knowing and expectation is like sunshine. Don’t doubt your prayers – affirm and expect.

Awareness is on a continuum.  Our level of awareness connects us to pure awareness; the soul, which connects us to God.  Consider your prayer request in relation to your state of consciousness. Awareness creates a higher level of prayer producing feelings of gratitude for what is being received.  A high level of awareness is focused attention on a desired outcome. A low level of awareness prays for help. Feelings of desperation and fear create adversity. For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me and that which I was afraid of is come unto me (Job 3:25). Monitor thoughts of fear, worry, and anxiety. Clear the fear by affirming the good and sharing your concerns with the knowledge that all things are possible with God (Mark 9:23). You must talk, ask, and believe, that is prayer.

“Find me where you want me to be”, Your will be done. Be alert, authentic and pray what you feel, not what you think – God is concerned with the 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, seeking the Kingdom of God.

Pray for self and others; pray for love; pray for the strength to live, your purpose, to express your gifts; pray for the sick, homeless, jobless, addicted, pray for peace, the grieving and lost, pray for family, and friends, Pray for the protection of others. Job prayed for his friends, and the Lord made Job successful again. The Lord gave him twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10). What you give, you get and above all, be thankful.

God is all-knowing, all-powerful. God knows what you want, why pray for it? For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened (Mathew 7:8). Ask humbly.

Self-Assessment:

Are you intimate or separated from God? 

Can you expect God to fulfill your desires and not know Him intimately?
Do you know His promises?
Who are you?
Who is God?
Are you aware of your connection to God?
Do you pray from a state of gratitude or fear?
Who needs prayer?
Do you want God’s help and guidance?

Prayer Practices:

 

Make your first contact of the day and commune with God. Meet the day in silent unity with God, Meeting the day is an opportunity to be present for a new day, welcoming the possibilities and good intentions on the day’s activities.

Our relationship with God is private. How you experience God and your choice of a spiritual practice is between you and God. What is your daily process of communication with your Higher Power; God? Develop your own spiritual practice.

Peace and Many Blessings

 

Faith as a Spiritual Practice

Adinkranotes.com

Faith 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. This week’s spiritual principle is Faith.

Faith is a spiritual practice, but also a spiritual power with emotional and mental force. We have faith in the natural laws of the Universe.  We know the sun will rise and set, the moon cycles, and the laws of gravity are tried and true. Our basic faith is in the law of order, cause and effect, and the law of probability. This type of faith provides us with a sense of stability. Faith as a spiritual practice refers to faith as the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it (Hebrews 11:1). The evidence of this faith is practice, and practice results in direct experience; faith and works are close partners.

Faith is not an idea or philosophy. Faith is a confident expectation, and without it there is no will, desire, or enthusiasm. Through practice, faith becomes a knowing.  Faith through direct experience is moving forward with your dreams and ideals one step at a time, until you arrive.  Know that God is with you always, and has your best interest in mind; that’s what makes the journey great. Know that all things work together for the greater good, for those who love God (Romans 8:28).  Look for the meaning in coincidences, be thankful, and keep moving forward one step at a time. Use every experience as a character building exercise by practicing faith, love, kindness, gentleness, and peace because character is developed through direct experience.

Having faith the size of a mustard seed (Luke 17:6) indicates that a little faith goes a long way when we are challenged by unbelief and doubt. Faith cures are based on belief. Jesus’ concept of faith illustrates that faith can heal, “your faith has made you well” (Mark 5:34; Luke 17:19).  The mind has the ability and capacity to heal the body when there is a confident expectation of the outcome. Positive faith is enthusiastic belief. Negative faith is worry. Enthusiasm is the fuel of faith. Worry cancels out faith. Enthusiasm is inspiring, high energy and stirs the soul. Worry is a low energy vibration and depressing. Faith keeps you true to your vision. Doubt is very powerful because we tend to believe only what we see, but there is more, much more than what cannot be seen.

Self-Assessment:

What are the tools of your faith?

What is your spiritual practice?

What do you have faith in (people, job, Higher Power)?

What is the evidence of your faith?

Do you have faith in your actions?

Do you know the promises of God?

Can you trust that life is working on your behalf?

What role does faith play in your life?

How important is faith in your life?

What do you believe and why?

How far are you on your chosen path?

Are you progressing? If not, why? If so why?

Who are you becoming on your path?

What is your life vision?

Is your life unfolding without struggle?

Are your beliefs holding you back?

Are your outer awards a deterrent from seeking internal awards?

Are you preparing to meet opportunities for success?

Do you substitute external rewards over inner growth?

What spiritual resources do you utilize as life practices?

What area in your life needs growth?

Are you responsible for your own evolution?

What are you designing through your thought processes?

Are you growing spiritually?

Faith Practices:

Take inventory of your thoughts and habitual behaviors. What do you think about how you treat you and how others treat you? How much time do you spend on social media, watching television, and reading? What is the program content? Is it awe inspiring, drama-filled or violent? Look for patterns and write them down in a journal. Make an effort to be aware of what you do; in awareness there are unlimited possibilities.What you accept from others and Self is an indication of what you believe about you. Do you believe you deserve better? If not, why not? Treat your life as if you are weaving a tapestry. Be aware of the world you are co-creating. Why not co-create a master piece through thoughts (faith) and behaviors (works).

Belief and faith are not the same. Beliefs are stored in the mind and overtime influenced by family, peers, and societal norms or what was heard repeatedly. Some beliefs are hidden and can be uncovered by awareness of thought patterns. Beliefs are transformed into knowing through direct experience. Combine faith with practice and move in the direction of the soul, your higher Self. God is waiting for you to come up higher and He will guide and protect.

What role does faith play in your daily life? Develop your own spiritual practice.

 Peace and Many Blessings