What Picture Are You Seeing?

As reactive beings, it is very important that we get the right picture of whatever is confronting us. It is easy to view an occurrence and be tempted to conclude on what we think is going on. However, things are not like that.

Just like the Yoruba proverb which translates to ‘what is beyond six is more than seven’, what we think is happening may not be the reality. Every one of us must carefully find out what the true reality is before we conclude on what to do.

Finding out the truth is mostly very difficult. Does that mean we should not take decisions? NO! That is why we need to always set our mind to interpret issues not based on what we see or what we feel. Our efforts should be based on a neutral consciousness which makes our reactions not to be based on what we see but what it draws for us.

Our senses, especially our sight, play a very important role in our reactions to issues but the problem with them is that they interpret things on the basis of ‘does it suit me at this time’ and not on ‘what is proper and ideal’.

The only way to get things done is to become aware of what the Creator wants at every time. This can only be known by what can be termed ‘the sixth sense’. This is the sense that brings to us the awareness of the ‘Thought of the Creator’. What is He thinking by allowing this to happen to us?

Knowing fully well that the thought of the Creator towards us is good at all times, we can then perceive all things in a good light. Even when it isn’t pleasant to us, we see the picture of a rough metal being transformed into a good product. It is this picture, we need to see at all times.

When this picture is always in our consciousness, we respond positively to all situations and our happiness is guaranteed.

Shalom!

It Is Well

Devotional for Sunday, 2nd of June 2019

Text: And he said, “Why are you going to him today? It is neither the new moon nor the Sabbath.” And she said, “It is well!” – 2Kings 4:23

Many times we are confronted with difficulties that devastate our being and we feel all is gone and there is nothing to hold on to again. At such times, we are enveloped with the feeling of hopelessness. Surely, it is not well.

When the Shunammite woman was faced with the death of her only son and she decided to take him to Prophet Elisha, her consciousness was firmly that of ‘it is well’. She never gave up on the child or believed that nothing could be done to bring him back to life; she was resolute that ‘it is well.

Not only did she tell her husband that ‘it is well’, but she also repeated the same thing to the Prophet’s Assistant, Gehazi. Ultimately, the boy was brought back to life by the Prophet.

What is it that you are going through? Have you resigned to fate and feel that there is no hope at all? The great step in getting things back in the right way is to believe that ‘it is well’. Have that certainty and you will see your miracle come to life.

Shalom!

PUT AN END TO YOUR FEARS

“Each of us must confront our own fears, must come face to face with them. How we handle our fears will determine where we go with the rest of our lives. To experience adventure or to be limited by the fear of it.” – Judy Blume

Everyone experiences fears on a daily basis. There are five different kinds of fear that confront each one of us at different times. These are fear of Rejection, Failure, Loss of control, The Unknown and Pain/Suffering.

Many have alluded to fear as unreal as seen in the common saying that fear is ‘False Evidence Appearing Real’. However, fear is a real emotion. It is part of the reactions of man to events that surround us. Only if we deny our existence can we say fear is not real. As an emotion (negative), fear is a manifestation of energy released within the body. Energy is real and cannot be killed but can only be transformed.

For everyone, what matters most is what should be done to put an end to our fear whether it be rejection or failure or even unknown. Putting an end to it is really to transform the energy of fear to another form of energy (i.e. another emotion).

The reason why we become afraid of things is that we use our limited experiences and knowledge to determine ahead the consequences of an expected outcome. We give too much power to our brain to the extent that we take its decisions as absolute. That is why two different individuals react differently to the same situation. Their brains have dissimilar experiences and knowledge base.

To put an end to whatever fear we may experience, we must shift our dependence on the brain to determine the outcomes and consequences of events to something better and more real. That thing is the Light of the Creator.

The Light of the Creator contains the hidden total plan of the Creator for us and the Universe. This Light is accrued by us when we meditate on the Creator and creation from time to time. This meditation includes studying nature and the sacred texts of religions as it relates to the Creator and creation. By doing so, we acquire the Consciousness of the Creator.

When confronted with fears, through our consciousness, we shine the Light of the Creator on our fears and we see them transform into something positive. Instead of fear, we begin to feel more comfortable and enjoy inner peace. Instead of rejecting and losing the energy inherent in fear, we can transform it into useful energy which will add value to our lives.

For example, a person confronted with the fear of failure may actually continue in the course he was treading if convinced that it is the path. Even if he fails in that task, he will rise to success having known how not to fail again. The best price to pay for success is not to be afraid of failure.

Putting an end to our fears requires each one to attain the consciousness of the Creator and shines HIS Light on our fears.