When you are confronted with problems that you cannot
solve, or
find yourself in the midst of conditions that are distressing and
adverse, do not permit yourself to become disturbed for a moment. There
is a simple secret that will invariably set you free and change
everything for the best. And the secret is this - "Leave It To God."
When you do not know what course to pursue, leave it to God. When you
do not know where to turn, or how to dispel the darkness that may
surround you, then leave it to God. When you do not know where the path
to the greatest good may lie, and have not become conscious of that
supreme light of the soul through which all things may be discerned -
rest serenely in the faith that you can leave it all to God. In His
hands everything is safe; and whatever we place in His hands, will be
disposed of in the best conceivable manner.
It is remarkable how soon darkness takes flight, how soon
confusion is stilled, how soon conditions adjust themselves and how
soon adversities change into blessings, when we can say, in perfect
faith, and in perfect sincerity of soul - "Leave It To God." For thus
we place everything in the keeping of a Wisdom that knows what should
be done, and in the hands of a Power that can do what is best for all
concerned.
It is the best for everybody that we all desire; it is
the
happiest outcome of everything that we pray for as the most perfect
ideal of visible existence; and we know full well that such an ideal
will surely be realized when we leave it to God. The Infinite can solve
our problems, and so arrange all things in life, that the greatest good
will come to pass, regardless of time, place or circumstances. And we
should not hesitate to seek the superior guidance of the Infinite in
this regard, whether our problems be great or small, momentous or
insignificant.
Whatever the matter may be, we should leave it to God.
The sun
will soon shine once more, and all will be well again. There are many
things we may wish to do, but do not know whether to begin now or
later. There is some one, however, who does know; and if we leave it to
Him, something will happen to delay the matter, if that is best, or to
bring about a speedy beginning, if that is best. And afterwards, when
we see how delightfully all things worked out, we will be glad - very
glad, that we did say, when in doubt "Leave It To God."
We frequently come to places where the whole world seems
to be
against us; when every friend seems to be gone; and when adversity
seems to make life a useless desert of waste and desolation. But at
such times we should not be disheartened or dismayed. There is a way to
freedom. There is a Light that is stronger than all the darkness in the
world. There is a Power that can change everything in our entire
destiny. There is a Love that can bring to us the friendship and the
sympathy of all mankind. Then why should we ever be discouraged or sad?
There is a royal path that leads out of, and away, from all
adversities. And we may find that path if we leave it to God.
When we can say, in perfect faith and sincerity of soul,
that
we will leave it to God, we place ourselves in that state of being
where the power of the Infinite can work for us, and through us, to the
end that the best may surely come to pass. The Infinite is always at
hand, waiting to be of service; but we must be willing to accept such
service; and we do accept when we can say with depth of sincerity -
"Leave It To God."
Then we must know, and fully believe, that what we leave
to God
to do, will be done right; and we must realize that when anything is
done right, every trace of evil, sin, pain or sorrow is eliminated
completely. God will never bring sickness, pain, want or death to any
human soul. It is not the will of God that any human being should
suffer, or be deprived of anything that is good in the world. The ways
of the Infinite do not lead into pain and privation, but always into
greater freedom, greater good, greater power, greater joy.
When we leave anything to God, we may know that the wrong
alone
will be taken away; the good will remain and be multiplied again and
again, without end and without measure. We may rest assured, therefore,
that nothing that is worthy or good or beautiful will be lost when we
leave things to God. The kingdom of the Supreme, with all its riches
and glory, is for man; but man must be willing to receive; and he does
express perfect willingness when he can say, with the faith of the
soul, that he will, henceforth, leave everything to God.
Whatever there is in life that we wish to change, remedy
or
perfect, the simple secret is this - "Leave It To God." And we should
make this statement in that deep feeling of the soul that knows - that
feeling that seems to say to us that our wish will be realized, our
prayer will be answered - the best will come to pass. In truth, how
could it be otherwise? God would not have it otherwise; therefore, when
we leave all things to Him, we may know that the outcome will be all
that we could have wished for and infinitely more.
CHAPTER 2 - The Highest Prayer
We know that the
prayer of
the righteous availeth much; but we also know there are many prayers
that seemingly are not answered prayers that are sincere, and that come
from souls that we know to be righteous. And accordingly, the question
arises again and again, how we should so pray that we may not pray in
vain.
When we consider the
subject
of prayer, however, and examine the true spiritual significance of
prayer, we find that we have, in the past, mistaken both the purpose of
prayer and the attitude of the Infinite toward the needs of man. We
find, in the first place, that God has already given His kingdom to
man; and therefore we need not ask for anything whatever. There is
nothing we can ask for that we have not already received. Why then
should we ask again, or pray in any form or manner?
We find in the second
place,
that although God has given us everything, still we do not always gain
personal possession of the gifts of his infinite kindness and love. And
therefore, this entire theme becomes, for the time being, exceedingly
mysterious. But the mystery disappears completely when we consider this
theme through the understanding of the highest prayer. And the highest
prayer may be expressed, in the simplest and most beautiful manner,
through this remarkable statement: "My Father, I thank thee that thou
hearest me always."
The highest prayer
does not
ask, directly, for anything that may be desired; but gives constant,
and deep spiritual recognition, to the great truth, that the Infinite
has, from the very beginning, given all things to man that may be
needed for growth and ascension throughout eternity. And in addition to
this recognition, gives expression to ceaseless gratitude, and sincere,
unending thanksgiving. In the language of the highest prayer, we do not
ask God to give us what we need or desire; we affirm, in spirit and in
truth, that God is giving us all these things now. And we add, to all
our affirmations, this beautiful, inspiring statement: "I thank thee
that thou hearest me always."
When the body is
ailing, we
do not ask for health. We affirm, "God is now and forever giving me
perfect health." And, "The perfect health of the Infinite fills me
through and through, because I am in God, and God is in me." We affirm,
"God is giving me power"; "God is giving me peace"; "God is giving me
increase"; "God is giving me the gifts of the spirit." In brief,
whatever we find that we need in life, physically, mentally or
spiritually, we affirm that God is now giving us all these things. And
this is absolutely true. God is closer than breathing; therefore knows
what we need every hour, and supplies every need at once, whatever that
need may be.
We shall find a
remarkable
difference in the working out of all our circumstances, material and
spiritual, when we change our mode of prayer; that is, when we no
longer implore the Infinite to give us what we need, but affirm, with
sincere thanksgiving, that God is giving us all these things now.
God is eternally
giving to
man the all good of life; and God is giving to each human soul every
day what is needed for that day. It would therefore be wrong to implore
God to do what He already is doing. Instead, we should recognize His
goodness by speaking this truth - "God is now giving me all that I
need." And in addition, we should give expression to our most sincere
and heartfelt gratitude.
When we recognize, in
spirit
and in truth, what God is doing for us, we enter into harmony with the
act of His giving; and accordingly, we receive every day everything
that is given to us for that day. But when we do not recognize this
great truth, we are not in harmony with anything that the Supreme may
be doing for us; and therefore we do not receive, at the right time and
place, what has truly been given to us as our very own. And possibly we
may never receive those gifts in this life, but may have to depend
altogether upon our own efforts for everything - efforts that are
sometimes disappointing, and frequently ineffectual.
The truth is, however,
that
no soul is destined to depend upon personal efforts alone. We all must,
indeed, use our powers and talents well; but we can accomplish but
little if we work entirely alone, that is, apart from higher power and
divine guidance. Great souls invariably seek constant assistance from
the Supreme; and wherever they go, they always "walk with God." Such
souls invariably recognize the great law, "My Father worketh and I
work," and enter into the spiritual realization of that law absolutely.
We must take God with us in all things, if we would rise above mere
existence, and be true to the wonderful life we have been given the
privilege to live. And we do take God with us in all things when we
constantly recognize the truth that God is with us always, and that He
is giving us every hour what we need to make that hour full, perfect
and complete.
When we understand
this law,
that God is constantly giving to man everything that is necessary to
make life all that we wish it to be, and place ourselves in perfect
harmony with that law, we shall find that every need will be supplied
in its true place and time. The right way will always open through
which we may gain what we desire, and realize the ideals that the great
eternal now holds in store.
Every day will be full
to
overflowing with blessings of every conceivable state or being. Every
succeeding day will become richer and larger than the days that have
gone before, as we become more and more conscious of the great truth,
that God is giving us everything today that is needed to make this the
greatest day we ever knew. And in all our efforts we will be guided, to
the end that we may invariably do what is best knowing that higher
power will be with us so long as we live and work for the larger life
and the greater good