Seek Ye First...

"How do I get out of debt?" I ask the image of Swami Yogananda... and mentally I remember, "Seek Ye first the Kingdom of God..."

What does that mean? Let me give an example - in my life I've tried desperately to get out of debt. Upon each attempt, I end up in greater debt! Years ago, I thought it was my fault. Then I got money, saved money and paid off debt - only to have a bizarre circumstance force me back into debt. Again and again this repeated. I realized God wanted me to take note of something...

So recently, I meditated about my debt. I realized that what I was really seeking was Freedom. Freedom from God. I wanted to have "freedom" from needing God to take care of me. I wanted to have ownership of my own destiny. Of my own welfare. When I could live where I pleased without fear of job insecurity I would have freedom. But I was using the situation of "debt free" as giving the lack of fear. Instead, I should "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God..." meaning, I should look at it as "God will provide."

"But," the ego will say, "your debt is so great... how will you retire? How will you take care of your family?"

Just say, "God will provide."

"But," the ego will say, "You barely get by..."

Just say "God will provide."

Seek first God... and all this will be given. That's how it should be. To look for a solution to life's problems in our own selves, outside of God, is to seek "freedom" from God. To look for solutions by believing in God, is to find solutions through God.

Theme for July (From Ananda Online)

This month of July the theme at Ananda is Self Control. Below is an excerpt from this theme (taken from Affirmations of Self Healing, by Swami Kriyananda.)

Self-Control
If a lake is made to feed into too many streams, it will soon become drained.
Similarly, if a person’s heart energies are fed into countless streamlets of
desires, he becomes drained, eventually, of even the power to feel. Sated
with pleasure, he grows dry, blasé, and indifferent to even the greatest
wonders.

The sensualist imagines that by giving up his pleasures he would renounce
happiness. But in fact, the more one restrains his senses and learns to live in
the peace of the inner Self, the more he finds himself glowing with
happiness, good health, and a radiant sense of freedom and well-being.

Affirmation
I am strong in myself. I am complete in my Self. The joy and perfection of
the universe await discovery within my inner being!

Prayer
I crave nothing that the world can give me, Lord. O Infinite Perfection, make
me one with Thee!

From Swami Kriyananda’s Affirmations for Self-Healing
Crystal Clarity Publishers

In looking at the affirmation, I'm reminded of what Eckhart Tolle often speaks about - feeling the inner energy within the body.

RS affirmative Prayer

From:
http://www.scienceofmind.com/practices

Science of Mind uses a five-step affirmative prayer called spiritual mind treatment. The five steps are:
1. Recognition—know that God is all there is.
2. Unification—know that you are one with God.
3. Declaration—state your word for the circumstance you want to manifest.
4. Thanksgiving—give thanks for your word being acted upon by the Law of mind.
5. Release—“And so it is!”
There is no beseeching to or urge to compel an outside entity in spiritual mind treatment.  As Ernest Holmes states in The Science of Mind:
Effective mental treatment is propelled by a consciousness of love and a realization that the Creative spirit is always at work....A treatment should be given in a calm, expectant manner and with a deep inner conviction of its reality, without any fear or any sense that the human mind must make it effective. The work is effective because the Law is always in operation.

Praying for a Bird... and it responds!

Today I was at work. Took a break. Walked to one of our kitchen areas and got a cup of coffee. I walked to a window that looks out to the backside of the building and looked into the tree's outside. I saw a tiny little bird with something small in it's beak. Further out I saw a janitorial worker taking trash out of a trashcan.

It hit me that we all are so similar. Here I was, the man and the bird - all working for our livelihood. I began to pray for a blessing upon the bird and upon the man. As I silently prayed for the bird - it did the most unusual thing!

It flew to the ledge where the windows was I'm looking out of. There are 4 or so large windows here, so the fact it flew to where I was was odd to me. It then proceeded to watch me with his eye... and fly up a little bit and gently peck at the glass between us. He watched my hand movements as i put the coffee down and just stood there with me - until another bird flew in.

I found it quite fascinating. I wonder if animals pick up on prayer or positive energy?