“The highest attitude of mind, from which all else springs, is one of perfect calm and absolute trust in the Spirit.” — Ernest Holmes
As a new Science of Mind student, I would passionately pray my spiritual mind treatment. Immediately I would speculate how my prayer was going to be answered. My prayers were usually about money since I believed that there wasn’t enough to go around. I would wait for the mail to show up only to find an empty mailbox. I would check to see if any clients called with potential business, but no one called.
When I complained to my spiritual mentor, she reminded that it was none of my business where or how my good will appear. She said, “If you continue to look for it, you haven’t developed your faith.”
I discovered there are three steps to building faith: Hope, trust and gratitude. Hope is a sense of doubtful expectation. We hope something good will happen to us but underneath, doubt and fear linger. Those doubts and fears produce a type of anxiety called waiting. Waiting for things to change, waiting for circumstances to get better, etc.
As we release the doubts and fears, we begin to develop trust. We have a deeper conviction in the creative process of life and develop greater patience. The stress of waiting is replaced by patience and a sense of calmness that all is well.
Here was the important part for me: refrain from searching for the demonstration of good. Instead, it was essential to give thanks that what I desired was already received. Gratitude is the expansiveness of faith.
In today’s uncertainty, I engage this practice quite often. It is so easy to be swayed by circumstances in the world. I recognize my fears and beliefs and ask what is mine to do. Then I shift into trust, knowing I am not alone. I look around and express gratitude knowing that something greater is being revealed.
I learned a long time ago, it is none of my business how my prayer will be demonstrated. I now give thanks that it is already received. Lesson learned.
Affirmation: I give thanks that what I desire is already received.