By Rev. Joyce Kramer

Nearly everyone seems to have something in his mind and heart that interferes with his happiness and sense of well-being. A common stumbling block is that of guilt. Thoughts and feelings of guilt have a way of so occupying the mind that we are prevented from living fully, freely, and abundantly. Lethargy, discouragement and often depression result from guilt. Not only does guilt cause emotional problems, it affects the functioning of the body, and slows down productive activity.

What is guilt? Guilt is a feeling of remorse that follows either wrong conduct or neglecting to do what one feels should be done. From a traditional perspective, guilt results from actual or believed sins of omission or commission. Sins of commission refer to unwise, destructive action or wrongdoing, while sins of omission result when we have neglected to do something we feel should have been done.

Although much of guilt is useless and wasteful, legitimate guilt is a natural result of an infraction of our moral code or the laws of God. When we do something known to be wrong, it is quite natural to feel guilty. Usually, these feelings persist until we forgive ourselves and realize that we will never do the same thing again. This is a type of repentance that turns us in a different direction.

Many people carry with them burdens of unjustified guilt. This is reflected in a “down” attitude toward yourself even though the guilt has no valid foundation. Often such guilt is alleviated when we begin to challenge old beliefs and habitual ways of thought.

In an attempt to gain control over the minds of people, many religious groups encourage feelings of guilt. Through the “worm of the dust” concept or the “miserable sinner” syndrome, thousands have felt unworthy of experiencing God’s good. As a result of the belief in “original sin” many believe themselves to be in bondage to the sin of Adam and Eve who disobeyed God. Through the ages, this act of disobedience has had a negative influence on many people. Guilt resulting from such religious beliefs will be dispelled when we understand how these concepts originated and what they mean to us.

An example of this is shown in the Psalms of David. After David became king and assumed leadership of Israel, he allowed his love of God to be diverted in sensuous ways. He met and longed to have for his own, Bathsheba, who was the wife of Uriah, a soldier in David’s army. To attain his desire, David ordered Uriah be placed on the front line of the battle with the Ammonites so that he would be killed. After Uriah was killed, Nathan, the prophet, confronted David with his terrible wrongdoing. David faced his sin and poured out his feelings of guilt in the 51st Psalm, “For I acknowledge my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me. Behold I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”

It is important to note that David did not retain his guilt. Through prayer and personal repentance, David experienced God’s forgiving love. Then David was able to forgive himself and move onward, never to repeat his mistake. God does cleanse us of past mistakes if we are willing. David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, 0 God and renew a right spirit within me.”

From David’s words of remorse expressing his deep sorrow for what he had done, came the belief that man is born in sin. This belief reinforced the concept of the sinful or evil nature of man.

Contrast this concept of man to the one in the 8th Psalm where David expresses his exultation over the high regard that God has for man. “What is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man, that thou visiteth him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works· of thy hands; thou has put all things under his feet.” These two psalms are dramatically different in their portrayal of the nature of man, yet they were written by the same person, David. Serious thought should be given to these conflicting views of the nature of man. Perhaps we do not have the reasons for guilt that we may have believed.

When we feel a deep sense of guilt, we often believe that not only do others not approve of us, but that God does not accept us. Feeling that we are rejected by God, we become engrossed in self-condemnation, believing that we do not deserve a good life. We tend to magnify our personal failings, and overestimate the achievement of others. This distorted view stifles creativity, upsets the orderly functioning of the body, and in general interferes with peace of mind.

Guilt is a condition of disease. Psychosomatic medicine indicates a deep sense of guilt is often found to underlie many physical and mental disorders. “We cannot weigh guilt or calculate the infective dose of fear, yet these may be as productive of disease as a virus,” observed Dr. Mallett, an English psychiatrist.

Unresolved guilt produces many problems, preventing us from becoming dynamic, creative individuals. Guilt carries with it the potential for self-destruction. Dryden wrote, “Not sharp revenge, nor hell itself can find fiercer torment than a guilty mind.” Shakespeare observed, “The mind of guilt is full of scorpions. Better it were that all the miseries which nature owns were ours at once than guilt.”

Note some of the common sources of guilt that may have a subtle or even a pronounced effect upon us. We may feel guilt when:

… we have failed to discipline ourselves enough to reach a desired goal.
… we are concerned about the reaction of others when we make a difficult choice, such as putting a parent into a nursing home.
… we are unable to live up to our moral standards such as circumstances requiring us to accept an unwanted divorce.
… family members do not live up to socially acceptable behavior, perhaps addicted to alcohol, drugs, or refusing to accept responsibility.
… loved ones die and there are unresolved feelings toward them.
… we are deviating from our personal standards and reel unable to change either behavior or a situation.

As you can see, many of the sources of guilt are very familiar. Left unattended, guilt will keep you from living well in the present. The following steps will be helpful in freeing yourself from this life-draining emotion.

Upgrade Your Self-Esteem. Self-esteem involves confidence and satisfaction in oneself. Self-esteem is enhanced when we understand that by nature we are spiritual beings, “created in the image and likeness of God.” Respect yourself based on this knowledge and through the adherence to the standards you believe in.

A New York psychiatrist, Dr. Teicher writes, “Upgrade your self-image. If you don’t think highly of yourself, you will think you are no good and feel guilty no matter what you do. Not all guilt feelings are bad. However, personal guilt is not always based on reality and excessive guilt can be harmful.”

You can upgrade your self-esteem by discovering the wonderful gifts of God within your soul. Honor those qualities that are inherent in your nature, such as life, love, wisdom, and power. Study and think about the special characteristics of your soul as represented by the twelve disciples of Jesus. Since what you think about will multiply in your life, conscious thought, prayer, and meditation will help you “stir up the gift of God, which is in thee.” (II Timothy 1:6)

Remind yourself that God’s intelligent, loving, powerful presence is always with you to bless, to guide, to help and to work through you in any way needed. You can bring forth the beauty God has implanted within your soul. Jesus taught that the kingdom of God is within man. He promised that His Spirit will always be with us. What a wonderful foundation for a healthy self-esteem! As Carlyle wrote, “Man was made for greatness.”

Practice Self-Forgiveness. Forgiveness is not something you extend only to others. Recognition of your guilt that has resulted from deviation from what you know is right and good leads to self-condemnation. Unless faced and cleared from your mind and heart, your guilt will lead to a condemning consciousness. The result will be a distrust of others, for you will project your guilt on to them. For example, if you know you have been dishonest in a business deal, you may suspect others of being dishonest in similar situations. You will find it difficult to trust anyone.

Instead of continuing to feel guilty, it is important to forgive yourself. The freeing, forgiving love of God is willing to set you free from mistakes of the past and their resulting conditions. To be able to accept forgiveness, you must first be able to forgive. There is nothing too bad to be forgiven.

You would think it foolish to condemn an infant because he comes into the world unable to take care of his needs. You do not hold it against a child because he is not self-sufficient. As soon as he learns to do these things he will do them. In like manner, it is well to remember that you are an ever-evolving soul, learning and growing along the pathway of life. As a human being you are susceptible to making mistakes. It is foolish to condemn yourself for mistakes made when you did not know better.

Suppose several years ago you wronged someone. Even if no one knows what you did, to remember the experience brings remorse and feelings of shame. Instead of wallowing in guilt, ask yourself, “Would I do the same thing over again?” If the answer is “no,” then it is time to release the matter. Psychologically, you are no longer the same person who committed the act. Therefore, to continue to condemn yourself is to condemn an innocent person. Be willing to give up morbid self-reproach. Forgive yourself and go free.

Make Amends. Guilt left unattended becomes resentment, antagonism and sometimes hate, turned towards yourself or others. Norman Vincent Peale said, “A moral transgression is like a splinter in the unconscious mind, which, unless removed damages the ego.” Action on your part is required to rid your mind and heart of guilt before it creates additional problems. Unattended guilt interferes with our ability to respond to the guidance and direction of God.

Lowell Fillmore wrote, “Remember that the only self-justification that really counts is for the person who has made the mistake to admit it and then do everything in his power to make things right if anyone has been wronged.” Confession, plus doing what you can to make up for the loss, is vital.

In ancient Israel, a “guilt offering” was required when one had not followed the laws of God or trespassed against man or his property. Not only was restitution required but an animal sacrifice was made in atonement. This practice symbolized the cleansing of the person from guilt.

In today’s world it is necessary to confess and admit your faults to God, to be rid of your unconscious sense of guilt. Also, if there is any possible way you can make amends for your wrongdoing, you should do so. If you have wrongly taken something from another, you should make it good. If restitution is impossible, the person wronged should be surrounded by prayers of love and blessing.

By acknowledging your faults, practicing self-forgiveness, forgiving others, and making amends, you will open the floodgates of the dynamic energy of God that has been held in check. This great surge of energy can be used to move you forward into a more meaningful and effective life.

Leave Your Past. What is it that you are trying to salvage from your past? Your past is kept alive only by your thoughts and feelings. Old mental records of hurt, success and failure, loss and gain, and uncertainty and insecurity build barriers to living in the present. Look upon your past as a tattered garment you have outgrown, and which is so tiresome to hear about. However, it has served to get you where you are today and provided you with valuable lessons. Give thanks for the blessings your past has provided for you and then let it go.

Should some guilt-producing incident from your past keep haunting you, the technique of “revision” can give you freedom. Since it is through your imagination that you have kept the past alive, it is through your imagination that you can remove the hurts of the past and be free from the pain of guilt.

The following quote reminds us of the great potential power that we can utilize through our faculty of imagination.

“When we walk by sight, we know our way by objects which our eyes see. When we walk by faith, we order our life by scenes and actions which only imagination sees.”

Begin by relaxing and quieting your mind. See yourself in mind doing what you wish you would have done in the situation that has been guilt producing. Feel the emotion stirring within you. Think from the perspective of taking the right action. Feel the peace of mind that comes from doing the right thing. Once you visualize the past, not as it was, but as you want it to be, old images are released. You will feel free from your guilt. “Because thou shalt forget thy misery and remember it as waters that pass away.” (Job 11:16)

Your imagination is a spiritual power you can use to achieve specific results. Your imagined state becomes a living reality to you.

The caterpillar, ready for a new identity, surrounds himself with a cocoon. After a time in his cocoon, he emerges as a colorful, beautiful butterfly. Not once does he try to crawl back into the cocoon he used in the past.

Many people are wrapped in cocoons of the past; bound by world beliefs, former mistakes and ignorance, fear and guilt stemming from lack of understanding. At the same time, their true nature awaits an opportunity to burst forth in beauty and goodness.

Cast the burdens of your past, including your guilt, upon God. The automatic power of God will disintegrate and destroy whatever has hindered you. It will cause you to drop guilt from your memory. “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their iniquity I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 8:12) Truly the forgiving love of God will set you free.

When Jesus was asked which was the greatest of all commandments, He replied, “Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself.” (Matthew 22:37-39) This comprises the great law of love which is the basic foundation of the Christian religion. In order to be able to love, you must become free from guilt. Guilt is out of accord with love and must be cleansed from your heart and mind. Upgrade your self-esteem, practice self-forgiveness, make amends for your wrongdoing and leave your past. You will overcome guilt!

By Rev. Joyce Kramer

The use of the term stress has grown in popularity during this century, yet men and women have experienced stress throughout the ages. Stress is an integral part of the biological scheme of living organisms, a defense mechanism upon which survival may depend. While we do not face danger from life-threatening prehistoric animals in a hostile environment as did our primitive ancestors, the pace of living in our modern world creates other types of stress.

What is stress? Stress is mental or physical tension resulting from a feeling of pressure or urgency. Although stress may seem to be created by events, conditions or persons, this is not generally the case. It is our response to these apparent stress producers and our belief about their potential power to harm us that creates stress. Our reactions are then experienced through our thoughts and feelings, nurtured by our mental images and expressed through our words. Prolonged stress becomes destructive to peace of mind and health of body.

In addition, stress is considered to be physical pressure resulting from the effect of force exerted within or upon a thing. The stress factor is considered in the structure of bridges, tunnels and tall buildings.  In order to be safe and functional, they must be built to withstand weight, wind, snow, vibration and other elements that create pressure. From another perspective, to stress is to place emphasis upon something. These varied approaches to the concept of stress are related to the reaction of the mind and body to the challenging ups and downs or vicissitudes of life.

From what began as a defense mechanism, stress has become known as the leading cause of mental, physical and emotional illness. The research of Dr. Hans Selye, foremost authority in the study of stress, determined that sickness and disease result from one’s inability to adapt to life and its pressures. He depicted the result of stress as wear and tear within the body which brings about negative body conditions. The accumulation of physical and psychological stress responses over a period of time takes its toll on the body in the form of stress related diseases. Dr. Selye wrote, “After exposure to stress, resistance to infectious disease is usually diminished.” In view of his finding, it is easy to see the importance of learning to overcome destructive stress.

Dr. Paul Roach of the American Institute of Stress relates that the mind and emotions have a profound influence on the immune system. When thoughts and feelings are destructive, the immune defenses are lowered. In an optimistic, cheerful state of mind, the immune defenses are bolstered. Without a doubt, we have within us the possibility of restoring the body to a state of wholeness.

Overwhelming evidence links stress to a wide range of illnesses from headaches and high blood pressure to ulcers, multiple sclerosis and cancer. The first step, in overcoming these diseases is the acceptance of the truth that the work of your immune system is directly related to your patterns of thought and emotions.  Stress reduces the body’s ability to resist infection and maintain its defenses.  Through this knowledge you can understand how important it is to change your thoughts and emotional patterns so that your defense mechanisms are activated in a positive way. Physiological changes follow psychological changes for the mind and body work together as a whole.

Whatever pulls at you, emotionally or physically, requiring you to adjust your balance, constitutes stress. Some common causes of stress are reaction to events in our troubled world such as war, homelessness, hunger, economic changes, pollution and the threat of catastrophic illness. Personal causes originate from problems within or with family members, job insecurity, disappointment in love, or the loss of someone or something important. Stress is generated by changes whether planned or unplanned. Retirement from a fulfilling job, death of a spouse or family member, an addition to the family, the necessity of relocating and illness, all create a sense of insecurity which leads to stress. Whatever the cause of stress, the results are the same.

Unattended destructive stress can take a strong hold in your thoughts, feelings and life. Learning to identify stress in its early stages will enable you to quickly take action to overcome it. Without positive action problems will be created. It is important for you to become alert to stress. Some indicators of stress are anxiety, restlessness, inability to concentrate, hesitancy in making decisions and avoidance of responsibility. Feelings of loneliness, depression and fatigue often come from an accumulation of stress. An increase in smoking, the use of alcohol or drugs, insomnia or too much sleep are also danger signals.

Now that you are aware of the destructive potential of stress, its outer causes and signals, the next step is to make up your mind to overcome it. Since stress is not a power of itself but the result of your beliefs about and reactions to the world around you, it is possible for you to overcome it. 

Consider putting into practice the following ideas if you would like to overcome stress.

Seek Knowledge and Understanding. Every person experiences stress from time to time, therefore it is very important that we learn to overcome it so that it does not exert its destructive potential in our lives. By learning about the nature of stress, its underlying causes and symptoms, we are prepared to deal with it.

At the beginning of his reign, King Solomon, desiring above all else to be a good ruler, prayed that God would give him an understanding heart. He prayed, “Give thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people that I may discern between good and evil.” (I Kings 3:9) Solomon prayed for the ability to see beyond outer facts into the heart of things.

Hosea, a prophet of Israel, was very concerned with the terrible conditions of his people. He observed that they had turned their attention from God and were controlled by outer materialistic beliefs. He expressed his frustration over their plight, lamenting, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6)  Unnecessary pain and suffering result from a lack of knowledge and understanding. When one does not understand the nature of God nor has knowledge of the spiritual principles upon which life is based, he becomes victimized by his own ignorance.

Seek knowledge and understanding of God. Through disciplined study, thought, prayer and communion with God in the silence of your being, you will learn more of God. By understanding His character and His nature, you will build a firm foundation upon which to rely.

Seek knowledge and understanding of yourself based on your permanent identity. Your permanent identity is your spiritual nature, connected with God, filled with potential for self-expression. Jesus Christ lived according to His permanent identity and encouraged us to leave our nets and follow Him. (Matthew 4: 19) We are called to leave behind us the limited sense of being only human, give up dependency on things of the world and others and follow the inspiration and guidance of His Spirit.

“So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.” (Genesis 1:27) Can you accept that this refers to you? Your permanent identity is created in the image of infinite wisdom, unfailing love, unlimited power and divine intelligence. You are more than flesh and blood. You are greater than your thoughts, feelings and experiences. Your permanent identity enables you to give direction to your life. The knowledge of your permanent identity and understanding its nature is the enduring foundation upon which a dynamic, powerful life can be built.

Look to God for Help. Stress is a sign of estrangement from God, originating from the belief that you face life alone. You have no need to depend solely on human resources to overcome stress. The power of God is within you and is greater than any destructive force. Jesus Christ promised, “Lo, I am with you always.” (Matthew 28:20)

Ask God to help you. Asking denotes a willingness to receive that which is asked for. We are promised that if we ask, believing, we shall receive. Our Scriptures instruct us to “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not.” (Jeremiah 33:3) These words do not suggest a maybe or perhaps but contain the definite assurance that God will respond.

There is no thing or no one other than God that is infallible and all powerful. By looking to God our help will be forthcoming. John Greenleaf Whittier wrote, “The simple heart that freely asks in love, obtains.”

Give Contemplative Attention to That Which You Desire. Many people find it easy to worry, to look at the experiences of life from a depressed, fearful and negative point of view. By so doing their lives follow the direction of their fears and worries, becoming filled with negative conditions and experiences.

A simple explanation for this phenomenon is, “thoughts held in mind produce after their kind.” What we contemplate or view with continued attention gradually comes to pass in our world of experience. Plotinus, philosopher of mysticism in the second century said, “You will create the objects of your contemplation, as mathematicians image and draw their figures. You will gaze within and the figures of your material world will take being as if they fell from your brooding.”

Notice what you contemplate. Are the objects of your contemplation worthwhile? Do you want to see them manifesting in your body, your life, your world? Unguided contemplation can be dangerous if based on fear, worry or any type of negation. Paul in his letter to the Philippians suggested to the new Christians to THINK on those things that were honest, just, pure, loving and of good report. By giving attention to such qualities, one’s life can be expected to follow that pattern.

Learn to Say NO and Stick with It. A common problem that we encounter is our tendency to waver between opinions. We think we have made up our mind, then someone comes along with an argument, making us feel guilty about our choice, and we change it. We take on more than we should, lose control of our time, do things we really do not want to do and thereby create stress.

When we allow ourselves to be subject to the whims or opinions of others, we may do things we feel uncomfortable doing, spend time in ways we do not care to and as a result internal pressure builds.  We create our own dilemmas when we let others determine what we do.

Determine your personal priorities and stick with them. Organize your time so you fulfill these priorities.  By having a clear sense of direction you become less subject to the whims of others, and can more easily complete the things you set out to do. Say no to personal whims that would distract you from your goals. Although there are times when we may have to put our priorities aside temporarily, they are easily resumed when the emergency is over. Assert your God-given wisdom to say no when it is appropriate. Affirm His strength to stick to it even when you are being pressured.

Do What You Feel You Should Do. Failure to do what you sincerely feel you should do causes stress. Stress is produced when you believe one way and live another. For example, a person who knows the difference between right and wrong, yet succumbs to pressure and does wrong creates a great deal of stress. Compromising ideals in order to be accepted, holding on to something or someone because you fear the consequences of change can have devastating effects.

The habit of procrastination produces stress. It is frequently easier to evaluate, to analyze and think about something we must do, rather than do it. It is very easy to become lazy and inactive.

Control Your Feelings. It is easy to get caught in a pattern of negative feelings and allow them to dominate you. Negative feelings act like a small snowball that you start rolling downhill. By the time the snowball gets to the bottom of the hill it is very big. In like manner, what starts as a feeling of self-pity is nurtured by supporting thoughts, remembered experiences and beliefs of neglect until it grows strong and powerful.

It is well to remember that your feelings are yours. Only you should guide and direct their path. Since your feelings come from prolonged thoughts, you can change them by changing your thoughts. By placing your thoughts on what is worthwhile and productive, your feelings will soon correspond. You are greater than either your thoughts or feelings and you have the power to give them direction.

Handle Problems Lightly. Problems occur as a natural part of the challenge of living in the world. Problems provide you with the opportunity to grow in understanding and often require you to draw upon little-used inner resources. Most problems are not as life-threatening as they first appear to be. There is no need to be overwhelmed or discouraged by a problem for every problem has a solution.

Problems are much more difficult to solve if you dramatize their negative aspects. Problems are magnified by talking about them, eliciting sympathy and/or advice and by giving them attention.

When a problem appears in your life, pray for guidance so that you will know what to do to solve it. Claim that, The clear unclouded mind of Jesus Christ dominates my thoughts, my feelings and my actions. You can then be assured that you will handle your problem with ease. The stress of unresolved problems will be eliminated.

Free yourself of destructive stress by taking the following steps:

1)  seek knowledge and understanding

2)  look to God for help

3)  give contemplative attention to that which you desire

4)  learn to say no and stick with it

5)  do what you feel you should do

6)  control your feelings

7)  handle problems lightly

You will enjoy lire to the fullest when you avoid destructive stress, and gratefully move forward to fulfill your purpose for being.

By Rev. Joyce Kramer

There are a lot of angry people in the world. Angry people are responsible for crime, vandalism, destruction, rape, and abuse. It seems to take very little to trigger violent action in a person who harbors a great deal of anger. Put a few angry people together and fighting or rioting may result.

Note that the riots that break out in large cities have little to do with the supposed reason for the riot. Although it seems an event may trigger violent behavior, the event itself actually has little to do with it. Whether coming from a feeling of outrage at an apparent travesty of justice, or excitement over a sporting event success, such the Chicago Bulls’ basketball championship win in 1992, the destruction, vandalism, and crime that followed were the result of uncontrolled anger. There were divergent reasons behind the Chicago Bulls incident: in one case, concern over the behavior of our justice system; in another, pride over winning a national championship. Yet the result was the same. Mass anger, like a seething volcano, lays in wait for something to justify its release.

What is anger? Anger is defined as a strong emotion of displeasure, a feeling of antagonism, fury, and rage. These feelings may become so strong that intelligent, rational thought is set aside and violent, uncontrolled behavior results. At other times the emotions build inwardly, fueled by vengeful, vindictive thoughts with imagined scenes of revenge or retaliation for believed wrongs. These may smolder under the surface until something or someone triggers a violent eruption.

Anger, the process of losing our temper, frequently leads to far-reaching and disastrous consequences. This loss of emotional control finds an outlet in crime, delinquency, abuse, accidents, and suicide.

What is it that causes such a loss of control, such disregard for the negative effects that our behavior may have on oneself or others? Even though it may appear that outbursts of anger are precipitated by a condition, event, or circumstance, there are underlying reasons why the emotion is so ready to explode at the slightest provocation.

Anger is an offspring of hate. Hate is a strong, intense aversion or dislike for someone or something. It generally includes the desire to inflict suffering on another in return for supposed wrongs or neglect. Hate results from thought and emotional patterns that have been nurtured over long periods of time. Established not only in conscious thought but in the subconscious mind, they become a part of our belief system. In turn, these beliefs perpetuate anger.

Some of the most common beliefs that maintain anger are:

…. the belief that we are the victim of birth, parents, race, or environment. This provides a convenient excuse for inaction and lack of effort. It leads to a “poor little me” attitude and a feeling that we are victimized by conditions over which we have no control.

… the belief that the world and others owe us something, whether a living, happiness, care, or even love. Feeling that others should be responsible for our well-being leads to the surrender of personal responsibility for taking charge of our life and making it what is desired.

… the belief that the past has control over the present. Many people believe that if they had received more love or more attention when they were children, they would be happier and more successful today. That is pure speculation; who knows, they might have been worse. Children who have had plenty of attention and love have become criminals.

… the belief that our personal views, attitudes, religion, behavior, and way of thinking is the “right” way. Narrow-mindedness and limited experiences lead to condemnation of anyone or anything that differs from our preconceived notions.

… the belief that the total of life is defined by the experience of one life span, and accepting as the only reality that which is perceived through the five senses. Naturally this causes us to develop a “what’s the use?” attitude leading to a sense of futility. This trend of thought excludes faith in God and an acceptance of the continuity of life. A life based on these thoughts is devoid of purpose and meaning.

If you have any of these beliefs, then you are a candidate for a great deal of anger. Although you may be unaware of it, and are not expressing it in a negative way, anger rages beneath the surface awaiting the match that will light the fire. Since anger is such a powerful emotion, and so potentially destructive, it is important to our health and well-being to understand the devastating effects of anger.

Anger plays havoc with the physical body, upsetting the intricate balance and order in the body chemistry. It inhibits the body’s natural process of repair and renewal. It can produce physiological harm resulting in conditions such as high blood pressure, migraine headaches, and heart problems.

From the psychological perspective, anger destroys our peace of mind and happiness, leaving in its wake guilt and depression. In relationships, anger breaks down communication, prevents rational thought, and often leads to violent behavior directed toward others.

Charles Fillmore wrote, “Anger is one of the most dangerous emotions of man.” A person caught in the throes of irrational uncontrolled anger is temporarily insane. Once he has lost control while in this deranged state, he may do things that he will regret for the rest of his life, such as acts of violence and crime.

Anger retards our spiritual unfoldment by building invisible barriers to the free-flowing activity of God. Whenever our state of mind is out of accord with the loving nature of God, we are closed off from the inspiration and guidance of His Spirit.

Instead of indulging in anger, we should heed the advice given in James 1:19,
“Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God.”

Jesus had a great deal to say about our attitudes toward, and our treatment of, our fellow human beings. He set a high standard of conduct by which we should live. Consider the words from Matthew 5:38-39,
“Ye have heard that it was said, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

Jesus advocated active non-resistance, not the passive behavior that makes one a doormat. Nor did his example of “turning the other cheek” literally mean to let someone slap us in the face. He was instructing us to turn our attention away from thoughts that produce anger to positive thoughts of peace and harmony. We need not be enslaved by negation, for we have the option to turn our attention to God’s good. We learn to follow the advice Paul gave the followers of Jesus in his letter to the church in Rome,
“Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
(Romans 12:21)

One of the ways we can best do this is through following the advice that Jesus gave in Matthew 5:44:
“But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.”

How is it possible to do this? It is not so difficult once we realize that each person is a spiritual being, having a divine spark of God within him. This knowledge gives us an advantage, for often the person who is giving us trouble does not know this about himself. Through prayer we are able to appeal to his greater self, his spiritual essence. Love has a way of dissolving feelings of anger and cleansing the mind of negative emotions. When this happens, the problem will be dispelled. The love of God is so powerful that it can dissolve hate and its many offspring.

There are a number of signs of hidden anger. If you discover that any of these are present within you, it is important to clear them from your mind and heart. If you want to live a wholesome, healthy, successful life, and be free to commune with God, then anger should be dispelled.

Criticism, a desire to get even, a “serves him right” attitude, a sense of glee when something goes wrong in the life of another, a desire for revenge, ruthless teasing, and attempts to humiliate someone clearly show the presence of hidden anger. Once you become conscious of any of these subtle attitudes and responses, it is the beginning of freedom for you, if you so choose.

Resentment, ill feelings, grudge-holding, and bitterness are dangerous habits. Not only is indulgence in these attitudes a waste of time, it is destructive. It leads to negative results in mind, body, and our outer world of affairs. Instead of these feelings having a negative effect on the person to whom they are directed, they simply rebound on the sender. What we give out comes back to us increased and multiplied. Refrain from giving out to others anything you don’t want to live with yourself.

Let us consider other ways we can use to help overcome anger:

Direct and Honest Communication.
If you feel someone has wronged you, tell him how you feel in a positive assertive manner. Express your concerns clearly and specifically after giving the matter intelligent thought. Deal directly with the person, not an intermediary. All too often we complain to another person and build a sense of righteous indignation, while the person concerned is unaware a problem exists. Such behavior is unloving and unkind.

Matters between people, left unattended, frequently build deep anger and resentment. ln many instances, by being direct, the misunderstanding is cleared up quickly. Whenever you have a complaint, try the direct approach so that unreasonable anger will not have a free rein in your mind.

Practice Forgiveness.
The practice of forgiveness helps free the mind and heart of troublesome, unpleasant emotions. Every person makes mistakes, it seems to be a part of being human. We should not hold a person in bondage to his mistakes, for as he learns better, he will do better.

The disciples of Jesus had questions about forgiveness. Then came Peter and said to him,
‘Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Until seven times?’
Jesus saith unto him
‘I say not unto thee, until seven times; but seventy times seven.’
(Matthew 18:21-22)

Emilie Cady in her book Lessons In Truth wrote: “We must forgive as we would be forgiven. To forgive does not simply mean to arrive at a place of indifference to those who do personal injury to us; it means far more than this. To forgive is to give for—to give some actual definite good in return for evil given.”

It is only as we keep our consciousness free from anger that we are open and receptive to the work of God’s Spirit in us. To pray effectively, to commune with God and receive the guidance we need, we must forgive.

Release Anger Physically.
It is unlikely that any person is at the point of never feeling anger. Instead of reacting to it in a negative way, anger can be dispelled through physical activity. As anger causes physical tension, physical activity helps release that tension. Anger produces energy, and that energy needs an outlet in a socially acceptable way.

The next time you feel angry, do something that requires physical exertion. This is a wonderful time to scrub and wax your kitchen floor or clean and polish your car. You may choose to participate in a sporting activity that makes demands on your strength and energy. Physical activity is a proven way of dissipating angry feelings.

Control Your Thoughts.
The power of thought is often overlooked in relation to the control of anger. Thinking is such a normal, natural, and seemingly effortless process that we sometimes forget we must give it direction. The direction of our thoughts determines the direction of our life, for thought is the starter of feelings, attitudes, and emotions.

You are in charge of your thoughts. It is up to you to determine the character of the thoughts that you think. It is impossible to think positive, constructive thoughts and negative, angry thoughts at the same time. To be rid of anger, think on those thoughts that add beauty, love, and peace to your life.

“We build our future, thought by thought
For good or bad, and know it not —
Yet so the universe is wrought. 
Thought is another name for fate,
Choose then, thy destiny, and wait —
For love brings love, and hate brings hate.”
– Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Once you have established control of your thoughts, you will discover that your feelings will naturally follow their pattern. By exercising this control, you can clear your mind of anger and experience feelings of love, peace, and joy. It is up to you.

Handle Anger with Patience.
All too often, we allow another person’s anger to make us angry. By so doing, we multiply the anger and create additional problems. By responding to anger with anger, we descend to the level of the person who is already out of control; we add fuel to the fire that results in more anger. When we keep our own self-control, we can look beyond the appearance of anger, and perceive the inner spirit of the person who is loving and good. When we refuse to take anger personally, the storm soon subsides.

Charles Fillmore described patience as “an attitude of mind characterized by poise, inner calmness, and quiet endurance, especially in the lace of trying conditions. Patience has its foundation in faith.”

The stronger our faith, the easier it is to be patient. To have faith in God, in His Spirit in ourself as well as others, leads to quiet confidence. You can help build your faith by planting the following affirmative idea in your mind. “I have faith in God. I allow no one or no thing to disturb the calm peace of my soul.” Seek to develop a patient attitude of mind founded upon faith.

“The proving of faith worketh patience.”
(James 1:3)
When the storm of anger is over in another, we are then able to respond with love and kindness. Our Scriptures assure us that
“A soft answer turneth away wrath.”
(Proverbs 15:1) Wonderful blessings ensue when we handle anger with patience.

Your efforts to overcome anger will be greatly enhanced by the practice of meditation. Take a special time each day for quietness and seek to feel the presence of God flowing through your being. Meditation will accelerate your ability to take the steps needed to overcome angry feelings. Meditation is a wonderful way to build personal character. It will elevate your consciousness out of the limitation of appearances into an awareness of the powerful, loving presence of God.

To begin the process of meditation,
“Take with you words and return to the Lord.”
(Hosea 14:2) Meditate upon a verse of Scripture such as
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee.”

(Isaiah 26:3) You may choose a simple affirmation of Truth such as, “The power of the Holy Spirit, moving through me, cleanses my mind and heart of all anger and its offspring.” Giving your attention to such statements will gradually withdraw your attention from the outer world of sense perception. The activity of your individual thought will become stilled and the quiet voice of God will be heard. In addition to the guidance and inspiration you receive, there will be a gradual change of consciousness leading to freedom from anything that would impede your spiritual growth and unfoldment. It is out of the silence that great power is born.

Carlyle said, “Consider the significance of silence: it is boundless, never by meditating to be exhausted, unspeakably profitable to thee! Cease that chaotic hubbub, wherein thy own soul runs to waste … out of the silence comes thy strength.”

Let us give thanks to God that we are able to overcome anger so that we may move forward to be all that God created us to be.

By Rev. Joyce Kramer

Do you sometimes feel sad? Are there times when you feel sad for no apparent reason? When experiencing such feelings, take a few moments to examine what has been going on within your mind. Were your thoughts positive and constructive? Have you entertained thoughts of lack, failure, problems, and difficulties? Have your thoughts been negative and unpleasant?

Examine the feelings that followed your thoughts. Did they not accurately reflect the nature of your thoughts? Feelings follow thoughts as surely as night follows day. To indulge in negative, depressed, and unhappy thoughts will guarantee that you will soon experience negative, depressed, and unhappy feelings.

Examine your behavior. Notice that your actions usually reflect your predominant state of mind. To start a day on a negative, depressed note leads to thoughts, feelings, and actions of a similar nature.

It is a sound psychological practice to examine one’s thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Socrates advised, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” As we learn to look objectively at what we are presently doing, we will make discoveries that will aid us in overcoming those things that cause discomfort and distress. With this knowledge, we can be objective and see more clearly how we are creating the very state of mind that causes us to feel sad.

Many people have not realized that they have something to do with their feelings. They falsely believe their feelings are independent of themselves, believing them to be caused by others, or conditions, or circumstances outside of themselves. The truth is, we can be happy, or we can be sad, according to how we use our mind.

One of the greatest lessons we can learn is that our state of mind depends on us. It depends upon our ability and decision to rule the forces of our mind, emotions, actions, and reactions. We are either the master or the victim of our mind. Which are you? We learn to deal with and minimize our difficulties or we dramatize and thus magnify negative experiences. Are you, without realizing it, creating a sad, unhappy state of mind?

Maybe you feel you do not have the right to be happy. In view of the many traditional religious teachings, do you believe it is wrong to be happy all the time? Old superstitious beliefs tended to make one feel that God was nearer to those who suffered; that the unhappy, tragic, embittered, and lonely souls had somehow found God’s favor. Some people feel guilty being happy with so much suffering in the world. My friend, adding more suffering to the world is in no way beneficial to anyone. It is the happy, well-adjusted individual who can make a contribution to society and thus add to the upliftment of mankind.

It is true that some people believe suffering is an essential part of life. Some believe that suffering is God’s will. Some believe that suffering incurs God’s favor. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Jesus said, “I came that ye might have life and have life more abundantly.” Jesus was not a sad, unhappy, or dismal human being. He made no claim that it was right or good for man to be morbid, depressed, and unhappy. In fact, He said, “These things have I spoken to you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” These words from John 15:11 certainly do not convey the idea that we should be sad. The sad, unhappy countenance shows a lack of understanding of His message and His purpose.

A quote from one of the “Lost Books of the Bible,” II Hermes advises, “Put all sadness far from thee; for it is the sister of doubting and anger… for sadness is the most mischievous of all spirits, and the worst to the servants of God; it destroys the spirit of man.”

Jesus firmly placed His attention on God. He sought, through His realization of God, to uplift man and teach him a new and different way of Jiving. Jesus was not bored with life. He was challenged and involved deeply in life. He did not teach his followers to postpone living with the thought of waiting for some nebulous time beyond the grave to experience happiness.

To become attuned to God and follow His good will for our lives, it is essential that we overcome the habit of sadness. The following steps will help you move forward into a life of joy and happiness.

Decide to Be Happy. Remind yourself that happiness is a natural state and, by learning to be happy, you are simply returning to your natural state. Once you have made up your mind to be happy, you will be amazed how quickly a positive change will come in your thoughts, your feelings, and your behavior.

Because you are created a thinking being, you have the power of choice. You need not be one of those people who chooses to go around with a long face, filled with self-pity and looking for sympathy. That is an insult to the wonderful human being you were created to be.

Realize that your happiness will not come from any outer thing or person. It is not dependent upon what someone does or does not do. It comes from your choice regarding the thoughts you think and the feelings you entertain.

As a thinking being, choose to be happy. You are today the product of the choices you have made in the past. Your future will reflect the nature of the choices you make today. Happiness is a choice. Think about this idea!

As a spiritual being, you are a storehouse of latent power. You can draw upon this power and direct it as you choose. Think of it as similar to the latent power within a volcano; it stays dormant until activated, and then becomes a powerful force. Unfortunately, the volcano demonstrates undirected power which is destructive. Through giving direction to the power that is within you, you can be successful in whatever you choose. You can activate your power to fulfill the deep, lasting desires of your heart—and you should!

Sense of Direction. In order to activate the power that is within you, it is essential to have a sense of direction. Where do you want to go with your life? What are the things of lasting value that you want to experience? While most people would quickly agree that they want to be free from any negative condition, that is not enough. Define those negative conditions from which you wish to be free. Be specific so that you give the power within you a goal toward which to work.

It is not difficult to make such decisions provided that you listen to the deep, lasting desires of your heart. Have you pushed these desires to the background so much that you are hardly aware of their existence? Desires of the heart are important, for they indicate the urging from the Spirit of God that is attempting to move us forward into a better, more wonderful life.

If you are unaware of your desires, listen in the silence of prayer. Ask God to reveal to you the direction your life is to take that would bring satisfaction and happiness. Instead of listening to the demands of the world, listen within. In silence we wait upon God and the answer will always come. It may appear as a thought that comes to your mind, a hunch, or an intuitive feeling, whether during your prayer time or later.

Sow Seeds of Happiness. You can help yourself along the road to happiness by sowing seeds of happiness in your mind. The thoughts you think are the seeds you plant that reproduce after their kind. If you plant thoughts of unhappiness and sadness, you will reap similar conditions and circumstances. On the other hand, if you sow thoughts of joy, enthusiasm, and love, you will reap the good that God has planned for you.

Paul wrote, “Be not conformed to the world. but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.” What a wonderful gift from God it is to have the ability to renew our minds by changing the nature of the thoughts that we think! Just as we would not sow cucumber seeds in our garden and expect to get corn, neither should we sow seeds of sadness, depression and despair and expect to get a life of joy and happiness. Everything reproduces after its kind. Your mind is no exception to this rule.

The condition of your life at any given moment is the direct result of what is in your consciousness; that is, your collective thoughts and feelings. Your life at the present moment is the harvest of seeds sown in the past, the result of the law of cause and effect. The Scripture states, “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” This applies to every aspect of life, for it is an unchanging spiritual law. Today we are sowing the seed of tomorrow’s harvest, and we are reaping the results of what we have previously planted.

If we choose to be happy, we must get busy today sowing and cultivating our seeds of happiness. Our feelings, actions, and reactions will soon follow the direction we provide through our thoughts of joy and happiness.

Isn’t it exciting to realize that you can help yourself move from sadness to happiness? Decide to be happy. Determine your sense of direction, sow seeds of happiness, then speak words of happiness.

Speak Words of Happiness. This step we must take to break the habit of sadness is a bit more challenging. Have you given serious thought to your vocabulary? What kind of words do you use most frequently? How do these words sound to the listener? Most people are so busy talking that they give no thought to the type of words they use or the ideas the words represent.

Few people realize that the words they speak have an effect upon the nature of their lives. Speaking words of anger, negation, lack, and sickness create similar conditions, affecting the body as well as one’s outer affairs. There is power in words.

The Bible contains many references to the power of the spoken word. Solomon said, “Whosoever keepeth his mouth and tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.” Isaiah said, “Woe to them that decree unrighteous decrees.” A statement from the book of Proverbs—“life and death are in the power of the tongue”—contains an idea that should be given further consideration. Jesus said, “By your words you are justified, and by your words you are condemned,” and that all of us are accountable for the words we speak.

The power of the word has been given to us to use as a tool that will serve in improving all aspects of life. Words have their effect whether we recognize it or not, for they “carry vibrations through the universal ethers and move the intelligence in every form.”

Learn to become aware of the words you speak. Through your words, you could be unknowingly creating a negative life filled with problems. Notice your habit patterns of speech. Note the character and nature of the words you use. Speak words that make you feel happier and that add happiness and joy to those who hear you.

You can break the habit of sadness by using words that fill your mind and heart with feelings of joy, peace, and happiness. Speak of the goodness of others, not their failings. Speak words of encouragement to your family, friends, and co-workers. Look for the good that is inherent in all people and all things.

You can overcome sadness and be happy. Life is meant to be enjoyed. Life gives you the opportunity to activate the wonderful powers inherent within your soul and direct them toward purposeful ends. Appreciate the truth that you are a creative being. Overcome sadness by deciding to be happy, getting a sense of direction, sowing seeds of happiness, and speaking words of happiness.

Transcript of a radio broadcast by Rev. Joyce Kramer, May 30, 2013.

Man’s inability to relate peacefully with other people is a plague affecting our world today. Friction in human relationships causes much loss—loss of money, time, business; loss of health, peace of mind, and even loss of lives.

People have falsely believed if only we had world peace everything would be great. For hundreds of years, war after war has been fought with the belief in mind that winning it would mean lasting peace. It hasn’t proven to be true. Someday perhaps we will learn that a condition of peace can never be gained by other than peaceful methods.

Since lack of peace involves our relationships with people obviously we must start at the beginning by learning to live more peacefully ourselves. Peace begins within the mind and heart of people. It involves our attitudes toward others, the way we see people and our response to them.

What is your attitude toward other people? Do you believe that people are generally good and cooperative? Do you look for the good in every individual that you encounter daily? Do you enjoy people for what they are, or are you more concerned about what they are not? Do you tend to seek out what is wrong with others (their imperfections and failings), frequently criticizing and condemning them?

Many people have allowed themselves to judge others who do not think, feel, act or dress as themselves nor do they subscribe to their particular beliefs. Sometimes these judgmental attitudes take the form of overtly hostile words and actions. At other times they take the form of subtle suggestions of doubt, suspicion and distrust planted in the minds of others.

Consider the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:1-5 and how they fit into our present relationships. “Judge not, that ye be not judged for with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, ‘Let me pull out the mote of thine eyes; and behold a beam is in thine own eye?’ Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”

The judgments that we make tell us something about ourselves. We should then seek to take care of what needs to be corrected in our own life; otherwise we have nothing to offer to another person.

Consider the word, “We are judged by our own judgment.” The judgments that we make regarding others are very revealing of our own nature. If we judge people harshly, unkindly, and in an unloving fashion, the indication is that we are hostile, cruel and unloving. We do reveal a great deal about ourselves by the judgments that we make to those who have eyes to see.

From another standpoint, it would be well if we would exercise great wisdom and caution in our judgments of another, particularly if we are interested in our own well-being. It is said that “the whole universe is a mirror that reflects back to you that which you reflect into it.” What you reflect in your universe, through your thoughts, words and actions come back to you. Reflect into your universe hate and hostility, greed, suspicions, distrust, condemnation and judgment and you have set into operation a universal law that will bring them back to you. Is that the way you really want others to respond to you—with hate, suspicion, distrust, condemnation and judgmental attitudes?

In the book of Luke, there is a story about the encounter of Zacchaeus, a tax collector, with Jesus. Zacchaeus was one of a group of wealthy publicans in Jericho who regulated the imports and exports between Judea and Perea and collected high taxes from those involved in the buying and selling of goods.

Zaccheaus had heard about Jesus and his curiosity was stirred when it was reported that Jesus was coming through town. Zacchaeus was a very small man and there was no way he could see Jesus over the heads of crowds of people. Zacchaeus looked around, saw a beautiful large tree near the road and climbed the tree so he had an unobstructed view of the road and Jesus walking along.

As Jesus passed by, near the tree where Zaccheaeus sat, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down for today I must abide at thy house.” What a surprise? He could hardly believe his ears. There were many very important people in the crowd, yet Jesus was noticing the hated tax collector. He was going to be a guest in his home.

Jesus seemed to give no thought to the matter that Zacchaeus was not only unwise, but a dishonest tax collector. Zaccheaus was a man whose character had been perverted by an excessive love for material things, and as a result he had become greedy and unjust. There were those in the crowd who said, “Look at that! Jesus will be a guest in the home of a man who is a known sinner.”

Notice that Jesus did not judge Zaccheaus. He did not condemn him for his failings. He did not say, “Zacchaeus, I will not stay with you because you are not worthy.” Instead, he simply commanded Zacchaeus to come down from the tree and proceeded to go home with him and enjoy his company. As a result of Zacchaeus heeding the call of Jesus Christ, his whole life was changed.

Through this personal contact a desire was stirred in the heart of Zacchaeus; a desire to do better, to be his best. He even agreed to restore the money he had taken—and with interest.

This lesson should tell us a great deal regarding our relationships with others. It is not what we try to convince people of that starts them on the road to a better life. Pointing out one’s failings and shortcomings ordinarily accomplishes no good thing. Good results, transformations, changes come when we are strong enough, and wise enough to trust the Spirit of God within another to lead him rightly.

Consider your own life. How can you relate to others in a happier, more meaningful way? “Others” is an inclusive term, relative to every person you have contact with including parents, children, husband, wife, boss, employee, co-workers, friends, acquaintances, and strangers.

Learn to accept people and enjoy them as they are. Jesus did not try to convert or change Zacchaeus—he simply accepted him as an important human being. All people are important no matter what outer labels we have put on them. Importance has nothing to do with race, color, political affiliations, religious connections, heredity, or any other outer thing. All people are important, as God has placed His own Spirit within each and every one—even if it doesn’t appear that someone is expressing it to a high degree at the moment. “Know ye not that you are the temple of the living God and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you.” Think of it! You are an abiding place for the very-living, ever-loving God.

Knowing this helps greatly improve our ability to relate to others, for we now have a common bond, the spirit within. The Truth is, we are a part of every person, and every person is a part of us. We need to realize this true relationship and act accordingly, realizing our oneness in Spirit is the first step toward establishing beautiful, happy relationships with others.

Be intimidated by no one. Are there certain people in whose presence you feel fearful? If so, why? No one is any better than you. Learn to take an inner stand with an awareness of your own inner integrity. God’s Spirit is in you, God’s Spirit is within another. Stand fast in this awareness and always be true to your inner guidance.

When you have a tendency to fear a person, do not allow yourself to withdraw as you feel inclined to do. Instead, silently affirm your security in God and your oneness with His love and power. Decide to expand your relationships to include more people, knowing that you can learn something of great value from every person in your world. There is an old saying that goes, “no man my enemy, no man my friend, but all men my teachers.” Look at others with eyes of love, knowing that your happiness is not dependent upon them, but that they can serve to teach you some valuable lessons in life and living.

To promote meaningful relationships, avoid weakening and hurting another by doing too much for him. The only value is that it may make you feel needed, but you have no right to use others for that reason. Seeking to make any person dependent upon us is a sign of weakness on our own part. Doing for others that which they are unwilling to do for themselves only encourages their dependency and keeps them from growing into mature, well-adjusted, and capable individuals. Everyone must someday learn to rely upon his own Infinite Creative Spirit. Encourage another to be self-sufficient and self-reliant. Let your words, your thoughts, your deeds and actions with anyone always show acceptance of him as a strong, capable, dynamic, responsible individual.

When you have a problem with another person, face it directly. Small problems get magnified out of proportion when talked over with people who are not really involved in the situation. Whenever conflict arises, either talk about it to the person involved or get professional help. We should never be so unkind to family or friend that we drag them into a situation where they should not be; nor should they know anything about. The more people we involve with our problems, the more complex the problems become, the greater division takes place—instead of the unity or oneness that we need.

Never talk about someone; talk to him. If you have a question about someone’s action toward you, do not talk to someone else about it, but to the individual directly involved. Face directly whatever or whomever it is that you need to face. If you have something on your mind, go to the person involved and talk about it.

Learn to bless people. When someone is causing you a problem or bothering you in some way, take time every day to recognize that God is within him. Each time the person comes to mind, gently affirm that God is filling him with His own spirit and that all things are working together for his good. Know that God is blessing him with wisdom and love and guiding him into right action. This will do more than all the good advice you will ever give. Try it and see. Use such a statement as “The Christ in me beholds the Christ in you.”

There is such a need today for universal caring and universal love. There is a need that we as individuals begin to see others as God sees them, as important, individual expressions of the one life that is God. Give thanks that they are fulfilling their own plan and purpose in life in the way that is right and good for them.

When we really care for people, when we are interested in them and willing to enjoy them, we will be very eager to relieve their suffering and problems. This we can do by seeing rightly, by taking the time to bless the person who comes to mind. Take time to bless a troublesome person, or one whom you distrust, or one whom you doubt or fear. There is something each and every person can do to relate more effectively to others. Let us seek to make the effort to learn how in order that we may experience true universal harmony, oneness and unity with God and man.

Transcript of a radio broadcast by Rev. Joyce Kramer, December 29, 2014.

Do you have an optimistic attitude? If so, then you have a positive attitude toward yourself and toward life. The optimist expects the highest and best out of life. The optimist maintains his happy, “up” outlook no matter what people are saying, or what appearances indicate at the moment.

In the book of Mark, Chapter 9, verses 14–29, the story is told of a father who brought his son to Jesus for help. This is a valuable story that gives us tremendous insight into the power of belief. “And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them. And straightway all the people when they beheld him, were greatly amazed and running to him, saluted him. And he asked the scribes, ‘What question ye with them?’

“And one of the multitude answered and said, ‘Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; and wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him; and he foameth and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away; and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.’ He answereth him, and saith, ‘O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him unto me.’

“And they brought him unto Jesus; and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him, and he fell on the ground, and Jesus asked his father, ‘How long is it since this came unto him?’ And he said, ‘of a child, and of time it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him; but if thou canst do anything, having compassion on us, help us.’

“Jesus said unto him, ‘IF THOU CANST BELIEVE, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO HIM THAT BELEVETH.’ And straightway the father of the child cried out and said with tears, ‘Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.’ When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him. ‘Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.” And the spirit cried and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, ‘He is dead.’ But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up; and he arose.

“And when Jesus was come to the house, his disciples asked him privately, ‘Why could not we cast him out?’ And he said unto them. ‘This kind can come forth by nothing but by prayer and fasting.’”

This beautiful story of a healing shows the power of God in action through Jesus. Jesus expressed to the father of the sick boy the power of belief; He said, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” Jesus knew that God could heal the boy. He spoke to the father with power and authority assuring him that his son could be healed. He looked to God for results and He got them. Jesus was certainly an optimist. He expected God to work through Him and do whatever He requested.

Perhaps we are somewhat like the boy’s father. Maybe we have a half-hearted belief, but we know that we need more. Perhaps we know that with God all things are possible, yet we have trouble bringing that thought into a very personal circumstance and experience. We sometimes see the out-working of God in the lives of others, yet have some doubt about its effectiveness in our life.

The disciples were concerned that they were unable to heal the boy. They asked Jesus why they couldn’t bring forth the healing. Jesus told them that prayer and fasting were required. Sometimes we find it easier to pray that we do to fast. Fasting means, abstaining from negative thoughts and beliefs. In this case, the boy had been ill all his life. It is likely that the disciples were so caught up in their concern about the boy and the strong, long-term hold that the disease had over him that they really didn’t believe that he could actually be healed. By fasting from all doubts and negative thoughts, Jesus was able to let the power of God work through Him. The child was healed.

In regard to our own problems, sometimes we are like father, not sure that our belief is strong enough, and we don’t really expect the answer to come. Or we may be like the disciples; we fail to fast from thinking about the condition and its power. If we are praying for a healing and our minds are continuing to think about what is wrong, we deprive ourselves of the healing.

The disciples could not heal the boy because they did not believe in the power and authority of their own indwelling Christ. Should you give further study to this story, you will find that three of the disciples were not with them. The spiritual qualities represented by these three absent disciples must be present and active before the result can come. Those missing were Peter, who represents faith; James, who represents wisdom; and John, who represents love. Faith, wisdom, and love are important spiritual attributes and must be with us to experience answers to our prayers.

Prayer is more than asking for something. Before you can receive in prayer, you must believe that you will receive. You must expect the results to come. When you believe and expect your prayers to be answered, your mind is open to receive the answers. The disciples believed that they could handle the lesser needs that come to them. They felt that they could handle the small issues of life, but this … this was too big; they left it up to Jesus to do something about such a severe problem.

Often we cause ourselves difficulties because we don’t really believe that the problem can be handled. We spend a few minutes talking to God about the problem then go about our daily activities not even expecting the answer to come. We pray—just in case it might work.

Recently a young lady, in talking about a disease that she had taken upon herself, was assured that she could be healed. Her replay was, “I know that, but it will take at least three months before I will be myself again.” It is taking that long and longer- because the disease is responding according to her belief. The type of disease has little to do with it; the nature of her belief is calling the plays.

How great is your belief in prayer? Do you believe that God will answer your prayers? Do you believe that the power of God is adequate to correct any condition of limitation in which you find yourself? Do you believe that you can be healed, prospered, harmonized and blessed? According to your belief it will be done unto you. The power of the Christ, the power of God that flows through you is greater than anything in the world. It is the intelligent, unlimited, inexhaustible power of the universe. To the measure of your belief it will operate in your life.

The writer of Proverbs said, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so it he.” As you think in your heart, so are you. So are the conditions in your life. Change what is in your heart, your thoughts and feelings, and you will change the conditions in your life.

Recently a man called demanding to know why his prayers had not been answered. He went on to explain that he had the most well-known prayer groups in the world praying for him-all of them-and nothing was happening. When asked what kind of prayers he was praying, he indignantly replied, “Me? What do I know about prayers? I get others to do the praying for me.” This man is not accepting personal responsibility for his life and for his relationship to God. No one can do for us what we must do for ourselves.

Prayers, in order to be effective, must be affirmative prayer. Once you know what your needs or problems are, start giving thanks that God is active in you, bringing forth perfect results. Expect things to happen and they will.

When Jesus was on earth and performed miracles, He stopped and gave thanks to God. Then He looked for results and He always received them. He did not beg, nor keep asking for what He wanted. In Isaiah 65:24 we read, “Before they call, I will answer and while they are yet speaking I will hear.” Once you have truly prayed, know that God has heard your prayer. God already knows your need. Give thanks and begin to look for results. If you are guided to take some action, then by all means do so.

It is our belief in Unity that God has anticipated our every need and has given us the unlimited power of belief to bring into manifestation the fulfillment. This is not a new belief. It is the belief that Jesus had. He taught that all things are possible to those who believe, and that whatever things they desired could be brought into their world.

Try the method of prayer that Jesus used. When you pray, give thanks that God is right now, this very minute, working in and through you and your affairs to fulfill your need. Use an affirmative prayer such as the following: “Father, I thank you that you have heard me and at this moment in time you are working through me and all my affairs to fill this need. I look for and I expect results.”

Have you been praying for something that you have not received? What are the desires of your heart? Are you accepting the fulfillment of your need into your mind and heart? Pray a prayer of thanksgiving. “If thou canst believe, all things are possible.” There is nothing mysterious about this because this is the law of faith. To have faith is to believe a thing is true. Jesus realized this clearly when He said, “All things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall have them.”

Belief comes first. Before you receive you must believe. Before you can partake of the abundance that God has provided for you, you must believe in its availability for you. Before you accomplish something, you must believe in your ability to accomplish. Whatever you can conceive of in your mind, and believe, is possible of achievement. Try prayer and fasting. Think in terms of the good that you want, and build a positive expectancy of this good.

If you have a problem or a condition and have not been getting the results you want, follow these simple steps: Pray, believing that God is active in you right now. Realize and feel His presence in you. Know that He has prepared abundant good for your use and enjoyment. Give thanks that your need is being met, your desire fulfilled. Look for results. Expect your prayers to be answered. Do all you can to help yourself.

Maintain an optimistic attitude about answered prayer. Make a personal commitment to “think only the best, to work only for the best, and expect only the best.” Your desired results will come.

Transcript of a radio broadcast by Rev. Joyce Kramer, January 21, 2014.

What do you want out of life? Do you know? Few people have any real concrete picture of just what they want out of life. Consequently it seems that they live at the mercy of someone or something other than themselves. Thus we have the belief that we are the victim of things over which we have little or no control.

Each and every person is created with the ability and the power to determine his own future. Man is not at the whim of fate, luck, or chance. Neither is he created to be at the mercy of another person, or even conditions and circumstances. It is true that we may allow others to have control over us or at least to influence us more than is wise. This is often because we do not know what we want out of life and therefore have no sense of direction or purpose.

Thousands of people have unhappy work experiences. In a high percentage of the cases this is due to attitudes and actions of others. This leads to bitterness, resentment, and often self-pity. Why should you allow someone else, or even a number of people determine whether or not you will have a good day? Why should you allow someone to decide when you will be happy or unhappy?

You can determine the type of day you will have. You alone can learn to control your moods. You alone can decide that you will have a good day regardless of what happens around you. It is unnecessary to fall into the habit of allowing those around you to influence you or ruin—or even make your day.

The greater our feeling and awareness of what it is that we are to do in life, the less we are bothered by the insignificant. We are so busy directing our life toward what we want that the problems of others do not become our own. Their disagreeableness remains theirs. Unless you learn now to control your life in little ways, you will have difficulty directing it in the greater issues of life. You can handle anything, if you realize that God is with you, and you will let God help you.

The truth is, there is a divine plan for your life. You can call that divine plan into expression. The divine plan for your life includes health, happiness, wealth, and self-expression. Do you really know that these things are your heritage? You have a heritage of unlimited good.

Would you like to have God’s divine plan of good unfold in our world? If so, then first you need to affirm that the divine plan for your life is unfolding in an orderly, harmonious way. God will provide you with the ideas, the opportunities, the conditions and even the people who are to be a part of this plan. As you pray in this way, you will find that many things in your life will be ready to be resolved.

Are you willing to accept God’s help? Without being aware of it, we often reject God’s help. A certain man discovered one day that a promotion was possible in the firm where he was employed. He began daily prayer, asking God to help him get the position. He worried a lot. He began to fret because he feared that he might not get promoted.

Sure enough, a week later a new employee was being groomed for this particular opening. This man’s worry and fretting over what seemed to be an unjust situation led him to resign from his job. A week later, he learned that had he remained with the firm, he would have been promoted to assistant to the president. God’s plan for this man was even greater than that for which he had prayed. That position was much more important and carried with it a much greater salary. Unknowingly, however, he had said “no” to God’s plan for him.

If we ask for God’s help, we must trust that the help will come and not slam the doors on our good by fretting, fussing, and worrying because something a little different from what we have expected is going on. God doesn’t do things halfway, but always fully, beautifully and wisely.

The story is told of the contractor who discovered that he had not figured in his cost some work that he had agreed to do on a project. This would result in a serious financial loss to him. He began to pray about it, but he couldn’t seem to keep from worrying about the possibility of loss. Things began to go from bad to worse.

One day, in what seemed to be a moment of despair, he prayed for faith. He prayed that God fulfill His divine plan and purpose through him. He let go of his worry thoughts, and trusted God completely. He seemed to feel right about the matter, even though nothing had changed outwardly. When time came to do the work, he instructed his workers to spare neither time nor materials in doing the best job possible on the extra work.

When the job was finished and the owner inspected it, he gave the contractor a substantial bonus, which more than made up for his added expense. As a result of his good reputation, many good new jobs came his way. God worked for him when he proceeded with faith in God, he asked that God fulfill His divine plan and purpose through him. Doesn’t this seem somewhat like the statement of Jesus, “It is the Father abiding in me that doeth the work”?

The next time you have something come along that could easily be a source of anxiety and worry, decide to call upon God. Put your faith in God and He will always come through. Your life is important—important to you, important to God, and important to others. Of course, God will help you. You must let Him.

When you let God help you, you should work to maintain a positive, cheerful attitude. God helps you not only in your actions, but in your thoughts and words as well. Should fear thoughts manage to creep in, you can handle them. If you find yourself fretting and anxious over something, stop for a moment and just affirm, “God’s peace is now established in me.” Then think on the word “peace” and let peace fill your being. By growing peaceful you draw closer to God, and once again gain your perspective in depending upon Him and letting Him help you.

By working with God, you will put yourself in tune with His divine plan for your life. However, there are certain things that you must practice if you want this to happen.

1. Release of everything and everybody that is no longer a part of the divine plan for your life. As you know, two objects cannot occupy the same space at the same time. Thus it is in life. Often, we must let go of the lesser to make room for the greater. The things that have cluttered our life for a long time must be released to make room for the new and different—that which is a part of God’s divine plan for us. It is helpful to pray that God help you release everything and everybody who is no longer a part of the divine plan of your life. Pray also that these people release you. Bondage to the past can prevent progress today.

2. Next, you will want to pray that the people, places, and things which are a part of the divine plan for your life will manifest quickly and without stress or strain. In this way, spiritual doors are open for that new good to appear. Never is it necessary to force some good to come to pass. When you have to force your way through, you will find this will continue to be necessary. It is said that what you have to force to get, you will have to use force to keep.

Whether it is in cleansing whatever is no longer needful from your life, or in attracting to you what you need in order to fulfill the divine plan, God is with you. God never fails to work through you to do whatever you are willing that He do.

3. Be prepared for changes. Plato mentioned the “divine design” for a person’s life. He also said, “Everything changes according to a divine design. We live in transition.” There is no need to fear changes when you are working with God. Although most of us wanted away from the divine plan of our lives at times, if we continue to call upon God, we will return to His good for us. In the changes that come, it may at first seem that your old world is falling apart. Should that happen to you, just hang on knowing that the old is being cleansed out and good will come forth.

4. Be patient. Most of us have some difficulty with patience. When things do not happen as fast as you would like, instead of falling apart, stand strong. “Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.” God can be depended upon to deliver us from anything. Just as the children of Israel were told when they faced the Red Sea on one side and the armies of the Pharaoh on the other, we, too, are to “stand still” and see God deliver us. This is patience; waiting on God, knowing that He is at work and will bring forth our desire good at the right time. Remember the phrase “divine timing.” Nature operates on the principle of divine timing. Things come forth in an orderly way when conditions are right. The plant in the desert often waits for years, only to blossom overnight after the torrents of rain fall upon the surface of the earth. When you provide the right conditions, God will answer your prayers by helping you. In the book of Ecclesiastes we read, “For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven … He has made everything beautiful in its time.”

When you are in doubt about the way that your life seems headed, pray that God’s divine plan for you now becomes active. You can trust God, as God told Joshua, “I will neither leave thee nor forsake thee.”

Accept God’s help. Accept your freedom to experience His perfect plan for your life right now. He will help to bring the fulfillment of your every need and desire. He will guide you into that divine plan and pattern that is uniquely yours. Trust Him: trust God and move forward to fulfill the divine plan for your life.