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How To Overcome Sadness

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.

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RELATING TO OTHERS

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.

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AN OPTIMISTIC ATTITUDE TOWARD PRAYER

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.

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YOUR DIVINE PLAN

Rev. Joyce Kramer

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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

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What Do You Have in Your House?

From the Bible
II Kings 4:1-7
A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.”
So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.”
Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few. And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and

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Christmas Is Coming

From the Bible
Luke 2:1-20
In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered, and she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid in him a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.