Author: Nick Hilton

Religion is useless if it does not instruct us in ways we might live more effectively right here and right now. I may be steeped in the doctrine and dogma of my faith, but if I am unhappy, regretful, afraid or angry it all for nothing. My devotion to God is visible in my devotion to my fellow man; and unless I am kind, patient, generous, forgiving, humble, courteous and honest with each and every person on earth, my “religion” is only theoretical. Religion, our spiritual pathway, is a guide to living.

We do not have to teach or lead or sermonize to have a beneficial effect on the world, as long as we maintain an optimistic and constructive mentality. Living in positive energy we radiate something to people around us, spreading the Good News and defeating the darkness. This is how our mindfulness of God works — subconsciously — to create peace and understanding in, around, and among us, renewing the earth.

The kindness we show others is the kindness we will be shown; the forgiveness we are capable of is the same as the pardon we receive. Our ability to love is equal to the blessing and good fortune we will receive. Therefore any negative thoughts we entertain have negative consequences now and in the future.

God is always and everywhere, immanent and transcendent, infinitesimal yet infinite. Beyond your ability to understand, the divine power exists outside the visible, tangible universe, guiding and nurturing its unfolding reality. This is the transcendent God. Simultaneously It is immanent: existing within the nucleus of every atom, giving and sustaining the energy of life, from the smallest molecule of ocean spray to the most remote photon of light, revealing the expanding infinite. The action of prayer opens your mind to this amazing reality.

Happiness is not a result of circumstances outside yourself. Happiness is the native state of the human race. It is God’s will that you should always be glad and cheerful.  If you are unhappy because you are feeling fearful or because you do not have what you want at this moment it is simple — but not easy — to change, to become happy. You do this by mental discipline, allowing your mind to dwell only on the simple, good blessings that are all around you, and to be grateful for them. Happiness is your life’s responsibility because it is the way you help to improve the world, and if you are unable to achieve it on your own you must seek help (spiritual, medical, or psychological) from your fellow man and from the God of your understanding.

Fear is like being sentenced to a dark prison cell, from which the Spirit can and will free me if I will ask. My punishment lasts until I say “God is with me now,” and I achieve freedom. Why do I wait to say it?

Why do we put off using the enormous power of prayer and continue to rely on our own personal efforts to overcome life’s adversities? It is because that is the way of the world; but the way of the world is not the true way.

We are blessed with life — with strength, love, intelligence, and compassion. The most precious blessing, though, is our awareness of being alive. It is this gift of consciousness which makes humanity the crown of creation.

I know I am alive but for a limited time. So I am obligated to use my life to some purpose, to achieve something truly meaningful, to be of service to God by making my limited time on earth of lasting value. I use my gifts to make this world — to the extent that I am able — more blessed, nurturing, peaceful and harmless. This is how I express my gratitude.

Thought control is the key to a happy destiny. Thoughts can align our actions with the pure laws of nature or lead us down into fear, guilt, blame and regret. In each passing moment we are at an intersection of right and wrong thinking. It is not luck, or fate, or anything outside of us that enables us to take the right mental path; it is purely our own every-day self-discipline that prepares us. Prayer, dedication to spiritual learning and persistent meditation help us to consistently take the right mental roads .

“…By their fruits shall ye know them,” Jesus said. And when we see goodness, honesty, strength, selflessness or love in a person’s personality and actions, we can see that the Spirit is working within them. We may not follow the same path ourselves. We may have decided — with good reason — that the spiritual program they follow is not the “true” path; yet we have no right to assert that the religion, beliefs — even the atheism — of others are misguided or incorrect as long as God’s light shows in their lives. “…By their fruits shall ye know them.”

“Thinking about God” is the most sincere way to pray. No recitations of memorized verses bring us into His presence as fully. When we truly consider the reality of the Higher Power we are simply allowing ourselves to experience the feeling of being surrounded by the qualities of His nature, such as Truth, Love, and Life. This feeling allows no fear, no regret and no condemnation in our minds at all. The experience of this feeling is the object of prayer, the Practice of the Presence of God. We can do it anywhere, at any time, throughout our daily lives.