ACIM Workbook Daily Lesson 65, Year 2022

ACIM Daily Lesson 65 My only function is the one God gave me.

My only function is the one God gave me. ACIM Daily Lesson 65

My only function is the one God gave me.

ACIM Daily Lesson 65

Lesson 65

My only function is the one God gave me.

1. The idea for today reaffirms your commitment to salvation. ²It also reminds you that you have no function other than that. ³Both these thoughts are obviously necessary for a total commitment. ⁴Salvation cannot be the only purpose you hold while you still cherish others. ⁵The full acceptance of salvation as your only function necessarily entails two phases; the recognition of salvation as your function, and the relinquishment of all the other goals you have invented for yourself.

2. This is the only way in which you can take your rightful place among the saviors of the world. ²This is the only way in which you can say and mean, “My only function is the one God gave me.” ³This is the only way in which you can find peace of mind.

I know that I have set aside some major goals I used to have. This was not a sacrifice. It was done in happiness knowing that I now have a goal worth reaching. I am still clearing my mind of the many little goals I have that I didn’t even recognize were goals. For instance, the desire for someone or something else to be guilty so that I appear innocent in comparison. This one is insanely persistent even though I know it isn’t true. Usually, I am not interested, but sometimes I am. I gladly forgive this when it happens because I am committed to the only function God gave me.

The Key to the Door of Peace

3. Today, and for a number of days to follow, set aside ten to fifteen minutes for a more sustained practice period, in which you try to understand and accept what the idea for the day really means. ²Today’s idea offers you escape from all your perceived difficulties. ³It places the key to the door of peace, which you have closed upon yourself, in your own hands. ⁴It gives you the answer to all the searching you have done since time began.

Choosing God’s function for me and no other means that I will forgive everything not of God and release it. It means that the miracle will take the place of what I forgive. Thus, my mind will be filled with light rather than darkness. Of course, I will be peaceful without the ego’s interference. I know this is true because I am proving it to myself. It is only when I seek a goal not given to me by God that I lose my peace.

I will escape from all my perceived difficulties because I will be turning to the Holy Spirit for answers rather than to the ego. This is my consistent practice and so I know that it is true. My intention is to master this practice so that I never turn to the ego as my adviser. Ultimately, I will know that I have no difficulties because I am God’s Son. As I continue to forgive, I am releasing the self that was made to take the place of my Self. I have less and less attachment to it and what is there instead is a greater sense of what I Am.

Arranging My Day

4. Try, if possible, to undertake the daily extended practice periods at approximately the same time each day. ²Try, also, to determine this time in advance, and then adhere to it as closely as possible. ³The purpose of this is to arrange your day so that you have set apart the time for God, as well as for all the trivial purposes and goals you will pursue. ⁴This is part of the long-range disciplinary training your mind needs, so that the Holy Spirit can use it consistently for the purpose He shares with you.

I can’t imagine not starting my day with God although the ego still tries to discourage this practice. For instance, one morning I might notice the feeling that this is a burden and I wish I didn’t have to do it. I know it is ego again desperately trying to prevent further loss of my attention and I laugh at it. This quiet time with my Father is precious to me, why would I want to change that? I can still use more disciplinary training of my mind, though. It has given up trying to stop me from my writing contemplations but it fights against stillness.

The Practice

5. For the longer practice period, begin by reviewing the idea for the day. ²Then close your eyes, repeat the idea to yourself once again, and watch your mind carefully to catch whatever thoughts cross it. ³At first, make no attempt to concentrate only on thoughts related to the idea for the day. ⁴Rather, try to uncover each thought that arises to interfere with it. ⁵Note each one as it comes to you, with as little involvement or concern as possible, dismissing each one by telling yourself:

⁶This thought reflects a goal that is preventing me from accepting my only function.

6. After a while, interfering thoughts will become harder to find. ²Try, however, to continue a minute or so longer, attempting to catch a few of the idle thoughts that escaped your attention before, but do not strain or make undue effort in doing this. ³Then tell yourself:

⁴On this clean slate let my true function be written for me.

⁵You need not use these exact words, but try to get the sense of being willing to have your illusions of purpose be replaced by truth.

Clearing My Mind

Part of my function of forgiveness was to clear my mind so that the Holy Spirit could use it for the purpose He shares with me. The thoughts that came into my mind were silly. And yet, I could see how that chatter represents the desire to have other goals, goals of my own. I forgave each one as it arose and as promised, my mind did finally become a clean slate. I welcomed the Holy Spirit to write on it my true function. Nothing that I could imagine as important really matters. It is all just more illusion. Above all else, I want Reality now.

The Extent to Which I Really Want Salvation

7. Finally, repeat the idea for today once more, and devote the rest of the practice period to trying to focus on its importance to you, the relief its acceptance will bring you by resolving your conflicts once and for all, and the extent to which you really want salvation in spite of your own foolish ideas to the contrary.

8. In the shorter practice periods, which should be undertaken at least once an hour, use this form in applying today’s idea:

²My only function is the one God gave me. ³I want no other and I have no other.

⁴Sometimes close your eyes as you practice this, and sometimes keep them open and look about you. ⁵It is what you see now that will be totally changed when you accept today’s idea completely.

The ego is always dangling other goals before me to entice me back to them. I had no more completed this meditation than another goal presented itself. It was the desire to find a solution for my loved one’s problem. I just smiled and let it go. If there is something to be said, the words will be given to me. There is no need for me to think about it now. The thought to do so is the temptation to choose a goal other than the one given to me by God. I’m not falling for it.

To enjoy the Pathways of Light Insights on ACIM Lesson 65 click here.

If you found this content helpful, please share on social media so more people can read and learn.

Leave a Reply

%d bloggers like this: