Lesson 74

There is no will but God’s.

W-pI.74.1. The idea for today can be regarded as the central thought toward which all our exercises are directed. 2 God’s is the only Will. 3 When you have recognized this, you have recognized that your will is His. 4 The belief that conflict is possible has gone. 5 Peace has replaced the strange idea that you are torn by conflicting goals. 6 As an expression of the Will of God, you have no goal but His.

I love the thought that I am an expression of the Will of God. Isn’t that so much loftier than being an expression of the will of the ego, being a frail body helpless against an outside world acting on you? Living as a body in space and time has been at times interesting and fun, but it always turns to tragedy and death. Even in the best of times, it is a pale and sad existence when one thinks of being an expression of the Will of God.

W-pI.74.2. There is great peace in today’s idea, and the exercises for today are directed towards finding it. 2 The idea itself is wholly true. 3 Therefore it cannot give rise to illusions. 4 Without illusions conflict is impossible. 5 Let us try to recognize this today, and experience the peace this recognition brings.

For a long time now, the peace of God has been my only goal. Today’s lesson is perfect for this goal. I asked Jesus to show me the ego beliefs that still hook my attention and tempt me to illusions. He is doing that and providing the solution at the same time. This has been enormously helpful. Releasing these beliefs opens the way for me to fully accept myself as an expression of the Will of God.

W-pI.74.3. Begin the longer practice periods by repeating these thoughts several times, slowly and with firm determination to understand what they mean, and to hold them in mind:

2 There is no will but God’s. 3 I cannot be in conflict.

4 Then spend several minutes in adding some related thoughts, such as:

5 I am at peace.
6 Nothing can disturb me. 7 My will is God’s.
8 My will and God’s are one.
9 God wills peace for His Son.

10 During this introductory phase, be sure to deal quickly with any conflict thoughts that may cross your mind. 11 Tell yourself immediately:

12 There is no will but God’s. 13 These conflict thoughts are meaningless.

I consider the thoughts that are meaningless. This thought that I would be happy if I lost weight is meaningless. The belief in pain and sickness is meaningless.

W-pI.74.4. If there is one conflict area that seems particularly difficult to resolve, single it out for special consideration. 2 Think about it briefly but very specifically, identify the particular person or persons and the situation or situations involved, and tell yourself:

3 There is no will but God’s. 4 I share it with Him.
5 My conflicts about _____ cannot be real.

This is another way to say the same thing.

3 There is no will but God’s. 4 I share it with Him.
5 My conflicts about the body cannot be real.

3 There is no will but God’s. 4 I share it with Him.
5 My conflicts about pain and sickness cannot be real.

3 There is no will but God’s. 4 I share it with Him.
5 My conflicts about special relationships cannot be real.

Can you imagine spending the rest of this life as a pure expression of God’s Will? Without a desire for a will in opposition to His, there will be no conflict, just perfect peace and joy. Others have done it and so it is possible for all of us to do it. The little resistance I feel to surrender melts away as the longing for God increases. That is the point of these lessons.

W-pI.74.5. After you have cleared your mind in this way, close your eyes and try to experience the peace to which your reality entitles you. 2 Sink into it and feel it closing around you. 3 There may be some temptation to mistake these attempts for withdrawal, but the difference is easily detected. 4 If you are succeeding, you will feel a deep sense of joy and an increased alertness, rather than a feeling of drowsiness and enervation.

Jesus is teaching us how to meditate in these early lessons using gentle steps of increasing duration.

W-pI.74.6. Joy characterizes peace. 2 By this experience will you recognize that you have reached it. 3 If you feel yourself slipping off into withdrawal, quickly repeat the idea for today and try again. 4 Do this as often as necessary. 5 There is definite gain in refusing to allow retreat into withdrawal, even if you do not experience the peace you seek.

By refusing to allow the ego to hijack the meditation, I will have gained willingness and the next effort will benefit from that gain. It is like practice at a musical instrument. At first, the sounds coming from the instrument might sound discordant, even painful to hear. This could go on for a long time, but eventually, with consistent practice, the sounds become harmonious and a pleasure to hear. Releasing ego thoughts, even when done incompletely, and meditating and contemplating these lessons, even when done without apparent change, will gain in strength and power as we persist in our practice. Each practice period is important and is helping even if the change is not apparent.

W-pI.74.7. In the shorter periods, which should be undertaken at regular and predetermined intervals today, say to yourself:

2 There is no will but God’s. 3 I seek His peace today.

4 Then try to find what you are seeking. 5 A minute or two every half an hour, with eyes closed if possible, would be well spent on this today.

This is so simple and takes almost no time at all. It will be interesting to note the level of resistance. How often will we forget? How soon into the day will we start to feel irritated by this simple effort? Let us notice without judgment and then give our resistance to the Holy Spirit so our mind can be healed. After all, if we did not need the practice, we would not even be here. No reason to be upset at a practice that is not perfect.