"Once we begin to get in touch with a sense of God’s love, we can let that new current of thought alter our perceptions and inspire our actions."

Step Three

During step three, the goal is to become open to a personal experience of God’s love for you. Steps one and two were designed to clear a space for this experience.

I often need to spend a few minutes at step three, seeking this inner experience of comfort and love. As I seek for it, I continue to monitor my mind for dark thoughts, and hand them over to God as they come up.

Again, it may be helpful to say a short prayer:

God, I am open to your help.
Please fill me with a sense of comfort.
I want to feel your love and support.
My heart is open to you.

Your goal at this step is to allow God’s love to enter your awareness. That experience will transform your perceptions and guide your responses to the original issue. You simply need to make room for it to enter.

If dark thoughts and feelings arise during this process (and it’s common for them to do so), you can again say a short prayer:

God, I don’t want this dark thought.
I want to clear away the blocks to your comfort.
I give this dark thought to you.

You may need to tend to the newfound sense of comfort like a gardener would tend to little seedlings. You may need to spend most of your time clearing away the weeds of your old thoughts. But the work is worth it.

If you do begin to experience a sense of comfort or love during step three (no matter how strong it feels) you may want to give it permission to flow through you to others. You can allow it to enfold whatever or whoever comes to mind – including people connected with the original issue. As you let the love of God flow into and through you, you create an ever-wider channel for it. In the process, your mind is healed.

If you aren’t able to feel a sense of comfort right away, you may need to "search around" in your mind a bit. This may take some practice. There is a current of peace, or warmth, somewhere in your mind, although it may be buried under layers of dark thoughts. If you search for it – and continue to release any interfering thoughts – you will clear a space for it to grow.

Once you begin to get in touch with a sense of God’s love, you can let that new current of thought alter your perceptions and inspire your actions. This makes the whole process very practical. We’re not just seeking a temporary oasis of peace; we’re actually seeking a new way to perceive and respond to our issue. We’re seeking a new inner path to follow.

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