A Course In Miracles from My Perspective

June 21st 2014  Lesson 46

God is the Love in with which I forgive. 

God does not forgive because He has never condemned.  And there must be condemnation before forgiveness is necessary.  Forgiveness is the great need of this world, but that is because it is a world of illusions.  Those who forgive are thus releasing themselves from illusions, while those who withhold forgiveness are binding themselves to them.  As you condemn only yourself, so do you forgive only yourself.

Yet although God does not forgive, His Love is nevertheless the basis of forgiveness.  Fear condemns and love forgives.  Forgiveness thus undoes what fear has produced, returning the mind to the awareness of God.  For this reason, forgiveness can truly be called salvation.  It is the means by which illusions disappear.

• Intention:  Three five-minute practice periods are required for today, and as many shorter ones as possible. 
    
• Practice:  Begin the longer practice periods by repeating today's idea to yourself, as usual.  Close your eyes as you do so, and spend a minute or two in searching your mind for those whom you have not forgiven.  It does not matter "how much" you have not forgiven them.  You have forgiven them entirely or not at all.  Anyone you do not like is a suitable subject. Mention each one by name, and say:
    
  God is the Love in which I forgive you, [name].
  
  The purpose of the firs phase of today's practice periods is to put you in a position to forgive yourself.  After you have applied the idea to all those who have come to mind, tell yourself:
    
  God is the Love in which I forgive myself.
          

  Then devote the remainder of the practice period to adding related ideas such as:
    
  

  God is the Love with which I forgive myself.

  God is the Love in which I am blessed.

    
  The form of the application may vary considerably, but the central idea should not be lost sight of.  You might say, of r example:
    
  

  I cannot be guilty because I am a Son of God.

  I have already been forgiven.

  No fear is possible in a mind beloved of God.

  There is no need to attack because love has forgiven me.

    
  End the practice period with a repetition of today's idea as originally stated.
      
• Application:   In the shorter practice periods may consist either of a repetition of the idea for today in the original or in a related form, as you prefer.  Be sure, however to make more specific applications if they are needed.  They will be needed at any time during the day when you become aware of any kind of negative reaction to anyone, present or not.  In that event, tell him silently:  
    
  God is the Love in which I forgive you.
    

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Insights/comments:

• Today's thought emphasizes the great value of forgiveness:  it undoes the illusions of fear and returns our mind to the awareness of God.  And thus is the means for our salvation.  We are the only ones we need to forgive, but it is easier to practice forgiving others so that we can more easily forgive ourselves.  Every time we notice the pinch of some negative feeling it means that we have condemned someone or something and we need to forgive them.  The benefit is always to our own self for truly we are all one.  Every time we forgive someone we allow ourselves to awaken more to God's presence. 

I and my Creator are One.