Infinite Way Letter
January 1955
By Joel Goldsmith
Part 1 of 4
The Importance of Meditation
Our work is to live in God; to dwell in the secret place of the most high; to keep thought stayed on Him; to pray without ceasing. Throughout all ages, the scriptures of the world have given us this same truth: “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
No part of the Message of the Infinite Way is more important than meditation, for it is only through meditation that we are enabled to find God. There is no other way. The act of meditation is solely for the purpose of quieting us into a state of peace and serenity, in which we become receptive to the Word of God unfolding and revealing Itself in and as our consciousness.
Each of us has many moments during the day and night in which to abide in the Word of God, to meditate upon Truth, be it only a momentary pause during our work, before meals, while walking, driving or resting. If wakeful during the night, we can spend that time with God and find rest in His peace. While we are dwelling in God no sense of evil can come nigh our dwelling place.
God is the all-knowing Mind, so take the attitude that He knows our needs better than we do, and turn within only for the impartation of His Word.
We may be meditating because of a lack of health, or supply, or companionship, but it is not necessary to enlighten God. Just turn to Him with the expectancy of an impartation from within, and the Word of God will be made flesh—it will appear outwardly in human experience, and therefore let us not be concerned as to what form it shall take.
There may be times when no thoughts come, but be grateful: thoughts are not necessary. “My peace I give unto you….” Be satisfied with the sense of peace that is beyond words and thoughts and knowledge, and relax in it. Thank you, Father, I rest in Thy peace. Thy Grace is my sufficiency. I am happy, peaceful, joyous in Thy peace. The kingdom of God—the Allness of God is within me.
In this meditation we do not think of ourselves, we do not ask God for anything, we have no hopes, no wishes, no ambitions. We rest in the Spirit, in God’s Presence, His promises and assurances, and in this consciousness awaken to the realization we have been desiring. “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”
“Man shall not live by bread alone”—not by the truths we think or declare or read, “but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God,” and the only way to hear the Word is to listen. Seek, ask, knock, but do not acquaint God with the nature of the problem. Leave your problems outside the door, and enter into the sacred place to hear the still, small Voice, with the attitude that you are seeking only the kingdom of God.
Should any difficulty arise, become still and quiet inside. At such times as it may appear that you have some need or human requirement on the outer plane, no matter what the claim, let your answer be: “I have meat to eat that ye know not of.” Refute all temptation to yield to the claim of lack with the Word of God, which is your meat, your wine, your water, your home eternal in the heavens.
In this understanding you can be reborn. You can undergo a change of consciousness wherein are needs you long to have fulfilled, to a consciousness that faces every claim with “I have meat to eat that ye know not of.” In this consciousness you are aware of the Word of God—the invisible substance of all form, the essence of which every demonstration is made. In this consciousness you have the bread of life, the wine of inspiration, the invisible source of supply, the fount of all good; and as you turn within and feel Its Presence, It manifests outwardly as demonstration.
While this new consciousness is forming, you may, for a while, be faced with some sense of limitation or delay which may cause you to doubt the Presence of the Christ, and it is then you need to remember: “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee….” It is in quietness and in confidence that you rest in assurance. If you have even a grain of faith, the Christ will see you through. Your good can appear outwardly only in proportion to the development of spiritual consciousness within. Disaster results from accepting appearances and feeling that perhaps you do not deserve God’s blessings, and that He is not paying attention to your needs. If you will learn to sing in prison and never to fear, even in the valley of the shadow of death, you are acknowledging that “I have meat”—the Word of God—and that will bring you through all forms of discord.
Many times we may feel that error is responsible for our inharmonies, and in so doing we violate the first commandment. All power is in God. The darkness of discord may be a step to bring us to God, for God works in mysterious ways to give us the lessons and, thereby, the blessings we need.
End Part 1