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Word Gems

self-knowledge, authentic living, full humanity, continual awakening

August Goforth

two parables on prayer

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from https://augustgoforth.blogspot.com/2012_09_16_archive.html

... This kind of rigorous asking is "intention with attention," a building and affirmation of faith, a very high state of conscious vibration. Keep in mind as well that while there might be a response we could call an instantaneous remission, in most cases, there will be a perceived delay in the healing. This delay is usually interpreted by the ego-mind as a “no” and then its usual temper tantrums will set in, effectively shutting of the flow of healing.

Most of us in this 21st century have developed expectations of materially instant gratification – which is completely opposite of spiritually instant gratification. If we are coming from an ego-mental position, then we are standing on the outside and expecting the outside to deliver the goods, but it cannot; we are not looking inward, which is where the outside comes from, or is the causation of the outside.

We must go inside to ask from where Reality is, with complete confidence (faith, not fear or worry) that the outside will then manifest in a way that conforms exactly to our request. Then we must wait, just as we must wait for the planted seed to germinate, arise, appear and grow.

There are parables in the Bible that seek to metaphysically illustrate the importance of this kind of prayerful demanding, which is necessary to dissolve any interfering unbeliefs, doubts, worry and anxiety that one’s asking will not be answered.

Two of these include “The Parable of the Insistent Friend” (or the more romantically entitled, “The Friend at Midnight"), which we quote further down for its exquisite strength and beauty of direct language. Another similar metaphysical directive is found in the Parable of The Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-8).

In fact, if one examines the Bibilical processes closely, it will be seen that there is never a question mark associated with the word “ask.”  We are told (not asked)  to “ask” in a direct and confident way. “Ask and you shall receive.”  Not “may I please have some more?” but rather, and most boldly and fearlessly: “I ask, insist and demand more.” There is always enough to go around, for the Universe is nothing but abundance.

Witness the “great waste” of Nature’s lavish abundance: dozens instead of just one flower on the stalk; all the uneaten fruit fallen beneath the trees;, all the countless eggs of fish in the sea – which, if ever all successfully hatched, would displace the water in the ocean; all the innumerable stars in the countless galaxies; all the never-ending ideas which continually inspire us to grow and evolve toward more abundance, and more prosperity!

The Universe does not limit; we do. Which means we can also undo the limitation, the blockage to flow, and congestion of energy. Only we can do that; the Universe can only accept and comply our request. "Request" also means "demand."

Note that we are not directed to specifically ask “God” — but to simply and outrightly ask the Unnameable Within. Demanding or commanding encompass both asking and receiving, combining them simultaneously. This coinciding transcends time and space by synchronizing them into one event, thus resolving the dilemma of duality and allowing the “miracle” to be.

... ourselves still enthroned upon the Earth, are commanded by Creator Source to not only demand back — to ask — but to receive. At a certain point in our higher evolution, or what the Risen bid me label as “transmutation,” we no longer need to ask, but evolve to exist in a constant state of receptivity to the flow of ever-persistent Life, which requests that we do nothing but remain open to Its Giving.

And in so doing, we are then joined with It as One, and thus become Givers, or more succinctly, “Gifters.” Thus is fulfilled the prophecy that “to give is to receive.”
 

Authentic Self can imagine experiences that appear to call for endurance if It so desires. But its nature is to enjoy rather than endure an experience. “Enjoy” is not meant here as the ego-mind’s concept of getting joy out of something. Rather, putting joy into something is what Authentic Self brings to the table of experience, at which It serves as the Good Steward. For the Good Steward, to enjoy is to give. To reside and rest in the feeling of authentic enjoyment is Authentic Self’s motivation. Joy is another word for that which gives life, or Original Creator Source, which is never-ending and unceasingly pours into one’s universe through the channel of Authentic Self. When joy is withheld from outflowing, the feeling of life shuts down. Depression, illness, and the eventual cessation of material existence are the resulting effects. (The Risen,  p. 311)

And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.

“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.