The Power of Positive Vigilance

Choose What Brings You Peace

The subtitle of this post, especially the first word, says it all: one must choose to focus on that which brings you peace.

A Course in Miracles teaches that we always have a choice: we can engage in loveless thoughts and experience pain, or we can choose to think thoughts aligned with love and gain a greater sense of peace and heaven.

As individuals, each of us must make this choice in our lives. We are always making this choice. In every instance, in each second, our thoughts will either bring us to heaven (i.e., loving thoughts) or hell (i.e., loveless thoughts).

When we choose to focus on the good in ourselves and in each other, we change our lives. We shift our perspective and frame our relationships, experiences, and those we come in contact with as laboratories for heavenly encounters.

If I curse another and allow my anger to dictate my mood and my opinion of another, I will feel the effects of these thoughts, and they won’t feel good. They will weigh heavily on my spirit, creating walls that separate me from understanding and connection.

In contrast, when I bless another and recognize that they are as much a child of God as myself, I will experience a greater sense of closeness to the divine. This practice of recognition opens the door to empathy and compassion, fostering a deeper sense of community.

One of the teachings in the Course is to,

Be Vigilant Only for God and His Kingdom

We are called to be vigilant, to give attention to, emphasize, and focus our thoughts and lives on what is of God and how He would want us to encounter Him and each other (i.e., His kingdom).

We are being taught to not focus on the flaws, shortcomings, and mistakes of others and ourselves. We are called to forgive, acknowledge the God within each individual, let go, move forward, and live in peace.

When we obsess and hold resentments, we are unable to experience God. We cling to the veil that shields our awareness of the divine self. When we are vigilant of others' mistakes and errors, and when we hold these up to condemn and damn others, we are far removed from the Kingdom. We detach ourselves from the experience of oneness, nirvana, peace, and light.

The Course’s call to only be vigilant for God suggests that we consistently guard our thoughts from that which will lead us away from a sense of peace. When we are vigilant only for God and His Kingdom, we begin to more readily and frequently recognize the presence of God in our everyday experiences. We begin to gain insight into the divine curriculum that we are to take up, learn, and ultimately teach in this world.

As you go about your day, pay attention to your thoughts and recognize those which serve to cultivate your sense of peace and joy. Lean into those thoughts and allow the desire for peace, oneness, and God to guide your life. It is a transformative experience that can initiate a ripple effect, impacting those around you and fostering a collective growth in love and understanding.

A prayer for Vigilance for God and His Kingdom:

Dear God,

I call on You this morning and ask that You inspire and illuminate me as I go about my day. I pray that I will focus my attention on the many blessings I have. Please help me to recognize and acknowledge all that I have and all that I have to offer others. Help me this day to keep You in my mind and in my heart and do what You would have me do. If I begin to condemn another, to find fault with others, or to think or act in ways that run counter to Your will, help me get back on the right track. I thank you for the abundance of spirit You offer. Amen.

Prior Posts of Interest:

What Does it Mean to Practice “A Course in Miracles”

Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman Ain’t Got Nothing on You

Anger & Disappointment with the State of the World

Making Peace with Your Body and “A Course in Miracles”

Who is Christ in “A Course in Miracles”?

Love and Light,

A. Writer