Library of Christ Mind Teachings
ACIM Original Edition
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Strictly speaking, words play no part at all in healing. The motivating
factor is prayer, or asking. What you ask for, you receive. But this
refers to the prayer of the heart, not to the words you use in praying.
Sometimes the words and the prayer are contradictory; sometimes they
agree. It does not matter. God does not understand words, for they were
made by separated minds to keep them in the illusion of separation.
Words can be helpful, particularly for the beginner, in helping
concentration and facilitating the exclusion or at least the control of
extraneous thoughts. Let us not forget, however, that words are but
symbols of symbols. They are thus twice removed from reality.
2 As symbols, words have quite specific references. Even when
they seem most abstract, the picture that comes to mind is apt to be
very concrete. Unless a specific referent does occur to the mind in
conjunction with the word, the word has little or no practical meaning
and thus cannot help the healing process. The prayer of the heart does
not really ask for concrete things. It always requests some kind of
experience, the specific things asked for being the bringers of the
desired experience in the judgment of the asker. The words, then, are
symbols for the things asked for, but the things themselves but stand
for the experiences which are hoped for.
3 The prayer for things of this world will bring experiences
of this world. If the prayer of the heart asks for this, this will be
given because this will be received. It is impossible that the prayer of
the heart remain unanswered in the perception of the one who asks. If he
asks for the impossible, if he wants what does not exist or seeks for
illusions in his heart, all this becomes his own. The power of his
decision offers it to him, as he requests. Herein lie hell and Heaven.
The sleeping Son of God has but this power left to him. It is enough.
His words do not matter. Only the Word of God has any meaning, because
it symbolizes that which has no human symbols at all. The Holy Spirit
alone understands what this Word stands for. And this, too, is enough.
4 Is the teacher of God then to avoid the use of words in his
teaching? No, indeed. There are many who must be reached through words,
being as yet unable to hear in silence. The teacher of God must,
however, learn to use words in a new way. Gradually, he learns how to
let his words be chosen for him by ceasing to decide for himself what he
will say. This process is merely a special case of the workbook lesson
“I will step back and let Him lead the way.” The teacher of God accepts
the words which are offered him and gives as he receives. He does not
control the direction of his speaking. He listens and hears and speaks.
5 A major hindrance in this aspect of his learning is the
teacher of God’s fear about the validity of what he hears. And what he
hears may indeed be quite startling. It may also seem to be quite
irrelevant to the presented problem as he perceives it, and may, in
fact, confront him with a situation that appears to be very
embarrassing. All these are judgments which have no value. They are his
own, coming from a shabby self-perception that he would leave behind.
Judge not the words that come to you, but offer them in confidence. They
are far wiser than your own. God’s teachers have God’s Word behind their
symbols. And He Himself gives to the words they use the power of His
Spirit, raising them from meaningless symbols to the call of Heaven
itself.