As a minister and practitioner of the Science of Mind philosophy, I lean into the words of the founder of Science of Mind, Dr. Ernest Holmes. He once said, “There is a power for good in the universe and you can use it.”

This quote suggests that God can be used by us. I suppose this is consistent with most theologies. Like most people, I was raised to pray to God for good outcomes. Sometimes the outcomes were money, health, a good grade or my favorite dessert. Sometimes, prayers are to smite our enemies or to make sure our favorite football team wins the competition.

I am confident that with over 8 billion human beings sending ‘up’ prayers such as these, and with most of them going unanswered, I might add, there is no God like that. Plus consider the fact that if there was a God who would smite your enemies because you asked, don’t you think your enemies might have also asked God to smite you?

Ernest Holmes’ greatest gift to humanity was to articulate how the universe is wired to work.  When you purchase a product, especially a complicated one, it comes with instructions. Without the instructions  fumbling can take place, and it is likely that the product you purchased won’t be used to its fullest and perhaps could even cause some harm. When Dr. Holmes offered us the transforming idea that this thing, we call God, is not like the man behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz. God has no face. God has no human personality. God is a process, a presence and a power. Dr. Holmes’ language for explaining this, was that power, process and presence was God operating in this universe as both Love and Law.

The answer to the question ‘do we use God’ or does ‘God use us’, is YES.

"Denying love is our only problem, and embracing it is the only answer. Through the power of love,
we can let go of past history and begin again. Love heals, forgives, and makes whole." ~Dr. Ernest Holmes

The law is the instruction manual for how life works, how things get created and how we participate in those processes. The spiritual laws and principles, created by God, not by us, allows us to move through our incarnation with the power to create our lives with intention. To architect our futures, not as victims of the past, or of circumstances, but as conscious and intentional thinkers into a thinking process – a universal ‘mind’.  There are many spiritual laws and principles, just as there are many physical laws and principles ---none of which we, as human beings, created.

The law of manifestation, the law of cause and effect, and the law of attraction are as real and as irrefutable as are the laws of gravity, thermodynamics and photosynthesis.

Gravity works all the time, for every person. Gravity does not care if you believe in it, agree with it or like it. Gravity does not work only for good people or chosen people. All laws operate the same 100% all the time. As humans we learn about gravity early in our lives and then we live in harmony all our lives. We are not foolish enough to walk off cliffs or jump off roofs because we know the consequence of doing that. So, it is with these spiritual laws as well.

Because these spiritual laws were created for us to use, in that regard, we do use God.

Now an important distinction here is that all people create their lives, whether happy ones or sad ones, wealthy ones or poor ones, healthy ones or sickly ones, by using their thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, emotions, intentions and commitments in a particular way. Like gravity, these laws are used by saints and sinners alike.

Dr. Holmes has given us the tool we need to recognize the possibility of thinking, believing, and intending in ways that do influence outcomes and do contribute to the conditions and the stuff of our lives.

So yes. We are made to use God in this way.

Then we have the love equation. God is love. The fabric of the universe is held together by love. Love is the equally important aspect of God that uses us. We are made by the love that undergirds and embraces the universe for the purpose of being the hands, feet, and hearts that move around our planet caring for and about one another.

Is it possible to live without using God from the standpoint of the laws that govern the universe? NO!  Is it possible for us to obstruct or block the love of God from using us? DEFINITELY.

Life without love in our hearts, without compassion, kindness, generosity, community, companionship, and forgiveness is a cold and empty life indeed. Yes, we can live life absent of God as love, but why on earth would we want to.

To awaken and discover the instruction manual for living, is to create for yourself a bit of heaven on earth. To recognize our God-given gift to think our way into joy and happiness, and everything else we want, need or desire, is to take control of what perhaps has seemed random or chaotic.

To wake up and discover that we are unconditionally loved, supported, maintained and sustained by a power greater than we are is to activate our hearts thus allowing our lives to be fulfilled and filled full as we navigate the duration of our short time in these bodies.

Now as spiritual beings having a human experience, we don’t ever not exist. We appear in this body and we at some moment, will leave the body behind -- but our essence, our true identity is eternal. I know that this is true.

God has created for us a virtual paradise that the majority has yet to discover. But some of us have and more of us are. As we do, there is every reason to be hopeful about the future of our planet and of our people.

I say, go ahead and use God for good. And go ahead and let God use you for loving.

As. Dr. Holmes also said, "Love points the way and Law makes the way possible." 

Love, love and more love,

Rev. Denise