Unity and Prosperity

2008

January

Prosperity's Ten Commandments

Webster's defines prosperity as: the condition of being successful or thriving and Catherine Ponder shares that we are always prosperous to the degree that we are expressing love, joy, health, and abundance in our lives. 

The Power of Prosperity x 12 is now 2 years old and over 2,000 subscribers strong. We also have a new look with the launching of our new web page. Check it out at www.unity.org. 

Before we launch into our next topic, we thought we would review where we've been. The first year we studied Edwene Gaines' The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity. These are very basic laws with definite practices to unblock and create prosperity in our lives. We looked at tithing from a different perspective and why it is a part of our spiritual growth. We set clear cut and tangible goals to see prosperity unfold in our lives. We looked at the biggest block to prosperity by not forgiving ourselves and others. And lastly we looked at our purpose and how a life lived on purpose is a prosperous life. 

This past year we looked with Charles Fillmore, Catherine Ponder, and many other prosperity teachers about how our twelve powers affect our prosperity. These attributes of God that are within each of us have a definite and divine link to our prosperity. We learned that prosperity shows up in many ways other than money. 

At www.unity.org, click on adults and then prosperity to find all of the past Power of Prosperity x 12 issues. You can also download for free the workbook to go along with The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity. 

This year we will journey with Georgiana Tree West's Prosperity's Ten Commandments. We will see how this timeless treasure will take the Ten Commandments to a deeper level of spiritual growth. 

What Georgiana says:

"Truth is capable of limitless expansion. For this reason we find the essential truth embodied in the Ten Commandments is not only the basis of right spiritual and moral conduct, but also the basis for establishing permanent prosperity." 

Prosperity's Ten Commandments, Chap 1 

"All the laws of the mental realm are called into operation until eventually the pattern is given concrete form. If we have thoughts of lack, we form many mental images around it and see ourselves poor and in difficulty."

Chap 2 

"...wealth is the outpicturing of the state of mind. The earnestly striving person whose efforts are not richly compensated may have a poverty consciousness." 

Chap 8 

What the Bible says:

"...If you follow my statutes and keep my commandments and observe them faithfully, I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Your threshing shall overtake the vintage, and the vintage shall overtake the sowing; you shall eat your bread to the full, and live securely in your land." 

Lev 26:3-5 

"Keep his statutes and his commandments, which I am commanding you today for your own well-being and that of your descendants after you, so that you may long remain in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for all time." 

De 4:40 

"If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love." 

John 15:10 

"Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." 

Mt 22:37-40 

For practice: 

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February, 2008

Prosperity's Ten Commandments
First Commandment: "Thou shalt look to no other source but God for thy supply" 

We begin a new theme for prosperity, based on Georgiana Tree West's Prosperity's Ten Commandments. The first of the Ten Commandments in the Bible says, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." 

In this commandment we find the only sound basis for manifesting permanent prosperity. Jesus tells us to seek God first, and that all things will be given to us. When we place God first in our lives, we acknowledge that there is no other source of life, love, wisdom, and power except God. God is the source of all. Our businesses, our employer, our paychecks, investments, and even the lottery are only small channels for God to use but they are not the source. God is. 

This commandment requires us to exercise our faith in God. Faith is the first step in bringing our prosperity into manifestation. Everything we could ever want or need is already there, in God's spiritual realm. We have the power within us to bring it into the physical form. Truly believing this takes a strong unrelenting faith in God as the source of all. 

As we take our faith in hand we must have vision. Lack of vision limits our prosperity. If we cannot state clearly what we want or what our intension is, how can we expect to have it come into our life? Without a strong faith and clear vision limited thoughts and fears can creep into our mind. Add emotion around these limited thoughts and fears, and limitation is what manifests. Have faith in God's love for you, and move forward into your vision knowing that God will provide. 

What the Bible says:

"God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good."

Ge 1:31 

"And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work." 

2 Co 9:8 

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." 

Lu 12:32 

"For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." 

John 6:33 

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." 

Mt 6:33 

What Unity says: 

"God is the origin of all, and from him, in orderly steps through his perfect idea (Son) and his wise builder (Holy Ghost) all creation proceeds." 

Charles Fillmore, Talks on Truth 

"God is the source of all that we are, hence the source of life, substance, and intelligence. The one and only substance out of which all things are formed is right here at all times, awaiting our recognition of it in its spiritual freedom."

Charles and Cora Fillmore, Teach Us to Pray 

"Both science and religion agree on the fundamental fact that God is the source of all creation." 

Charles Fillmore, Atom Smashing Power 

"Prosperity is the consciousness of God present everywhere." 

Edwene Gaines, The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity 

"...God is responsible for all that is real." 

Myrtle Fillmore, How to Let God Help You 

"God is also substance, the essence from which all things come."

William Earle Cameron, "The One Good God," in Keys to the Kingdom 

For practice: 

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March, 2008

Prosperity's Ten Commandments
Second Commandment: “Thou shalt make no mental images of lack.” 

This is like the 2nd commandment where we are instructed not to make any “graven images.” A graven image is any thing or idea that takes our attention away from God or the good that God has for us. 

We are constantly making mental images in connection with the thoughts we hold in mind. Mental images bring with them different emotions, and the emotions are what put energy into motion. Positive mental images put out positive energy and draw more positive to us. But negativity works the same way. Georgiana tells us,” Every thought of poverty, fear, limitation, worry, doubt is a false image, and every thought word, and act of ours motivated by such thinking constitutes the bowing down to ‘graven images’ and serving them.” 

The truth in the commandment is that we are not to create and serve false ideas. Any idea that is not in total alignment with “God as our source” is a graven image. God may have many channels of delivery but we mustn’t confuse the channels with the source. There is not now, never was, nor will there ever be lack of good things or ideas in God. 

Jesus told us we could not serve two masters. We cannot live and have our being in an unlimited universe if we are holding mental images of lack. Thoughts and ideas are unlimited in the mind of God and available to us when we don’t allow thought of lack to take hold and manifest in our lives. 

Sometimes it is a real exercise of our faith not to create mental images of lack. In these times, calling on our twelve powers can be of real support. Use your imagination to see an unlimited image. Use your power of wisdom to see all mental images with right judgment and elimination to get rid of all thoughts that do not serve your highest and best. 

What the Bible says: 

“The land is broad—God has indeed given it into your hands—a place where there is no lack of anything on earth.” 

Jud 18:10 

“He said to them, ‘When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?’ They said, ‘No, not a thing.’” 

Lu 22:35 

“My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; or the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.” 

James 1:2-12 

What Unity says: 

“Whenever we give power to anything but God, we are making that thing into a graven image.” 

The Ten Commandments: the Master Key to Life, by Emmet Fox

 
“God can only do for you what He/She can do through you, by means of your thoughts and ideas which lead to your reactions.” 

The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity, by Catherine Ponder 

“In the great Mind of God there is no thought of lack, and such a thought has no rightful place in your mind.” 

Prosperity, by Charles Fillmore 

“Every thought seed sown or allowed to fall into the mind, and to take root there, produces its own, blossoming sooner or later into act, and bearing its own fruitage of opportunity and circumstance. Good thoughts bear good fruit, bad thoughts bad fruit.” 

As a Man Thinketh, by James Allen 

For practice: 

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April 2008
Prosperity’s Ten Commandments
Third Commandment: “Thou shalt not speak the word of lack or limitation.” 

One translation of the original commandment, to not take the Lord’s name in vain, reads as follows: “You shall not use the name of the Eternal, your God, profanely, for the Eternal will never acquit anyone who uses His name profanely.”

Webster’s dictionary gives the following meaning to the word profane: “To debase by a wrong, unworthy or vulgar use; to profane or defile that which is holy.” To understand how we constantly violate this third commandment we must consider the name of God revealed to Moses: I AM. I AM is the name of that living, loving, wise power which is pure being, the reality of all that is. This is the God essence which is within each one of us, our Christ spirit. 

When we speak using “I am” with anything less than the absolute best we are speaking in the voice of lack or limitation. We are identifying God with something less than perfect or whole. Example: I am tired, I am sick. God is never tired or sick. Every destructive word is a libel against God, because it is a denial of His presence.

In Unity we talk a lot about the power of the spoken word. Mystically speaking, the word is the idea generated in mind, a word spoken or written is a symbol of an idea. Every spoken word launches some idea into the realm of form. It starts the idea on its way to manifestation. Every created thing comes into existence through the word, which is always an expression of an idea. Speaking a word of lack or limitation puts it into motion and into form in your life. This is a false image of God.

Georgiana tells us, “When we have the idea of omnipresent Spirit as our unlimited source of supply, we are inspired to make mental images of the fulfillment of our need according to God’s good will, in spite of all appearances. But every word of lack is the indication of a false image and is imbued with the creative power of mind through our persistent thought. As long as our words express these images we are condemned to lack and limitation.”

What the Bible says:

“I tell you, on the day of judgment, you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."   

Matt 12:36

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”           

Joh 1:1

“Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.” 

 Job 22:28

Unity says:

“The mind moves upon ideas; ideas are made visible through words.”

Talks on Truth, by Charles Fillmore

“This is exactly what the Word is—the working power of God.” 

Talks on Truth, by Charles Fillmore

“Whatever we do heartily and sincerely in the name of Christ or the I AM, carries with it the power of the I AM to accomplish—a power from a higher source.”  

How I Used Truth, by Emily Cady

“Never underestimate the power of words. You make your world with your words, as did Jehovah in the beginning. But if you do not like the world you have previously made with words of discord, lack, limitation and hard times, you can begin building a new world of limitless good and prosperity by changing your words of command and decree.” 

The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity, by Catherine Ponder

“As we learn to use the power of the word we discover that we no longer have to beg for that which we think we need and that which satisfies our longings. We find that when we have put away all that hinders us, we are led into our good; it is ours; God gives it to us.” 

How to Let God Help You, by Myrtle Fillmore

For practice:

Take some time in quiet contemplation or meditation using I AM as a mantra. Saying it over and over out loud or in your mind. Be aware of the vibration and how it is changing in your body. Feel the excitement as your connection with God resonates throughout your body.

Where can you see the desert from a hot air balloon, enjoy Native American art and find forgiveness? Find out!

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May 2008
Prosperity’s Ten Commandments
Georgiana Tree West
Fourth Commandment: “Thou shalt let go and let God do it.”

The 4th commandment says “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” To understand this better we have to understand the word Sabbath. The Webster dictionary says it is, “a time of rest or repose; intermission of effort.” Sabbath is a time to cease doing, a time to relax and gather strength and power for the next cycle of activity; a time to quietly rely completely on God. It is the perfect time to exercise faith. It is a time to let go and “let God do it.”

Jesus modeled this commandment by going apart to pray before an intense activity of teaching and healing, and then going apart again for a time of prayer and rest. This was his time to connect to his Father, God.

When we are having difficulty in demonstrating or manifesting prosperity it is because the personal self, ego, insists on doing it all. This does not leave room for God to work. It is only in that quiet time that we can hear and understand the still small voice that gives us the answer. In Lowell Fillmore’s poem, “The Answer,” he says, “And I had knocked and asked and knocked and asked again. And all my fervor and persistence brought no hope, I paused to give my weary brain a rest and ceased my anxious human cry. In that still moment, after self had tried and failed, there came a glorious vision of God’s power, and, lo, my prayer was answered in that hour.”

Charles Fillmore at 94 said, “I fairly sizzle with zeal and enthusiasm and spring forth with a mighty faith to do that which ought to be done by me.” He is affirming here to do only what ought to be done by him.

It is necessary to gain a feeling of partnership with God. That way we can be open to knowing that we don’t have to do it all. We never know exactly the channels in which God will use us. Every person who contacts your life is a potential instrument of God’s action in manifesting your good.

So let go of any idea that you are in control or that you have to do or know it all. Just remember that God is in charge and God is our source.

What the Bible says:

“Rest assured, do not be afraid; your God and the God of your father must have put treasure in your sacks for you…” 

 Gen 43:23

“Blessed be the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised; not one word has failed of all his good promise, which he uttered by Moses his servant.”    

Kin 8:56

“So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God; for whoever enters God's rest also ceases from his labors as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, that no one fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” 

Hebrews 4:9-12

What Unity says:

“Let me see how plain I can make this. First we withdraw ourselves bodily and mentally from the outside world. Then be still, absolutely still. Relax every part of your being and believe that it is being done. The divine substance flows in at the center and out into the visible world every moment you wait….” 

Lessons in Truth by H. Emily Cady

“Do not try to do too much; leave something for God to do.” 

How to Let God Help You by Myrtle Fillmore

“The true Sabbath is that state of spiritual attainment where man ceases from all personal effort and all belief in his own work, and rests in the consciousness that ‘The Father abiding in me doeth his works.’”

The Revealing Word by Charles Fillmore, quoting from John 14:10

“The Lord will bring good to pass in ways that you may least expect, when you let go and rest in the assurance that the Divine Law is working.” 

How to Let God Help You by Myrtle Fillmore

Practices

Georgiana gives us a four step formula for demonstration, and we added one. Spend time with this formula, taking it deep into your being. Try one step a day:

As you work through this process, keep your journal nearby. Make notes on what comes up for you in each step. Ask God to give you rest and clarity on what is yours to do.

Plan a day or half day of Sabbath rest from the media. Put away all electronic devices: your cell phone, your computer, electronic games, movies, television, and so on. Go away from your home, if you can. In our over-stimulated world, we never have the chance to just be. Plan outdoor recreation, fellowship with others, quiet reading, journaling, or prayer—whatever takes you away from the constant stimulus of the electronic world and into experience of God and loved ones. What is the experience like for you? Write about it during or after your Sabbath time. Was it difficult, easy, joyful, anxious? Affirm that God is in charge and allow your feelings to be whatever they are.

Discuss with your triad the entries in your journal. Ask for prayer support. And be willing to do the same for them.

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June 2008
Prosperity’s Ten Commandments
Georgiana Tree West

Fifth Commandment: Thou shalt deal honorably with God and with all human instruments through whom God’s good is manifest for you.”

The 5th commandment says “Honor your father and your mother.” This commandment deals with right actions. It begins with our earthly parents, for they are the first instruments that God uses to bring us our good. As we learn and express right actions of justice, honesty, and cooperation with our parents we then grow to express right actions with our fellow man, ourselves and, above all, with God.

One definition in the Webster dictionary defines honor as: accepting and paying when due. This definition brings the Law of Compensation into play. This law teaches us to return full value for that which we have received. Compensation keeps our lives and the universe in balance and establishes ethical conduct. For example, the electric company provides you with electricity before you pay for it. At the end of the month, they expect a return of full value in the form of your payment. The cycle of giving and receiving stays in balance and flow. One of the necessary ways to establish ethical conduct and balance with God is the practice of tithing.

Rightly understood, tithing is a form of worship. The surest way to acknowledge God as the source of our supply is to give back a portion of all that we receive to God. We may acknowledge God in silence and in words but until we actually put tithing into practice, we have not shown our faith in God. The fifth basic principle says: “Through thought, words and action we live the Truth we know.” Tithing is our faith in action.

Georgiana tells us, “All religious work should be supported by the tithes of those who receive its blessings.” Just as God has channels to send us His good, He has channels to receive a portion of that good back. These channels are our spiritual homes expressed as churches, centers, and organizations or individuals who have spiritually enriched our lives. Organizations such as your local region, your Association of Unity Churches International, Silent Unity or Unity institute are channels of God’s good to you. These are separate from “gifts of charity” that are to be above and beyond our tithes. Tithing as a spiritual practice blesses not only the receiver but the giver.

So we have this commandment which teaches us to deal honorably with others, to do justice and cooperate with others. This leads us to the core of tithing, which keeps our relationship with our heavenly Mother/Father in balance and puts our faith into action. God’s good flows through us and back to others to express this principle in tangible form.

What the Bible says:

“You shall speak to the Levites, saying: When you receive from the Israelites the tithe that I have given you from them for your portion, you shall set apart an offering from it to the Lord, a tithe of the tithe.”

Nu 18:26

“Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.”

Mal 3:10

“And Jesus answering said unto them, ‘Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.’ And they marveled at him.

Mr 12:17

“Freely ye received, freely give.” 

Matt 10:8

What Unity says: 

“The purpose of the tithe is not to build churches or to pay minister’s salaries, although tithes do help to do these and other good things. The real purpose of the tithe is to acknowledge that God is the source of our good and that we are aware and grateful for the good in our lives.” 

The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity, by Edwene Gaines

“Tithing is an act of faith that moves on the rich substance of the universe to prosper you mightily, and to expand your world within and without in ways you would not have dreamed possible.” 

The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity, by Catherine Ponder

“Honesty: the divine law in action, which reveals that man must give an equivalent (equal value) for everything he gets.”

The Revealing Word, by Charles Fillmore

“The great promise of prosperity is that if men seek God and his righteousness first, then all shall be added unto them. One of the most practical and sensible ways of seeking God’s kingdom first is to be a tither, to put God first in finances.”         

Prosperity, by Charles Fillmore

Practices

Back to Say a Prayer

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July 2008
Prosperity’s Ten Commandments
Georgiana Tree West

Sixth Commandment: “Thou shalt not take thy wealth out of circulation” 

The sixth of the original commandments says, “Thou shall not kill.” You might wonder how these two commandments could ever relate to each other but there is a definite correlation between the two. Most think that this commandment is only about not killing man. We must remember that the commandments are a never ceasing, essential truth of God. That is why we metaphysically look for a deeper meaning. 
To kill is to stop the flow of life, and the ultimate result is death. Lack of circulation causes stagnation, which in turn leads to disintegration and death. Whether in the human body or in your prosperity, to kill means to take out of circulation. 

Georgiana tells us, “If we want success and prosperity we must use to the utmost what is already ours.” In other words, stagnation is death but circulation is life. 

In Jesus’ parable of the talents there are several lessons He is trying to get across. First is that God is the owner and we are the stewards. Second is found in the words Jesus used, “to each according to his ability.” This means wherever we are or whatever we have, we keep it circulating. The secret of prosperity is circulation. Hoarding shows a lack of faith in God, who is our source. It also taught that dependence on worldly possessions for happiness will make for restless souls. 
The economy of God is very simple. We receive justly for all that we give and we must give freely if we would receive freely. We must keep our good in circulation not only in thought and word but also in the realm of action; giving to God and to our fellow man. Using money for strictly selfish means is a form of hoarding and will eventually stop the flow. So pass it on. 

The Bible says: 

“Give liberally and be ungrudging when you do so, for on this account the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.”                                                                     

 Deu 15:10 

 Deu 16:16-17 

 Lu 12:32 

 2Co 9:7 

Unity says:  

Charles Fillmore Unity Magazine: June, 1905 

Prosperity, Charles Fillmore 

The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity, Edwene Gaines 

Spiritual Economics, Eric Butterworth 

The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity, Catherine Ponder

For practice: 

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August 2008
Prosperity’s Ten Commandments
Georgiana Tree West

Seventh Commandment: “Thou shalt not abase thy wealth to idle or evil uses.” 

The seventh of the original commandments says, “Thou shall not commit adultery.” When teaching the Ten Commandments, Moses had to reach the people at their on level of consciousness and understanding. It is still true today, people are at different stages of development, and so it can be easier to understand “rules of right action” than “laws of right living.”

 
Adultery comes from the same root word as the word adulterate which Webster’s dictionary defines as “to corrupt, or make impure by ay an admixture of a foreign or baser substance.” For example, mixing less valuable base metals such as copper, nickel, zinc, or tin, with gold, devalues the gold. This also applies to the mental and spiritual actions in life. Negative thinking can corrupt the mental ability to process and it can deter the spiritual growth progress. 

Georgiana tells us, “Our Supply is of God; it is an outer symbol of His omnipresent good. If it is to be a lasting blessing, with happiness in its wake, it must be handled in a way becoming to the nature of the source from which it comes.” In other words, money is an outer form of spiritual substance and we are responsible to use it intelligently in such a way that it honors God, its source.

 
When we associate our wealth with thoughts of greed or actions of selfishness we are adulterating our mental thinking but also our spiritual progress. Any use of wealth that hinders the soul’s progress is an idle or evil use. This is not to say that wealth is evil but where you place it in your life priorities can make it such. The Bible is often misquoted as saying that money is the root of all evil. The actual quote says that the “love” of money is the root of all evil. When money becomes more important than your spiritual growth or your connection to God, it has become evil. 

Nowhere in the Scriptures do we find condemnation of wealth, only condemnation of the wrong use of wealth and of its evil effects on people. We must not become slaves to that wealth but a master of it by using it in service to God. Keeping wealth in circulation to serve God and man is the guaranteed way to continue its flow. 

Tithing and charitable giving are prime ways to appropriately use wealth. But do not confuse the two. Charitable giving is not tithing, nor does it replace tithing. Tithing is specifically giving to the community & work of God, acknowledging that God is our source. Charitable giving is for the purpose of helping where there is need. 

The Bible says: 

“But Peter said to him, ‘Your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!’”              

Ac 8:20

 Heb 13:5

1Ti 6:10

Ec 5:10

Unity says: 

Charles Fillmore Unity Magazine, June, 1905 

Dedication and Covenant, Charles and Myrtle Fillmore 

September 2008
Prosperity’s Ten Commandments
Georgiana Tree West

Eighth Commandment: “Thou shalt not seek something for nothing.” 

The eighth of the original commandments says, “Thou shalt not steal.” 
To steal according to Webster’s dictionary is “to take…without right or leave and with intent to keep…wrongfully.” This is often called the law of compensation and under this law there is no such thing as getting something for nothing. We must give full measure for all that we receive at some time.

One of the most difficult things to understand in life is the apparently unjust distribution of riches. Self-respecting, upright people, with keen minds, who are trying to live constructive, creative lives, are often poor as the proverbial church mouse. Such people frequently become confused and angry wondering why people who are unethical, unkind, uncaring, and sometimes downright vicious are literally rolling in money. 
The answer is that wealth is the out-picturing of the state of mind. The person whose efforts are not richly compensated may not have a prosperity consciousness. This is the main cause for inadequate returns for conscious endeavor. The mind that is filled with lack, fear, or resistance to the situation will definitely fail to receive just compensation in the form of manifestation in the outer world. 

Georgiana tells us, “If we do not like what we are getting out of life we must consider carefully what are we giving to life. If we feel that we cannot afford to be charitable and hate to pay debts, we are withholding our generosity, and life will not be generous to us.” In other words when we think we can get something for nothing we are fooling ourselves because somewhere, sometime, somehow we pay for everything we receive. 

We may claim as much as we are capable of accepting of God’s bountiful supply but we must also remember that balanced compensation is a necessary part of the foundation of prosperity. 

The Bible says: 

“For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.”                                      

Mt 7:2

Mr 4:24 

Mr 12:17

Lu 6:38

Unity says: 

Metamorality, Eric Butterworth 

The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity, Catherine Ponder 

Mysteries of Genesis, Charles Fillmore 

For practice: 

October 2008
Prosperity’s Ten Commandments
Georgiana Tree West

Ninth Commandment: “Thou shalt not bear false witness against the source of thy wealth.”

The ninth of the original commandments says, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” This commandment has to do with the essential nature of truthfulness. The word witness comes from an old English word, witan, meaning understanding or intelligence. To “bear false witness” is to be untruthful in your understanding or in your intelligence. To give false impressions by exaggeration, insinuation, detraction or even listening to gossip is bearing false witness because it means being receptive to false understandings of things and possibly perpetuating them.

Every appearance of lack is a “false” fact and when we accept lack of any good we are bearing false witness against God. We are denying His omnipresence, His good will and that God is the Source of all. Every time we talk about poverty, illness, hate or even unhappiness we are stating that there is an absence of God in the situation. And the truth is there is no place where God is not present.

The appearance of lack or limitation in our lives or in the universe is nothing more than a mistake in thinking (bearing false witness in our mind). It may be caused by blindness or ignorance to the Truth principle that God is the Source of all. At any time we can change our thinking and change the appearance of lack or limitation to abundance.

We must learn to be true witnesses of God’s abundance not only for ourselves but for others also. We should contribute to public charities (not to be confused with tithing) and work for the alleviation of suffering but always clearly know the Truth that God never ordered it so, that we are just simply cleaning up man’s mistake of false thinking. When we do these things, the abundance of God will forever flow and bless us.

The Bible says:

“You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with the wicked to act as a malicious witness.” 

Exodus 23:1

“Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness speaks deceitfully.”

Proverbs 12:17

“For this I was born, and for this I have come to bear witness to the truth.”

Jn 18:37

“As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” 

1Ti 6:17

Unity says:

“Poverty is a form of hell caused by man’s blindness to God’s unlimited good for him.” 

Catherine Ponder, The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity

“To bear witness to Truth is to know who we are and to express our true selves honestly.” 

Eric Butterworth, Metamorality

“Lack is not prevalent in God’s universe and if such lack appears anywhere it is the work of man and it is our duty to do away with it.”

Charles Fillmore, Jesus Christ Heals

For practice:

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The tenth of the original commandments says, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maid servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, not anything that is thy neighbor’s.” The first four commandments have to do with right action with God while the last six have to do with right action with our fellow man. Right action with each other demands that we not kill, steal or lie. These are right actions in the outward physical realm, but not coveting has to do with the inner realm of mind—the right action of our thoughts.

Coveting is the main cause of killing, stealing or lying because of the law of mind action. The main cause for coveting is man’s failure to look to God as the source of his supply. For some reason we do not know or we forget that the supply of anything is limitless and that through faith in God as our source the form we desire can be reproduced endlessly. When we desire that which belongs to another we have cut off our own unlimited flow. We are consciously or unconsciously creating a false belief that God is unable to give us our heart’s desire. Every covetous thought is fundamentally a belief that there is not enough.

Georgiana tells us “Covetousness is another sure way to short-circuiting the spiritual energy on its way to manifestation. Again faith, the necessary condition of mind permitting God’s energy to move, is disrupted by the transferring of attention from God’s limitless supply to some man’s material possessions.”

There is nothing wrong with having desires. Desire is always the first indication of some good that God has in store for you. So the true message in this commandment is that we are to cease limiting ourselves by desiring what someone else has and to clearly claim our own from the divine source of supply. After all, God gave you the desire in the first place.

The Bible says:

“You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask.” 

Jas 4:2

“The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet;’ and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, Love your neighbor as yourself.” 

Ro 13:9

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” 

Lu 12:32

“Likewise all to whom God gives wealth and possessions and whom he enables to enjoy them, and to accept their lot and find enjoyment in their toil—this is the gift of God.” 

Ec 5:19

“And he said to them, ‘Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.’” 

Lu 12:15

Unity says:

“Man is a creative creature, but envy and covetousness lead to a loss of originality, uniqueness, and creativity.” 

Eric Butterworth, Metamorality

“Coveting leads to aggression, theft, murder, but that is not the worst of it. The worst effect it has is on the soul of man. Even if your coveting never leads you to take anything that does not belong to you, it undermines you and ultimately rots your soul. It shuts you off from God. Why? Because to covet something means that you do not understand the Law of Being…. You do not understand that whatever you are getting or lacking is an outpicturing and expression of your consciousness.” 

Emmett Fox, The Ten Commandments

For practice:

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Well, Power of Prosperity friends, we have come to the end of another great Unity prosperity book, Georgiana Tree West’s Prosperity’s Ten Commandments. As we look back over the past year’s study, we hope you enjoyed it. We now have over 1500 readers.

Because we have completed the Ten Commandments of Prosperity, this issue is an overview of our last year at the home office. Many things have changed this year. We kicked off our strategic plan for moving Unity into the future. As a part of this plan we introduced two new programs. “Practice of Thriving” is a study of Edwene Gaines’ book, The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity. “Practice of Thriving” is a free program you can download at www.thrivinginunity.org with the study guide and related materials. This, along with the “Thriving in Unity” program, can be done by individuals as well as ministries. You’ll find both programs and the strategic plan at this site.

Next year we will base this eletter on Eric Butterworth’s Spiritual Economics. The Prosperity Development Ministry Team, consisting of ministers, Licensed Unity Teachers and church laypeople will assist in writing this eletter in the next year. We appreciate their help and support. The eletter will arrive as always by the 15th of the month before it is due so you have it for your newsletters and sharing with friends.

Thank you all for joining me on this journey of prosperity and have a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous and Happy New Year.

Ideas for Practice:

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Prosperity Teachings

Rev. Edwene Gaines

This year, people in Unity all over the world will be studying 
monthly prosperity lessons from the Association of Unity Churches International. Each lesson is based on the book Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity by Rev. Edwene Gaines, the premier prosperity teacher in the Unity movement, who spoke at our church recently. Each lesson also includes related Bible passages, Unity teachings and ideas for putting prosperity principles to work in your life.

These lessons will be posted monthly as they are received. 

January: Faith

Faith is the acceptance by the intellect of the good God has in mind for each of us as it expresses through our Christ within. Catherine Ponders says, “Faith is a mind power and you are using it all the time. It constantly affects your health, wealth and happiness.” The extent to which you express health, wealth and happiness is Catherine’s definition of prosperity.

Faith is a deep conviction, a state of certainty, and a state of total assurance. Faith moves ideas in mind and causes them to express in our outer world. Jesus talked about faith and attributed the healings that he performed to the person’s faith. Jesus had unshakable faith in God and in man.

Sometimes our lack feels as though it is as solid as a mountain. Yet Jesus said we can move mountains with our faith. Charles Fillmore says; “Faith is the perceiving power of the mind with the power to shape substance. It is the magnetic substance that draws unto us our hearts desire from the invisible spiritual substance. Faith is a deep inner knowing that which is sought is already ours for the taking.
”
Where do we place our faith? We use it every moment of everyday whether we are conscious of it or not. Are you placing your faith in lack, ill health or doom? How do you develop faith? Faith is the result of training your mind to think in a way it never has before. The best way to do this is through affirming and affirming only the positive.

Listen to what you are repeatedly saying to yourself and others. (I am tired. I never have enough. It is cold season.) Now is the time to take a conscious inventory at the beginning of this new year and see where you have put your faith.

What the Bible says:

“Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘According to your faith let it be done to you.’”                                                                   Matt 9:29

“Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will be done.”                                                                  Matt 21:21

“Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.” 

                                                                                    Matt 21:22 

“He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”                                          Mark 5:34

“So the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in numbers daily.”                                                                Acts 16:5 

“So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.”                                                        Rom. 10:17 

“…so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.”                                                                            1Cor 2:5 

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”                                                                         Heb 11:1

What Unity says:

“Faith ceases to be the vague, illusive quality which traditional Christianity theorizes about, and that takes on a strong tangibility.” Myrtle Fillmore, in How to Let God Help You “Faith does not depend on physical facts, or on the evidence of the senses, because it is born on
intuition or the Spirit of truth ever living at the center of our being.”

Emily Cady, in Lessons in Truth: “Faith in the reality of the invisible builds a real, abiding substance in mind and in body. All kinds
of ideas grow quickly when planted in this rich substance of the mind.”

Ideas for practice:

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February: Love

It often seems as if there is not much love “around,” but the innate power of love is always there. Love is not just another emotion, a shifting mood, something we fall into or out of. 

Love is an inner quality that sees good everywhere and in everybody. It insists that all is good, and by refusing to see anything but good it causes that quality finally to appear uppermost in itself, and in all things.

Love expressing through us identifies us as children of one Father God. Love is an inherent power that, if expressed in one’s life, will transform every in-harmony, heal every dis-ease, change every negative condition and eliminate lack in our finances and in our lives everywhere. It is the magnet of the Universe. It draws to us all that we need to fulfill our mission of manifesting of his Divine Nature.

Love is the great harmonizer. When called upon, it can adjust all misunderstandings and make our life and affairs healthy, happy, harmonious, and free. Love is the greatest worker and will accomplish more for our happiness than all other faculties combined. 

Love in us enables us to practice the presence of God within, therefore “casting out” fears, which contribute to poverty, lack, ill health and adverse conditions. Love brings God closer and closer in our everyday life. We see life as it is truly meant to be lived.

What the Bible says:

“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”                     Rom 8:28

“Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.”                                    Rom 13:8

“Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”                                                                       1 Cor 13:4-7 

What Unity says:

“To release your prospering power of love put God first in your finances and do it with love.” 

Catherine Ponder, The Prospering Power of Love

“Love those about you in a practical way; pay no attention to what others are doing, in so far as to make comparisons. Bring forth your own joyous world. There is within you the God given intelligence to build such a world.”                       Myrtle Fillmore, How to Let God Help You

“Love is one of the ideas that provide a key to the infinite storehouse of abundance.”                                         Charles Fillmore, Prosperity

“It is the law of love that we have whatsoever we desire. As a father gives his children gifts, so the Lord gives to us, because of love.” 

Charles Fillmore, Prosperity

Ideas for practice:

Discuss this month’s ideas and practices with your prayer triad. Share your experiences and support one another on the journey. 

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March: Strength

The word strength means “to persist,” “to endure.” Strength is threefold. On the physical plane strength is power, energy and freedom from weakness in the body. On the mental plane, strength is the ability to achieve, lead, or to be an expert in one’s work. On the spiritual plane, strength is steadfastness to the belief in good. Spiritual strength persists in expecting good and refuses to settle for less than the very best in life.

Strength is related to substance. When challenges present themselves, whether in health, finances, love or joy they can be very draining on our physical and mental strength. But in affirming that we have the strength to meet them victoriously we call it into play. We persist in thought, word, and deed, in faith that good will manifest in our life and we settle for no less. Even when we feel that we are out of strength, we know the Source of all strength resides in us, only waiting for us to step forth. 

Remember that the hardest challenges and the heaviest burdens are our own negative thoughts. All strength originates in Spirit. Strength is developed through a sustained effort and comes from meditating on strength and affirming strength silently and aloud. The thought and the word “strength” spiritually expressed bring the manifestation of prosperity into our lives.

Accept and embrace the strength that is within you. It is yours to discover, to develop and to enjoy. After all, it is a gift and power of God.

What the Bible says:

“The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.”                                                                    Ex 15:2

“Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his presence continually!” 

1Chr 16:11

“And he answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’”                                            Lk 10:27

“I thank him who has given me strength for this, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful by appointing me to his service.” 

1Tim 1:12

What Unity says:

“Strength is the energy of God.”   Charles Fillmore, The Revealing Word 

“Supreme strength as demonstrated by Jesus can be attained by one who trusts in Spirit and conserves his vital substance.” 

Charles Fillmore, Keep a True Lent

“We cannot walk on the waves of life in our own personal strength. If we remember to call on the strength of Christ we are sustained by unlimited power.”                            Charles Fillmore Mysteries of John

Ideas for practice:

Discuss this month’s ideas and practices with your prayer triad. Be the strength for each other in those weak moments. Let them hold with you the idea of spiritual strength. Know it for each other. 

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April: Judgment/Wisdom

Charles Fillmore used these two words interchangeably when describing this deep inner power. From the Webster’s Dictionary, judgment is defined as the process of forming an opinion by discerning and comparing. But we often do more comparing than discerning which can lead to condemnation. When we attach a condemnation thought to this power we must remember that we experience the results of those judgments.

Webster also defines wisdom as the ability to discern inner qualities and relationships, a wise attitude or course of action. Wisdom is not to be confused with knowledge for “Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers.” Lord Alfred Tennyson

The keyword in both definitions is discernment. This power is how we discern good from evil, but only for ourselves. When we try to discern what is right or wrong for someone else, or when we condemn someone else, we are not using “right judgment.” Right judgment is only what is right for us personally.

In applying judgment/wisdom to the idea of prosperity it is also a discernment process. When life is not showing up the way we would like we must ask ourselves, “Am I using ‘right judgment,’ and am I accessing divine wisdom within me to meet this prosperity challenge?” 
Sometimes we think prosperity is only about finances or money. This is very limited wisdom. Prosperity shows up in many different forms; health, love, joy and peace. And if we judge money as the only form of prosperity we shut off the flow to these other forms.

What the Bible says:

“The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.”                                                          Luke 2:40 

“For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength…”            1Corinthians 1:25 

“He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption…”                                                      1 Corinthians 1:30 

“If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.”                         James 1:5

“For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get…”                           Matthew 7:2 

“Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." 

John 7:24 

What Unity says:

“The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable. When we call this right judgment into action, we may find our standards of right and wrong undergoing rapid changes and we shall be lead into righteousness.”                Charles Fillmore, The Twelve Powers of Man

“Judgment is spiritual discernment: the inner voice through whose expression we come into a larger realization of ourselves.” 

Charles Fillmore, Revealing Word

“All the wisdom and intelligence that we see in the universe is God. Wisdom is projected through the visible form. God as infinite wisdom lies within every human being, waiting to be lead forth into manifestation. This is true education.”      Emily Cady, Lessons in Truth

Ideas for practice: 

YOU “You did it again - you dumbbell – you went off and left all the lights in the house on again.”
“I” “It bothers me when the lights are left on in the house when no one is here. I wish they would be turned out every time someone leaves the house.”

Discuss this month’s ideas and practices with your prayer triad. Ask each other, “How have you been empowered by wisdom?”

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May: Power

All the power in the universe is God-power and humanity is the power of God in action. The mind, body, and especially the spoken word have power to transform energy from one plane of consciousness to another. This is the power and dominion implanted in humanity from the beginning.

Charles Fillmore tells us that our "power center' is based in our throat. This means the words we speak are charged with power. Words are the open door between the formless and the formed worlds. Jesus said the words he spoke were Spirit (formless) and Life (formed) and they went forth to do what they were sent to do_ Charles Fillmore also tells us, "Power is essential to the work that Jesus Christ expects His followers to do in the great field of humanity."

God spoke the universe into existence. First was the thought, then the words resulting in manifestation. And even if we don't consciously recognize it, we are doing the same thing every day of our lives. We are ever co-creating our own world with our words.

Science has now proven that every word man utters makes an imprint in the astral ethers, and when there is consciousness of God-life in the mind of the speaker; all her words become living identities and are perpetuated.

Therefore, when facing the appearance of lack, speak words of prosperity whether for finances, health, joy or love in our lives. Take on the feelings and emotions that you would have had it already been done. Because it is just a word away from being so.
What the Bible says:

In the first chapter of Genesis, every act of creation begins with "God said." Let there be light, let there be firmament, let there be water, let there be earth.

"And now, therefore, let the power of the Lord be great in the way that you promised when you spoke..."                                       Num 14:17

"But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, so that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your ancestors, as he is doing today."                                         Deut 8:18

"Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies..." 

1 Pet 4:11

What Unity says:

"Power is released by merely stating words of life, health, vitality. The body can be renewed, even transformed through the spoken word. Owing to the vibratory power of words, whatever man decrees, that he releases within himself and within his world." 

Catherine Ponder, The Healing Secrets of the Ages

"As we realize we are God's children, that we have power and authority to think and speak the good and true and to have it manifest in harmonious relations and pleasant surroundings, we no longer invite or submit to in harmony, misunderstandings or limitations." 

Myrtle Fillmore, How to Let God Help You

"The command is: Go to every nation and preach the gospel. Man should apply the power of the word to his individual redemption, and he should speak the redeeming word of Spirit to the multitudinous thought people of his own soul and body." 

Charles Fillmore, The Twelve Powers of Man

Ideas for practice:

Discuss these practices and any new ideas with your prayer triad. In what ways can you offer support for one another as you study power? Pray with each other for the month.

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June: Imagination

Your imagination is among your most creative mind powers. You are always creating through your imaging faculty. By deliberately directing your imagination towards what you want you can begin to transform your life. Through your thinking, you accumulate a mass of ideas and with your imagination you make them come into a definite form of prosperity. 

Charles Fillmore tells us that, “With our imagination we lay hold of ideas and clothe them in substance.” Through our imagination we behold things in spiritual essence, in true perfection. The imagination is the universal language as it pertains to a language of pictures. A picture of a cup of water is understood by people of every language. How are you clothing your prosperity? With lack or abundance?

There are two basic uses of imagination—conditioned and open-ended. Conditioned imagination concentrates on what you want. Seeing it, speaking it, imagine yourself with it. This can work in quick and spectacular ways but it can be limiting. Getting a lot of what other people already have is not proof of a “prosperity consciousness.” It is important to stay open and receptive to what God has in mind for you. In the open-ended use you don’t just ask for those things you already know exist but for those ideas that are not yet manifested into the material. This is the realm in which all new things are created. This is the realm of prosperity. 

We are created in the image of God and we have the power to create mental images that then can be brought into the physical plane. This does take focus plus the support of the power of faith, wisdom and understanding. Together these powers can create prosperity in the form of peace, joy, health, love and the new heaven on earth.

What the Bible says:

“The wealth of the rich is their strong city; in their imagination it is like a high wall.”                                                             Proverbs 18: 11

"Go, do all that you have in mind; for the Lord is with you." 

2 Samuel 7:3

“Truly the thing that I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me.”                                                                                 Job 3:25 

“If there is anything worth praise, think [imagine] on these things.”

Phil. 4:8

What Unity says:

“You never outgrow your picturing power of mind (imagination). It is with you from birth to death and you should stay busy using it constructively. You should constantly be picturing something better than the best of what you are now experiencing.” 

Catherine Ponder, The Healing Secrets of the Ages

“It is our imagination that gives us the hope of being more than what we seem to be. Imagination is the creative faculty of mind, and many of the most useful, productive, and extraordinary works in the world of us human beings begin as works of imagination.” 

James Dillet Freeman, Imagination: The Wondrous Power of Conception, New Thought for a New Millennium

“When people say, ‘It’s all your imagination.’ They seem to mean it is nothing. On the contrary, imagination is probably the most powerful faculty of the human mind and thousands of practical men today know that what the mind images becomes experience and fact.” 

Dr. Phineas P. Quimby, The Quimby Manuscripts

“What man pictures or imagines in his mind will eventually appear in the body. In the communication of God with man, the imaging power of the mind plays an important part. It receives divine ideas and reflects their character into the consciousness.” 

Charles Fillmore, The Revealing Word

Ideas for practice: 

Discuss these practices and any new ideas with your prayer triad and how they can apply to your prosperity. In what ways can you offer support for one another as you study imagination? Pray with each other for the month.

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July: Understanding

Webster’s dictionary defines “understanding” as the mental quality of comprehension, discernment, or the ability to think and learn. Intellectual understanding usually means knowledge independent of feeling. It is literal knowledge without the consideration of Spirit.

Fillmore defines “understanding” on two levels. First, it is that in man that comprehends and knows in wisdom. He then goes a step higher to define “spiritual understanding” as that quickening of the Spirit within. It is the ability of the mind to apprehend and realize the laws of thought and the relation of ideas to one another. 

Spiritual understanding is developed in many ways—no two people have exactly the same experience. Some come to it like Saul in a blinding flash while others receive it gently and harmoniously. Either way, spiritual understanding leads us to live with the awareness of God and to depend upon and expect from God the good that shows up as prosperity. We are children of God, who desires to give us the kingdom of heaven. With this spiritual understanding, faith in God’s goodness never waivers.

Understanding comes natural to us. It expresses as intuitive knowing, which comes from the “still, small voice” within. Your intuition, or inner teacher, is your highest form of understanding. Listen to that still small voice. Be aware when you know something and you cannot pinpoint where you learned it. This is your intuition kicking in. This is spiritual understanding.

What the Bible says:

“Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she [wisdom] is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.”                                     Prov 3:13-14

“My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.”                                                                   Ps 49:3 

“Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.”                                                              Ps 119:34 

“And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”

1Jn 5:20

What Unity says:

“A new flood of life comes to those who open their hearts and minds to understanding. It raises the atomic vibration of the organism above the usual disintegrating thought currents of the earth.” 

Catherine Ponder, The Healing Secrets of the Ages

“If you would grow in understanding of spiritual things, become as a little child and let the universal Spirit of good teach you. Do not strain your intellect in trying to understand the mighty questions of life; wait until you have developed faculties which can comprehend them.” 

Myrtle Fillmore, How to Let God Help You

“It is enough to know that the understanding is opened in both head and heart when man gives himself wholly to the Lord.” 

Charles Fillmore, The Twelve Powers of Man

“You must first enter into your power of understanding that God, omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient, is the source and that you can draw on this source without limit.”         Charles Fillmore, Prosperity

“The development of your mind power of understanding is one of the most advanced metaphysical developments you can make! You can heal your body; have peace of mind and total abundance in your life.”

Catherine Ponder, The Healing Secrets of the Ages

Ideas for practice:

Discuss these practices and any new ideas with your prayer triad and how they can apply to your prosperity. In what ways can you offer support for one another as you study imagination? Pray with each other for the month.

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August: Will

Webster’s dictionary defines “will” as “a choice or determination of one having authority or power; mental power manifesting as choosing, desiring or intending.” This power (or authority) was given to man by God. God gave us free will. What we choose, what we desire or what our intentions create is up to us. The will moves into action over all of the other powers. Unless we are willing, nothing happens. You must be willing to step forward in life, led by the still small voice. We exercise the will through our choices.

Your will is all important. It is necessary for you to express health, wealth, and happiness. It is not to be broken but disciplined and directed. The will is quick to follow either one of two leaders. The leader in the outer form is the personal ego. The leader in the inner is the Christ within. Whichever of these is stronger directs the will. This explains why some, whom we consider to be highly spiritual individuals, sometimes show egocentric tendencies in some areas of their lives.

God’s will for us is unchanging, and it is absolute good. To submit our will to God in the belief that we won’t really like it is a negative use of the faculty of will. The sickness, suffering, and death that people experience are not punishments from God but results of broken law, or separation from God. The law is absolute good expressing as perfect health, joy, love, and abundance. When the will allows thoughts to stray from this law the result is sickness, suffering, emptiness and lack.

Dr. Barbara King says, “As we raise our consciousness through the Godward direction of our power of will, we find that we become pioneers in the movement of a new order in this new millennium.” A new heaven on earth.

What the Bible says:

“And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous."                                                      Gen 17:2 

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Matt 6:10 

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”

Matt 7:21 

“…for she said to herself, ‘If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.’”

Matt 9:21 

“For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” 

Matt 12:50

What Unity says:

“Every organ of the body is affected by the action of the will.” 

Catherine Ponder, The Healing Secrets of the Ages

“Directing our power of will onto things other than God, results in a much talked-about state of mind that therapy has called co-dependency.” 

Dr. Barbara King, New Thought for a New Millennium edited by Michael Maday

“Many sincere Christians have tried to follow in the way of Jesus, and they have negatively submitted their will to God. But they have not attained the power or authority of Jesus by doing so. The reason is that they have not raised their will to the positive spiritual degree. Jesus was not negative in any of his faculties, and He did not teach a doctrine of submission.” 

Charles Fillmore, The Twelve Powers of Man

“A tragic mistake that is often made by orthodox religious people is to assume that the will of God for them is bound to be something very dull and uninviting, if not positively unpleasant… The Truth is that the will of God for us always means greater freedom, greater self expression, wider, newer brighter experiences; better health, greater prosperity, wider opportunity of service to others, and a life more abundant.”

Emmet Fox, The Sermon on the Mount

Ideas for practice:

1. Seek personal truth. We must live beyond the ego and get in touch with the heart. Intellect is not enough. Cultivate daily relaxation, meditation, prayer and spiritual study. Place your journal nearby and note what comes up in these times. Ask the question, “Thy will or mine be done?” Journal what comes up for you.

2. Stay on course. Positive change begins with the individual. God never overrides our will, even if it is divided and conflicted. Whenever the question, “What good can I bring about?” is replaced by “How can I get my own way?” the will is being directed by the ego rather than God. Think about a situation in which you have experienced difficulty. What did you really want in it? Try asking yourself this question repeatedly until you get a sense of which basic question was orienting your will. If you find your response was ego motivated, what would it take to shift to God’s direction? Stay with it until you feel a shift. This process can also be helpful when written out in your journal.

3. Cultivate an awareness of your human resources. A sense of shared humanity with all people teaches us the value of each of us and the gifts we all bring. Consider what it would look like to have your will more closely directed by God. What would your next steps be? Take this into prayer, considering the possibility of being in closer community with others on this path or those who would stretch you on this path. Discuss any new ideas with your prayer triad. In what ways can you offer support for one another as you study will? Pray with each other for the month.

4. Develop and maintain a sense of destiny. Great leaders inspire others to the degree that they are able to reach into the future. Try memorizing one of the passages above that has special meaning for you. Use it throughout the day when you have a spare moment. Take it into prayer, slowly “chewing” on the words until their meaning begins to seep into your heart. What insights do you have about the power of the will?

5. Become involved in life. Knowing the Truth is not enough you must practice the Truth you know. Try serving others in such a way that getting your way takes a back seat to serving God in others. This may take place in your church, your work, or at home. 

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September: Order

Webster’s dictionary defines “order” as “to put people or things in their proper places in relationship to each other.” Order is described as the first law of the universe. This power is a mind power, an inner power first. 

The primary function of order is to set things in right relationship to each other. For example, Jesus said, “Seek ye first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things shall be yours also.” By setting up the right relationship of seeking first the kingdom, we are putting into action the first law of prosperity.

Internal order results in external order. When we think things are out of order in our lives we often try to re-establish it with rules and laws, which can become graven images. By putting these manmade regulations before God, even more disorder occurs. It happens because we’ve upset the law of order, or the right relationship.

The quickest way to bring order is to claim divine order in all of our affairs—to seek first the kingdom. This can work quickly, but it also can take a great deal of time. Sometimes lack of orderly thought is responsible for delayed demonstrations. We block our own prosperity. We cannot accept our good until our consciousness is ready. This is why order is defined as a mind power. It must begin first in mind.

Catherine Ponder says, “One of the highest forms of prayer is to give thanks for divine order in your mind, body, and affairs, even if it is not there yet.” In doing this we first gain a sense of peace, power and control of our mind and emotions. Then we may feel compelled to do things in the outer to bring outer affairs into order. Look for, expect, and give thanks for divine order often. And see prosperity flow.

What the Bible says:

“Every sabbath day Aaron shall set them in order before the Lord regularly as a commitment of the people of Israel, as a covenant forever.”                                                                            Lev 24:8

“Answer me, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.”                                                                              Job 33:5

“…also said to the king of Israel, "Inquire first for the word of the Lord.”

1Kings 22:5

“The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head.”                                                       Mark 4:28

What Unity says: 

“The divine idea of order is the idea of adjustment, and as this is established in man’s thoughts, his mind and affairs will be at one with the universe in harmony.”             Charles Fillmore, The Revealing Word

“Order is the affirming power, the recognizing power that God is in charge and all is well.”              

Michael Maday, New Thought for a New Millennium

“Divine order will be expressed in your work when you have faith in God. Your hours will be filled with good, profitable work. You will find opportunity to encourage and help those whom the Father may send, and in this way, you see, you will be keeping your part of the universal law of prosperity and opening channels through which greater good will come.” 

 Myrtle Fillmore, How to Let God Help You

“We can achieve order and harmony in every aspect of our lives with a habit of neatness. As we de-clutter our lives, we signal the universe that we are ready to handle more good.” 

Edwene Gaines, The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity

Ideas for practice: 

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October: Zeal/Enthusiasm

Webster’s dictionary defines “enthusiasm” as “something inspiring zeal or fervor.” It defines “zeal” as “Eagerness and ardent interest in pursuit of something.” Zeal is the inward fire of the soul that urges man onward, regardless of the intellectual mind of caution and conservation. Zeal/enthusiasm incites to achieve aims and ideals that the mind conceives. 

One of the most remembered statements from Charles Fillmore is, “I fairly sizzle with zeal and enthusiasm and spring forth with a mighty faith to do that which is mine to do.” Charles was 94 years old. The important point in this statement is “spring forth with faith for that which was mine to do.” Many let their enthusiasm run rampant and uncontrolled to the point that they are taking care of their own spiritual growth. Zeal or enthusiasm should be tempered with the power of wisdom/judgment. This is the discerning what is mine to do that Charles talks about. We must always remember the first thing that is ours to do is our own spiritual growth, our own walk with God.

Zeal is the affirmative impulse of existence; its command is “Go forward.” Through this impulse man forms many states of mind that he tires of soon. These ideas may have served a good purpose in its time but as man catches sight of higher things zeal urges him forward to attainment. Think of the advancements man made in just the 20th century.

Inner Zeal is the power that transforms. This power incites the other mind powers to greater and greater development of a prosperity consciousness. It is what gives color to our life. Without zeal life is without zest, it would stagnate and die. Zeal directed inwardly is constant, lasting durable, quiet and peaceful. 

What the Bible says:

“Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, and serve the Lord.” 

Romans 12:11 

“For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative.”              2Corinthians 8:17 

“Render service with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not to men and women, 8 knowing that whatever good we do, we will receive the same again from the Lord, whether we are slaves or free.”       Ephesians 6: 7

It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.                                                                    Proverbs 19:2 

What Unity says:

“Energy is zeal set in motion and words of praise stir up this energy.”

Catherine Ponder, The Healing Secret of the Ages

“The energy of zeal propels a continuous movement of change, for always the waters of the river are changing and new.” 

Christopher Jackson, New Thought for a New Millennium

“In the new economy we shall serve for the joy of serving, and prosperity will flow to us and through us in rippling streams of plenty. The supply and support that love and zeal set in motion are not largely used by man, but those who have tested this method are loud in their praise of its efficiency.”             

Charles Fillmore, Atom Smashing Power of the Mind

Ideas for practice:

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November: Renunciation/Elimination

Webster’s defines “renunciation” as the act of refusing to follow, obey, or recognize any longer.” Similarly, it defines “elimination” as “the act of expelling or setting aside as no longer important.” This is an inward and outward power. Not releasing in the mind tends to constrict the entire body.

It is no surprise that Charles Fillmore made November the month of elimination. The power in December is life or the rebirth of the Christ within. To have this happen successfully, we must eliminate that which does not serve. We must make room for the prosperous life we are meant to have.

This is the “let go, and let God” power. According to quantum physics, two things cannot occupy the same space at the same time, and we want to remember that thoughts are things. We cannot hold a positive and negative thought at the same time.

We can release ideas, fears, memories, and people that no longer serve. We can change our minds, our beliefs and our lives. But first, we must be willing. Letting go takes courage, but it gives us freedom. When not filled with fearful or negative thoughts, our minds are freed to be creative and open to new channels of prosperity. So friends, let go and let God.

The power of will, when partnered with elimination, cleanses and prepares our minds for new ideas, new beliefs, and new understandings about our own prosperity.

Have a happy and prosperous Thanksgiving.

What the Bible says:

“Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’”              Mt 18:3

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”                                          Ro 12:2

“Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”

Is 43:18

“From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see everything has become new!”                                                                         2 Cor 5:16-17

What Unity says:

“Renunciation is the letting go of old thoughts in order that new thoughts may find a new place in consciousness.” 

Charles Fillmore, Revealing Word

“The mind power of renunciation not only eliminates the old, but expands the new. It will not leave you desolate, if you do your part. It not only takes something from you, but it gives something to you.”

Catherine Ponder, The Healing Secrets of the Ages

“You will never lose anything through release but simply open the way for the good of all to manifest.” 

Catherine Ponder, The Healing Secret of the Ages

“If we could renounce those nervous glances backward and forward and instead trust the natural flow of life as the crab, the tadpole and the butterfly do. How much easier our own transformation would be!”

Rosemary Fillmore Rhea, New Thought for a New Millennium

“Thinking habitually about people, their actions and their human limitations, tends to bind one to personal consciousness.” 

Myrtle Fillmore, How to Let God Help You

For practice:

(adapted from Mary Mrozowski, quoted in Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening, by Cynthia Bourgeault)

What does this prayer bring up for you? Which statement(s) is hardest to say? In your journal, write a letter to God, stating anything that comes up for you in this prayer. 

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December: Life

Webster’s defines “life” as 1.a principle or force that is considered to underlie the distinctive quality of animated beings; 2.the period of time between birth and death. Charles Fillmore defines life as the expression of being which manifests as animation, activity or vigor. He goes on to tell us that life is not a period of time. Life is. Life does not come and go. Life can neither be created nor destroyed. Life can change form or vibration so its appearance to us can be different but it never ceases.

Life is divine and spiritual. Its source is God Spirit. The flow of life is within man in his spiritual consciousness. He can be quickened with new life and vitalized in body only by consciously connecting to Spirit through prayer and meditation. Life is how God expresses the other eleven powers in us. Prosperity can be quickened in the same way.

With this precious gift of life, our creator has built into all of us the faculties we need to bless us with life more abundant. God did not bless us with his life in order that we should suffer and be inadequate in expressing His likeness. We were designed for happy, successful, healthy, worthwhile, prosperous living. 

We often think of December as the month to give gifts. God has given us the ultimate gift in the power and expression of life, which is eternal. Life is a many faceted gift, coming to us as health, prosperity, and success, all of which are necessary to growth in consciousness. But like any other gift, it is up to us what we do with it. Living with a lack or limited thought pattern diminishes the gift of life. With life being the greatest gift of all, “Live the life you love and love the life you live.”

So now we have spent a year looking at how our twelve powers affect our prosperity. Have you come to any new insights? We are beloved children of a rich and loving Father whose great pleasure is to give us all we need to live this life and live it abundantly. 

What the Bible says:

“As your life was precious today in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the Lord, and may he rescue me from all tribulation.” 

1 Sa 26:24 

“The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”                                                                            Job 33:4 

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”                                  Jn 10:10

“You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”                        Ps 16:11 

“For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.”                                                   Jn 5:26 


What Unity says:

“Life does not emanate from the mind; it is not a psychic or purely mental quality, nor does it spring from the physical.” 

Charles Fillmore, Revealing Word

“The real source of life is within you.” 

Charles Fillmore, Keep a True Lent

“If you ever doubt that life is a mind power, just take the word ‘life’ and declare it over and over. You will feel a new surge of enthusiastic life well up within you.”  Catherine Ponder, The Healing Secrets of the Ages

“To think intently upon ‘life’ is to quicken it in action. To talk about energy, force, and power will cause the life current to flow swiftly throughout the whole being. So forget about growing old and begin to really live!”              Catherine Ponder, The Healing Secrets of the Ages

“Praise is the key to the increase of life activity. If you depreciate your life you decrease your consciousness of life.” 

Charles Fillmore, Mysteries of Genesis

“We can and must help others to catch the higher vision of living, the development of soul qualities that make life a beautiful and helpful experience.”                          Myrtle Fillmore, How to Let God Help You


For practice:

January: Divine Purpose

In Edwene Gaines' book, The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity, she 
identifies four key laws of prosperity. We are starting with the 
fourth principle first, with the idea of "beginning with the end in 
mind." That law is Divine Purpose.

Our divine purpose is found in doing that which is joyful for us, as 
well as knowing we are aligned with God. The most inspiring purpose 
for the individual or the church is also found through discernment 
(opening to the leading of God) and following the guidance of the 
Christ within. The purpose, akin to a mission, is something you will 
always be working on, and it will never be completed. Your divine 
purpose is that which you were sent to this time and place to do. An 
example of personal purpose is: To understand and connect with God in myself and others. Your church's purpose is synonymous with your 
mission.

If we are aligned with God in what we are doing, and we are joyful in 
it, it cannot help but prosper. The universe honors an intention that 
is aligned with God. The other side of this is that if something is 
not working for you, is your purpose in it aligned with the divine 
purpose? Once you know your divine purpose, this is a good test for 
any endeavor.

What the Bible says:

"I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can 
be thwarted."                                                                     Job 42:2

"I cry to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me." 

Psalm 57:2

"But he said to them, `I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom 
of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose.'" 

Luke 4:43

"But by refusing to be baptized by him, the Pharisees and the lawyers 
rejected God's purpose for themselves."                               Luke 7:30

What Unity's co-founder Charles Fillmore says:

"Purpose gives life real meaning. Purpose gives joy and zest to 
living. When our eye is on the goal we are not so easily perturbed. 
Purpose awakens new trains of thought; purpose directs these trains 
of thought into new fields of achievement. Really to succeed we must 
have some great purpose in mind, some goal toward which we are to 
work. But above all, we must always purpose in our heart to achieve 
spiritually." 

Charles and Cora Fillmore, Teach Us to Pray 

"All things should be done with purpose, with pleasure as a 
concomitant only. Pleasure lends zest to all action, but it should 
never be exalted to the high place of consciousness." 

Charles Fillmore, The Twelve Powers of Man

Ideas for practice:

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February: Divine Purpose

This month, we continue to focus on our divine purpose. Clearly, our purpose is connected to our prosperity. In the following passages, we can see that our ability to find success in our endeavors is to align with God. Sometimes, this may appear to be the difficult way to go. Yet, ultimately, God is working out the divine purpose in us, and it can do nothing but succeed. Working against it will only lead to dead ends and an energy drain. In the long run, this is the more difficult way. As we work in alignment with God, we know that the flow of prosperity continues to circulate. The channels for good are clear as we work in the same direction as God's purpose. This is why alignment with our divine purpose is so important to prosperity.

What the Bible says:

"The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever…"                                                        Psalms 138:8

"The human mind may devise many plans, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established."                                     Proverbs 19:21

"We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose."                 Romans 8:28

"For the scripture says to Pharaoh, `I have raised you up for the very purpose of showing my power in you, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.'"                                          Romans 9:17

What Fillmore says:

"People everywhere on earth are now realizing as never before that the well-being of this world rests with its inhabitants. It is no longer religious dogma or a philosophical theory that the destiny of the race is in the hands of man. God has given all things to us to use as we shall determine." 

Atom-Smashing Power of the Mind

"The real object of life is not making money or becoming famous, but the building of character, the bringing forth of the potentialities that exist in every one of us." 

Prosperity

Ideas for practice:

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March: Divine Purpose

By now you are working with the idea of your divine purpose. Have you discovered for yourself a purpose? For some people, it may come as an "aha!" experience, while others will experience a growing 
awareness over time. God shows up in many ways.

In any case, this is the final month for this particular law of 
prosperity as outlined in The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity. It 
is a time to continue to deepen the sense of alignment with God in 
the direction we take in our lives. It is this alignment that leads 
to our prosperity and success in any endeavor. The divine purpose for 
this world is wonderful beyond all our imagining, yet we can dream of 
our own part in that grand purpose. And as the song says, "if we can 
dream it, we can do it." We can connect to our joy, a sure sign that 
we are aligning with our best and highest.

You are ever in my prayers for abundant joy.

What the Bible says:

"…My purpose shall stand, and I will fulfill my intention…" 

Isaiah 46:10

"…so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not 
return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and 
succeed in the thing for which I sent it."                           Isaiah 55:11

"Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord 
Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no 
divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the 
same purpose."                                                     1 Corinthians 1:10

What Fillmore says:

"It is your mission to express all that you can imagine God to be." 

Talks on Truth

"This is the first step in the fall of man—the belief that he can act 
wisely without first knowing the plan of God." 

Keep a True Lent

"Man must go back to his Source and let its clear light flood his 
whole being with Truth. He must lay aside forever the idea of serving 
two masters and must look to the one Master, even Christ, the 
spiritual consciousness within… It is the mission of every man born 
into the world to fulfill the law of Being…" 

Keep a True Lent

Ideas for practice:

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April: Goals

Now that you've had a chance to deepen your thinking and prayer concerning your divine purpose, our monthly prosperity lesson turns to setting goals. Your goals will support your divine purpose and bring it into more specific manifestation. 

It is true that God knows exactly what we need before we even ask for it. Yet we are told to ask nevertheless. Setting goals is akin to asking. By setting specific goals, we hold in mind and in prayer an image that draws us forward. If you have a sense of your divine purpose, congratulations! If not, continue to hold that in prayer, and keep moving forward by setting goals based on your joy in life. 

These lessons, taken from Unity's best prosperity teachers and authors, are being studied by spiritual seekers all over the world 

Setting Goals:

Why are goals so important for prosperity? As Catherine Ponder put it in Dare to Prosper, "… the mind is the connecting link between man and the rich but unformed substance of the universe. If you never think definitely about the prosperous results you desire, no mental contact is made with the rich substance of the universe." 

It may seem obvious that goals help us to focus our energy toward accomplishing what we want to do. The more specific, the better. But how does this work for us spiritually? Taking the time to get specific about what we want is one of the best gifts we can give ourselves and the world. When we take time to connect with what it is we really want, not just what's been programmed for us by others or by our position in life, we re-establish the connection with our deeper yearnings. We make contact with the rich substance of the universe.

If you think about setting goals, you know that in order to do so, you must have an understanding of who you are and your own capabilities and resources. Prosperity means having what you need, when you need it, whether material or intangible. In order to set goals, then, we start by connecting with our own identity in God. We are the Beloved, the Chosen of God. As such, our goals aligned with God have the mark of success.

This is where God comes in. It's a cycle: the more we are aligned with God's purpose, the more we can envision how we can manifest that purpose through our goals, the more likely we are to live and manifest our highest good, and the more we are aligned with God's purpose. 

What the Bible says:

"And a voice came from heaven, `You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.'"                                                     Mark 1:11

"No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit."                 1 John 4:12-13

"As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience."      Col. 3:12

What Charles Fillmore says:

"Living in the super-consciousness calls for nothing less on our part than a definite recognition of ourselves as sons of God right here right now, regardless of appearances to the contrary." 

Atom-Smashing Power of the Mind

"We are to be the very light itself and we can only be the light by becoming so pure that it cannot help but shine through us…We are all the chosen of the Lord and we make the covenant that carries us into His visible presence by laying down the personal man and taking up the universal man."                                                     Jesus Christ Heals

"If we do not affirm our son-ship, with all its privileges and powers, we are sure to belittle ourselves and make limitations that prevent us from entering into the fullness of the Godhead."                Mysteries of John

"In love God gave His only begotten Son, the fullness of the perfect-man idea in Divine Mind, the Christ, to be the true, spiritual self of every individual."                                                Mysteries of John

Ideas for practice:

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May: Set and Reach Your Prosperity Goals

Last month, we focused on our beloved identity in God, because it is that love that carries us through to completion of our goals. Our success is assured when we are aligned with God. We also know that as we set goals, we are creating a picture of what we want. This is a way of holding thoughts in mind that will manifest for us. As we do so, we attract all the resources we need to achieve that goal. Getting specific about what we want and the resources required will help us to work in the flow of the universe and its supply. 

What are your desires? You tuned into those in the section on Divine Purpose—can you make them more specific? A wise person said that when you feel a desire, it is God’s way of knocking on the door of the heart. This month, we again focus on what brings joy and connection with God in order to see our specific goals.

What the Bible says:

“… your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matt. 6:8
“Those who speak on their own seek their own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and there is nothing false in him.”                                                                           John 7:18

“Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”                                                                          Phil. 3:12

“…and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”                                                                              Romans 5:5

What Charles Fillmore says:

“Wrapped up within each of us is a great richness of thoughts. These thoughts are prisoners in the sub-consciousness only waiting to be set free to go to work for us. They are waiting for the coming of the Son of God, who releases prisoners and sets the captives free. This Son is now seeking expression in you; is you. Release your rich thoughts, set free your innate powers, and take from the rich substance of the Father what you will.”                                                                         Prosperity

 
“If you can convince yourself that you are a son of God, your next step is to declare it in word and to carry it out in the acts of your daily life.”

 Talks on Truth

“You are primarily a spiritual being, the expression of God’s perfection, the receptacle of His love; and when you think and act in the consciousness of perfection and love, you cannot help being open to the influx of God’s love and the fulfillment of His divine purpose.”

Jesus Christ Heals

Ideas for practice:

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June: Set and Reach Your Prosperity Goals

This month, we complete our focus on setting goals. Do you have your goals in mind? Do you have an understanding of your divine purpose? These are both important steps in achieving the prosperity consciousness we desire.

We are reminded that whatever we think about is what we become. That is why goals are so important. Besides, the more we connect in prayer with God, our divine purpose, and our goals, the greater our success in achieving our goals.

Clearly, the Bible underlines the power of prayer. But it also keeps us remembering that prayer combined with action is the key to manifestation. While continuing to practice prayer, this month we will take action toward our goals and find ways to remove any roadblocks we may have. Our prosperity is sure when we pray and act in concert with God.

What the Bible says:

“Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.”           Matt. 18:19

“So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”                                       Mark 11:24

“Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.”                                               Matt. 7:7

“So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”                    Col. 3:1

What Fillmore says:

“You are Spirit, the Son of God, and your place is at the right hand of the Father. To realize this is to call down upon yourself the baptism of the Holy Spirit…”                                                        Talks on Truth

“If your prosperity does not become manifest as soon as you pray and affirm God as your substance, your supply, and your support, refuse to give up. Show your faith by keeping up the work.”                Prosperity 

“This law operates in every department of being. Those who seek the things that the material realm has to offer usually find them. Those who strive for moral excellence usually attain that goal. Those who aspire to spiritual rewards are also rewarded. The law is that we get what we want and work for, and all experience and history have proved it a good law.”                                                                 Prosperity

Ideas for practice:

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July: Forgiveness

This month, we start on another law of prosperity, forgiveness. This is truly a spiritual practice that challenges us to move beyond the bounds of our ego. How is it connected to prosperity? As we defined it, prosperity is the condition of having what we need when we need it. It encompasses strength, health, material goods, healthy relationships, anything we need for fullness of life or to realize the kingdom of God.
When we are holding onto a perceived unfairness or hurtful deed, we damage our ability to enjoy this fullness of life. Forgiveness helps us to become a clean vessel to hold all the good God has for us. It restores us to a right relationship with the Christ within as well as with others in our lives.

We can forgive. Lewis Smedes, in his little gem of a book, Forgive and Forget, says that forgiveness for deep wounds has four stages:

1. We feel the hurt when someone has done something we cannot forget and are pushed into the “crisis of forgiveness; 

2. We feel hate that keeps us from wishing our “enemy” well and often want that person to suffer as we did;

3. Healing—we see the person with new eyes, our memory is healed, and the pain has stopped—we are free again;

4. Coming together—we invite that person back into our life, if he/she comes back honestly and both of us harmonize our hearts and words with reality. 

The fourth step is not always necessary, and depends on both persons.
Sometimes our prayer is simply to have the willingness to forgive. Or we may not feel ready to forgive in this moment, but we can ask the Christ within to do so. Wherever you are in the process, it is important to your own health and prosperity.

Edwene Gaines reminds us that lack of forgiveness is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die. Getting past stage 2 can be a major challenge, but we must persist. Forgiveness is not necessarily a one time event—we may need to do it repeatedly before we are truly cleansed of the hurt.

What the Bible says:

“Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.”                                                                   Mark 11:25

“But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” he said to the one who was paralyzed “I say to you, stand up and take your bed and go to your home.”               Luke 5:24

“Then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to their fathers.”      1 Kings 8:34

Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.”                                                Matt 18: 21-22

What Fillmore says: 

“But we must recognize the unity of the race in Christ and include all people in our forgiving.”                                        Jesus Christ Heals 

“If we forgive others we shall be forgiven, and the penalty of suffering for sins will be eliminated.” J                                  Jesus Christ Heals

“Sin: missing the mark, that is, falling short of divine perfection.” 

 The Revealing Word 

Ideas for practice:  

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August: Forgiveness

Remember that forgiveness is like peeling an onion. We may start with the outer layers, and then find that there is more that we didn’t consciously realize. You will know you have forgiven completely when you can speak about the incident without any negative energy. It takes ruthless honesty to know when forgiveness is complete.

Over the many years since the founding of Unity, many people have experienced the need to forgive. Charles Fillmore sat for 2 hours every evening working on forgiveness. Twelve-Step spirituality includes it as one of the steps. When it was adapted it for the Master Mind process, forgiveness found a place there as well.

Clearly, it is central to Christianity and to the teachings of Unity. In the prosperity principle, we learn that as we give we also receive. The Bible also equates the giving of forgiveness to receiving it. Jesus taught forgiveness as a way to freedom and healing. We know that judgment is something that only God can do, so we find ourselves healed in letting go of the job that is not ours. Through forgiveness, we loosen our grip on our ego self being in control, and allow God to be God.

In Against an Infinite Horizon, Ronald Rollheiser says, “We are the ongoing incarnation of God, the anointed ones of God, Christ.” He goes on to say that this incarnation, we as Christ, gives us the power to give healing and forgiveness as Jesus did. “If we forgive someone, that person is forgiven because Christ is forgiving him or her. If children of ours, or anyone else we love, no longer go to church, our love for them and their love for us bind them solidly to the body of Christ.”

Forgiveness is a powerful thing, and we have the authority to forgive as Christ.

What the Bible says:

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”     Luke 6:37

“He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free.”                   Luke 4:18

“Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.”                                       Rom 14:4

What Fillmore says:

“The next step is to put your selfishness away. There cannot be two in the kingdom. It is the kingdom of God, and man must give up.” 

Jesus Christ Heals 

“In denying the reality of sin, send out your freeing thought to others as well as to yourself. Do not hold anyone in bondage to the thought of sin. If you do, it will pile up and increase in power according to the laws of mental action.”                                                  Jesus Christ Heals

“True repentance is always followed by forgiveness, which is a complete wiping out of the error thought from consciousness and a full deliverance from the inharmony that the error thought has produced.”

Mysteries of Genesis 

“If anyone tries to free himself while holding others in the thought of sin, he will not demonstrate his freedom.”                Jesus Christ Heals

Ideas for practice:

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September: Forgiveness

Forgiveness is in itself a powerful tool for transformation. This is clearly demonstrated in the Bible through the many healings that Jesus did in which he forgave people. Relationships and community are one of the main ways that God has given us for transformation. As we are in relationship, we are brought face to face with our ego-self, and called to a higher way.

A framework for keeping our relationships in good shape is found in Renovation of the Heart, by Dallas Willard. There are four major elements:

1. See ourselves as whole, just as God sees us.

2. Abandon our defensiveness—we do not hide or follow strategies to look good.

3. As we let go of pettiness as in 1 and 2, genuine love predominates.

4. Devote our life to service.

Sometimes our lack of forgiveness for others reflects our lack of it for ourselves. This month we will also think about forgiving ourselves as an important step in forgiving others. As we come to wholeness through realizing we are worthy of forgiveness in the eyes of Christ within, we are healed and free. We have come into the right relationship with ourselves and others around us when we forgive, and have realized the perfection to which God calls us. 

Prosperity can only be ours if there is room in our hearts. Through forgiveness and letting go, we are able to make ourselves a clear channel for the flow of prosperity. There is the analogy of the Dead Sea, which has a flow in, but now flow out. In a sense, we become a stagnant, “dead sea” when we are unable to let go of that which no longer serves us. 

What the Bible says:

“For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.”                                   Matt 7:2

“As high as the sky is above the earth, so great is his love for those who honor him. As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our sins from us. As a father is kind to his children, so the Lord is kind to those who honor him.”                                  Ps. 103: 11-13

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”     Luke 6:37 

“Let us therefore no longer pass judgment on one another, but resolve instead never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of another.”                                                                       Rom 14:13 

What Fillmore says:

“Forgiveness really means giving up something. When you forgive yourself, you cease doing the thing that you ought not to do… We forgive sin in ourselves every time we resolve to think and act according to the divine law.”                                                Jesus Christ Heals 

“Do you love your enemies? Do you bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you? This is required of one who seeks the new birth.”            Talks on Truth

“As by one man sin came into the world so by one man it is taken away… every man stands sinless before God in Christ.” 

Jesus Christ Heals

Ideas for practice:

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October: Tithing

Tithing is the practice of giving 10% of what we receive back to God. At a deeper level, it reminds us of the presence of God within us. As with other practices, such as prayer and forgiveness, tithing is a
component of our relationship with God. As such, it is less about money than it is about a deeper spirituality.

So often in our world, we find that we have divided our lives into compartments. There’s our church self, our work self, our family self, our financial self and so on. But spirituality touches us holistically. For
example, if we want to live in the presence of God full time, we know we can’t confine our prayer life to only when we’re in church. Prayer is important in our family, our work, our friendships, every day of the
week—we wouldn’t think of keeping prayer only for Sundays. So it is with all our “compartments.” We cannot keep our financial lives walled off from God. 

One of the greatest spiritual challenges in our time of fragmentation is to bring our entire lives into integrity with what we believe and love. When we love God, there is no part of our lives that is separate
from God. Sooner or later, to grow in our relationship with God, we all realize this. After all, it is God who gives us everything to begin with. It is an act of worship to place ourselves and all we are and have back
into God’s care and disposal.

This brings us back to the practice of tithing. What we do with our lives, our families, our work, our church, and our finances are ultimately matters between each individual and God. This is what the word stewardship means—that God has given us our life and all that is in it, and we are responsible for its use.

This month we focus on really listening to our hearts, to that place within connected to God to see what our financial lives are meant to be. Tithing is simply a time-tested discipline that countless people have found to be important and fruitful in connecting their spirituality and their tangible lives. For many, it is the goal to place their trust in God to the extent of tithing from their financial good.

What the Bible says:

“You are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you…”   Isa 43:4

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” 

Luke 12:32

“Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 

2 Cor 9:7

“…just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve….” 

Matt 20:28

What Fillmore says:

“When we groan and sweat under the stress and strain of life, we are serving Satan instead of God. The satanic consciousness would make us believe that there is limited amount of the things necessary to life and that we must labor hard to get our share. It is true that such conditions do come upon those who have turned their faces from God…. All work becomes divine for man when he affirms that he is working for God and that God is a generous paymaster…. When we praise God and give thanks for His supply and support we open our mind to the inflow of the abundant spiritual essence of all things.”

Keep a True Lent

“Jacob’s vow to be more faithful to God and to give Him one tenth of all he received is a recognition of God as the source of all that man requires and also of the need of a constant reminder of this fact; hence the agreement to give back the tithe. Those who practice tithing testify that it leads them into an understanding of the relation of God to material affairs that they can get in no other way.” 

Mysteries of Genesis 

“In his inner consciousness man can make an agreement of this kind [tithing] with the Mind of Spirit and can keep it in his everyday affairs. Many metaphysicians write out such contracts and put them away in
the full assurance that the terms will be carried out by both contracting parties, God and man. It is found by nearly everyone who tries this plan that the agreement is fulfilled.”                           Mysteries of Genesis

“The covenant of Jacob to give one tenth of all his increase was the real beginning of what we in modern times we call tithing: making God a partner in all our finances.”                                       Teach Us to Pray

“Give of your substance with the thought that it is God’s money you are handling. Realize that it is His tenth that you are giving for His glory. With this thought in your mind you will begin to attract new spiritual resources, and things will begin to open up in your affairs…. Take God into partnership with you and you will demonstrate abundance.”                                                           Teach Us to Pray

Ideas for practice:

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November: Tithing

There are three ways in which tithing functions in our spiritual communities: 

We recognize that giving and receiving is not so much about an exchange, but it is about creating faithful and healthy communities locally and globally. In this, all who participate are blessed. In Unity, we recognize that we can only receive when we have an open heart, one that is opened by the act of giving itself.

The Bible, going back to Genesis, shows us that we are created in the image of God. The image of God we have from all the stories and traditions is ultimately of a God who gives lavishly. As we grow in
consciousness, we grow in perfecting the image of God we manifest in the physical world. The more we grow in awareness of the Christ consciousness within us, the more we will give.

Think about it. What brings you the greatest joy? It is written in the everyday work we do, the ways we interact with others when at our best. We are most alive when we are expressing our truest selves, when we are sharing that which is within us. 

In the movie, "Chariots of Fire," one of the characters, an Olympic runner, described what it was like when he ran—that he could feel God’s joy. When we are in tune with God’s image, with God’s fondest desire for us, we are prospered. We are most alive when we are giving. There is no meaning or joy in keeping our skills, our gifts, or our lives all to ourselves.

Sometimes, the best way we can learn this principle in our financial lives is to step out in faith and begin to practice. The exercises this month aim at helping us to take steps in this direction. 

What the Bible says:

“…give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”             Luke 6:38

“Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.”                                                          John 16:23

“A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, ‘Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are
contributing to the treasury.’”                                       Mark 12:42-43

“The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it….”                                                                         Ps 24:1

What Fillmore says:

“Without giving the soul shrivels, but when giving is practiced as a part of Christian living, the soul expands and becomes Godlike in the grace of liberality and generosity. No restoration to the likeness of
God can be complete unless mind, heart and soul are daily opening out into that large, free, bestowing spirit which so characterizes our God and Father.”                                                                     Prosperity

“The natural seeks to hold onto all that it can gain by fair or unfair means, but the heart self, as soon as it has had a vision of the infinite, seeks in its turn to give.”                                    Mysteries of Genesis

“In order that the plan of giving may be successful there are several things that must be observed. First there must be a willing mind… Secondly, the giving must be done in faith, and there must be no
withholding because the offering seems small… A third requisite… is that the offering shall be a just and fair proportion of all that one receives.”                                                                        Prosperity

“If the mind is free from attachment to money or love of it, and lovingly concentrated on the divine substance, there is never failure in the demonstration.”                                                      Keep a True Lent

Ideas for practice

       For example: You can include your intentions to:

The important thing is to remember that this is between God and you, and that it is your spiritual growth that is being built and nurtured by God. Listen for God’s wisdom within you.

As always, discuss these exercises with your prayer triad. Pray with one another for discernment of God’s yearning for each of you. Share any good experiences you’ve had in paying bills or working with your finances, or of cash giving or tithing.

With complete trust in the goodness of God, I make the following commitment to God:
Beginning now until _______ (6 months or 1 year), I will give _____% of my gross income to God.

By __________ (January 1, 2008, I will begin to give _____% of my gross income to God.

By __________ (January 1, 2009, I will begin to give _____% of my gross income to God.
(And so on up to 10% and beyond.)

I affirm that God’s abundance is now an everyday part of my life, and that I am now receiving all that I need, when I need it, easily and effortlessly with joy and thanksgiving.
Signed _________________________________ Date _______________

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December: Tithing

“By the act of tithing, men make God their partner in their financial transactions and thus keep the channel open from the source in the ideal to the manifestation in the realm of things. Whoever thinks that
he is helping to keep God’s work going in the earth cannot help but believe that God will help him.”                               Keep a True Lent 

“What men need to know is that money represents a mind substance of unlimited abundance and accessibility; that this mind substance cannot be safely hoarded or selfishly used by anyone; that it is a
living magnet attracting good of every kind to those who possess it; that those who train their thoughts to depend on this mind substance for supply of all kinds never lack.”                             Keep a True Lent

“If you would have your material affairs prosper, agree with Jehovah to give one tenth of your income to some work dedicated to God. If you keep your part of the agreement, you may rest assured that the Lord
will keep His and abundantly prosper you, that your financial affairs will be taken care of without worry or strain on your part, and that you will come into a land where peace and plenty go hand in hand.”

Mysteries of Genesis

“If we follow the Spirit of wisdom we shall not give to anything that is contrary to the teaching of Jesus, but spend every penny in furtherance of the good news of life that He proclaims and in the promotion of the brotherhood of man that it is His mission to establish on earth….”

Prosperity

“In this age, when we have so much, more is required of us, even to the giving of ourselves with all that we are and have. This privilege carries innumerable benefits with it, for it looses us from the personal life, unifies us with the universal, and so opens our inner and outer life to the inflow and the outflow of the life, love, bounty and grace of God.”                                                                              Prosperity

“When anyone puts God first in his finances, not only in thought but in every act, by releasing his first fruits (a tenth part of his increase or income) to the Lord, his faith in omnipresent supply becomes a hundredfold stronger and he prospers accordingly.”                Prosperity

 
The tenth should be set apart for the upkeep of some spiritual work or workers. It should be set apart first even before one’s personal expenses are taken out, for in the right relation of things God comes first always…. The great promise of prosperity is that if men seek God and His righteousness first, then all shall be added unto them.” 

Prosperity

“Another blessing that follows the practice of tithing is the continual ‘letting go’ of what one receives, which keeps one’s mind open to the good and free from covetousness…. When a person tithes he is giving continuously, so that no spirit of grasping, no fear, and no thought of limitations gets a hold on him.”                                          Prosperity

“Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.”                                     Rom 13:8

“Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an
overflowing blessing.”                                                         Mal 3:10

“…yet he has not left himself without a witness in doing good—giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.”                                                 Acts 14:17

“And he said to them, ‘Pay attention to what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you.’”                                                                              Matt 4:24

Ideas for practice

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To offer suggestions on future issues of Power of Prosperity x 12, or if you have questions, please contact Lisa Wittman at dom@unity.org.