LESSON 47 God is the strength in which I trust.

1. 1If you are trusting in your own strength, you have every reason to be apprehensive, anxious and fearful. 2What can you predict or control? 3What is there in you that can be counted on? 4What would give you the ability to be aware of all the facets of any problem, and to resolve them in such a way that only good can come of it? 5What is there in you that gives you the recognition of the right solution, and the guarantee that it will be accomplished?

2. 1Of yourself you can do none of these things. 2To believe that you can is to put your trust where trust is unwarranted, and to justify fear, anxiety, depression, anger and sorrow. 3Who can put his faith in weakness and feel safe? 4Yet who can put his faith in strength and feel weak?

3. 1God is your safety in every circumstance. 2His Voice speaks for Him in all situations and in every aspect of all situations, telling you exactly what to do to call upon His strength and His protec­tion. 3There are no exceptions because God has no exceptions. 4And the Voice which speaks for Him thinks as He does.

4. 1Today we will try to reach past your own weakness to the Source of real strength. 2Four five-minute practice periods are necessary today, and longer and more frequent ones are urged. 3Close your eyes and begin, as usual, by repeating the idea for the day. 4Then spend a minute or two in searching for situations in your life which you have invested with fear, dismissing each one by telling yourself:

5God is the strength in which I trust.

5. 1Now try to slip past all concerns related to your own sense of inadequacy. 2It is obvious that any situation that causes you concern is associated with feelings of inadequacy, for otherwise you would believe that you could deal with the situation successfully. 3It is not by trusting yourself that you will gain confidence. 4But the strength of God in you is successful in all things.

6. 1The recognition of your own frailty is a necessary step in the correction of your errors, but it is hardly a sufficient one in giving you the confidence which you need, and to which you are enti­tled. 2You must also gain an awareness that confidence in your real strength is fully justified in every respect and in all circumstances.

7. 1In the latter phase of the practice period, try to reach down into your mind to a place of real safety. 2You will recognize that you have reached it if you feel a sense of deep peace, however briefly. 3Let go all the trivial things that churn and bubble on the surface of your mind, and reach down and below them to the Kingdom of Heaven. 4There is a place in you where there is perfect peace. 5There is a place in you where nothing is impossible. 6There is a place in you where the strength of God abides.

8. 1During the day, repeat the idea often. 2Use it as your answer to any disturbance. 3Remember that peace is your right, because you are giving your trust to the strength of God.