I remember being in a Landmark Worldwide class when the facilitator asked, “What is life?” I’ve never been fond of trick questions. It felt like one of those moments where there was a “right” answer they were waiting for—one that no one in the room was quite giving.
Eventually, the answer they offered was: “Life just is.” And honestly… that has stayed with me. Because in many ways, that’s the closest description we have of God—not a being standing apart, judging, fixing, or withholding—but a Presence that simply is.
God is not watching us from a distance, deciding outcomes. God is not withholding good until we get it right. God is Life Itself—the animating intelligence that is in, through, and as everything. There is no separation between God and creation. No “out there” and “in here.” Only One.
And yet, knowing this intellectually and living from it are two very different things.
There was a time recently when I experienced what I can only call a crisis of faith. Not because God had gone anywhere—but because I had. I had drifted into doubt, into fear, into the appearance of separation. And in that place, it felt like something was missing.
But nothing had actually changed. God had not moved. Life had not withdrawn. The Presence was still fully available. What needed to shift was not God—but my awareness. My willingness to remember. My willingness to align. My willingness to trust that what I was seeking was already here.
This is where the teaching from Ernest Holmes becomes so powerful. He makes a distinction that can completely change how we understand faith:
We are not meant to simply have faith in God. We are meant to develop the faith of God. That’s a radical shift. Faith in God still carries a sense of separation—I am here, God is there, and I hope something good happens. The faith of God recognizes that the very power that creates worlds is the same power moving through us.
It is not something we reach for—it is something we are participating in. As Holmes reminds us, belief is not passive. Belief is creative. The universe itself is built out of it. So, the question becomes: What are we believing into form?
This is why I love Spiritual Mind Treatment—Affirmative Prayer. Because it doesn’t come from a place of asking or pleading. It comes from alignment. We are not trying to convince God to do something. We are recognizing what is already true—and allowing ourselves to come into agreement with it.
And here’s the part that can be both empowering and confronting: Prayer is always answered. ALAWAYS.
The creative process is always saying yes. So, if the outer experience doesn’t match what we say we want, the invitation is not to doubt the process—but to deepen our clarity. To become more honest about what we are truly accepting, believing, and expecting. Not as a form of self-blame—but as a return to our creative authority.
The invitation is simple—but not necessarily easy:
Where am I placing my faith?
Am I waiting for life to change?
Or am I willing to align with the creative power already moving through me?
Am I living from faith in God?
Or awakening to the faith of God?
Because the moment that shift begins—even slightly—something begins to move.
A demonstration begins to take place.
And in that spirit, I want to close with a prayer from Dr. Holmes that expands our awareness beyond the personal and into the collective—reminding us that this same Presence is guiding not only our individual lives, but our shared experience as well:
MY PRAYER FOR MY COUNTRY
by Dr. Ernest Holmes, 1887 – 1960
Believing in the Divine destiny of the United States of America and in the preservation of liberty, security, and self-expression, I offer this, my prayer for my country:
I know that Divine Intelligence governs the destiny of the United States of America, directing the thought and the activity of all who guide its affairs.
I know that success, prosperity, and happiness are the gifts of freedom, and are the Divine heritage of everyone in this country.
I know that success, prosperity, and happiness are now operating in the affairs of every individual in this country.
I know that Divine guidance enlightens the collective mind of the people of this country, causing it to know that economic security may come to all without the loss of either personal freedom or individual self-expression.
I know that no one can believe or be led to believe that freedom must be surrendered in order to insure economic security for all.
The All-Knowing Mind of God contains the answer to every problem which confronts this country.
I know that every leader in this country is now directed to this All-Knowing Mind and has the knowledge of a complete solution to every problem, and each is compelled to act upon this knowledge to the end that abundance, security, and peace shall come to all.
And I know that this spiritual democracy shall endure, guaranteeing to everyone in this country personal liberty, happiness, and self-expression.
And so it is. Amen.
In Can We Talk to God, Ernest Holmes writes that “the measure of our faith in the Infinite is the measure of our capacity to draw from the Infinite.” This is why the Great Teacher said, “It is done unto you as you believe.” If we can believe in a greater good, then much good can come to us. Life manifests according to our mental acceptance—our mental equivalents—according to our faith.
Thought is a spiritual activity endowed with creative power.
Take a moment and consider how you may have already proven this in your own life, whether you were aware of this teaching or not. God is always working through us and expressing through our thoughts, beliefs, and actions.
If you plant seeds, water them, and nourish them, they grow into healthy and strong plants. Thoughts are much the same. They are like seeds with a natural tendency to grow and manifest in our lives when we give them our attention.
Our attention, interest, and enthusiasm are what make thoughts powerful. When we continue to focus on a thought, it gathers strength. When we withdraw our attention, it loses its power and influence.
In This Thing Called You, Ernest Holmes reminds us that the barriers between us and our greater good are not barriers in themselves—they are things of thought. Because of this, all things are possible to faith. Jesus summed up this principle when he said, “It is done unto you as you believe.” If we pause after the word as, we see a deeper meaning: life not only responds to what we believe, it responds after the manner of our believing. Life mirrors our beliefs back to us.
Consider these ideas:
- Our thoughts influence our subconscious mind, which then guides our actions.
- Our thoughts can influence the minds and lives of others.
- When we focus on our dreams and goals, we often attract people and opportunities that help us achieve them.
- Powerful thoughts shape our lives—and sometimes the lives of those around us—so it is important to be mindful of what we think.
All thoughts are creative. In a very real sense, God says “yes” to the thoughts we give our attention to and the ideas we continually dwell upon.
So the question becomes: What are you spending your time thinking about? What seeds are you planting in the garden of your mind?
Ernest Holmes described Religious Science as “a compilation of the opinions of philosophy, the laws of science, and the revelations of religion applied to the aspirations of humanity.” Life is not confined to a single belief system or practice. It is about nourishing the soul and recognizing the Divine presence in every moment.
When we become aware of the creative power of our thinking, we also recognize the opportunity before us. Every thought is a seed. Every belief is a blueprint for what can unfold in our lives.
So let us choose our thoughts with care. Let us nurture ideas of possibility, faith, and goodness. As we do, we awaken to the creative power within us and allow the Divine to express more fully through our lives.
How are we physically?
Who are we financially?
Where are we spiritually?
How are we mentally?
How are we relationally?
Who are we financially?
Where are we spiritually?
How are we mentally?
How are we relationally?
These questions are more than a personal inventory. They are invitations into awareness.
Our Nature of Being is the living expression of the Divine through us, and it is shaped by how we are experiencing life in any given moment. Every dimension of our life—physical, financial, spiritual, mental, and relational—is interconnected. When one area shifts, the others respond. Our state of being is not fixed; it is fluid, evolving as we grow in awareness.
When we think about Physical Well-Being, we often think of health and fitness, which is certainly a good place to begin. Yet our physical life also includes our home, our environment, the places we travel, and the spaces we inhabit.
My own physical story is one of grace. My mother and I almost died during childbirth. Because of a tumor on my brain at birth, the doctor believed I might not survive, or that I would live in a vegetative state. An optometrist once believed I would become blind. And yet, here I am.
Recently I’ve realized how important movement and caring for my body really are. If you know me, you might say, “Really? Then why aren’t you doing something active every day?” And that question has helped me see something deeper. In my codependency, I have often placed what is good for me at the bottom of the list.
But I am beginning to understand something sacred:
My body is the form the Divine has chosen to express as Gayle.
My body is the form the Divine has chosen to express as Gayle.
Caring for this body is not selfish—it is spiritual. It is an act of honoring the Divine presence that lives and breathes through me.
Financial and Career Well-Being speaks to how we support ourselves in the world—our work, our goals, our income, and our sense of financial freedom. For many of us, the traditional idea of a career may be shifting or winding down. I will admit that I am someone who didn’t do a great deal of long-term planning for the future.
Yet spiritual life continually reminds us that our true security does not come from careful planning alone. It comes from trusting that the same Creative Intelligence that brought us this far continues to guide our path forward.
Spiritual Well-Being asks a different question: What inspires you?
This is deeply personal. Spiritual life is not confined to a single practice or belief system. It is about feeding the soul and recognizing the Divine presence in every moment of life.
For some, it is creating music. For others, it is dancing, listening to music, painting, praying, or meditating. Sometimes it is simply sitting quietly in the sand, listening to the roar of the ocean and feeling the presence of something greater than ourselves. The path to the soul is as unique as the soul itself.
Mental Well-Being is reflected in our thoughts and emotions. Mother Teresa once said:
“Be careful of your thoughts, for your thoughts become your words.
Be careful of your words, for your words become your deeds.
Be careful of your deeds, for your deeds become your habits.
Be careful of your habits, for your habits become your character.
Be careful of your character, for your character becomes your destiny.”
Be careful of your words, for your words become your deeds.
Be careful of your deeds, for your deeds become your habits.
Be careful of your habits, for your habits become your character.
Be careful of your character, for your character becomes your destiny.”
Our inner dialogue shapes the world we experience. Taking care of our mental well-being is just as important as caring for our physical health. Sometimes that means seeking help. Sometimes it means resting. Sometimes it means stepping back and giving ourselves compassion.
Wherever you are in life, honor what you are feeling and thinking. They are not weaknesses—they are signals inviting us back into balance and self-care.
And finally, there is Relational Well-Being.
Whether we are introverts or extroverts, we all need connection. Human beings are meant to walk this life together. The people we surround ourselves with can reflect our highest qualities and support our growth.
Our relationships often act as mirrors. The way we show up in relationship is often the way our relationships show up for us.
A Spiritual Realization
When we step back and look at all these aspects of life, something powerful becomes clear.
Our physical life, our finances, our creativity, our thoughts, and our relationships are not separate pieces of who we are. They are expressions of one underlying truth: The Divine Life is expressing itself through us.
Every breath we take, every thought we think, every act of love we share is part of that unfolding expression.
And the moment we remember this; something awakens within us.
We realize we are not simply reacting to life—we are participating in creation.
So, the invitation is simple and profound:
*Care for your body as a sacred vessel.
*Nurture your mind with loving thoughts.
*Nurture your mind with loving thoughts.
*Feed your soul with creativity and inspiration.
*Honor the relationships that help you grow.
*Honor the relationships that help you grow.
Because when we consciously tend to every dimension of our being, we begin to awaken to the truth of who we really are.
Not separate.
Not powerless.
Not powerless.
But living expressions of the Divine—
creative, evolving, and capable of shaping a life filled with meaning, love, and purpose.
creative, evolving, and capable of shaping a life filled with meaning, love, and purpose.
And when we awaken to that truth, we don’t just change our lives…
We become a living expression of Spirit in the world.
Our Declaration of Principles states that “The manifest universe is the body of God; it is the logical and necessary outcome of the infinite self-knowingness of God.”
Normally, when we think of the word body, we are referring to our physical form. Yet, in this spiritual framework, the physical body is understood as the lowest vibration. The emotional body extends beyond and influences the physical body; the mental body extends beyond and influences the emotional and physical bodies; and the soul body extends beyond and influences the mental, emotional, and physical bodies. Encompassing all of these is the spiritual body—the highest vibration—which overlays and permeates the soul, mental, emotional, and physical bodies.
I was taught—though I can’t remember by whom or when—that when something finally shows up in the physical body, it has already moved through all the other bodies first. We just weren’t paying attention yet.
This is not a scientific model, but a spiritual framework used to describe how awareness, emotion, thought, and meaning shape our lived experience.
For me, it is important to remember that I am a living, breathing organism—a compressed energy field connected energetically to everything around me. My physical body is the most tangible expression of that energy, constantly responding to my thoughts, emotions, and environment.
So why is this important? For me, it’s about empowerment. It is the realization that my thoughts—the one thing I truly have dominion over—really do matter. I believe every day is a gift, and because I believe that, how I wake up and show up each day matters.
At a time in history (and this is not the first time) when we are inundated with information designed to keep us separate, it is especially important to remember all that we share:
· Every person on this planet has a heart and red blood.
· Every person knows joy, fear, love, and loss.
· Every person wants to belong, to matter, and to be seen.
Self-awareness reminds us that beneath all appearances, labels, and differences, we are far more alike than we are different.
We often walk around in these “meat suits,” forgetting that we are part of the manifest Universe—the body of God. Perhaps if we remembered this—that we are God in form—we would look out through the eyes of God and see God looking back at us.
When we remember that we are part of the living body of the Universe, how we think, act, and treat one another naturally becomes more loving, conscious, and connected.
In the Science of Mind textbook, Spirit is defined in the Glossary as:
“God, within Whom all spirits exist. The Self-Knowing One. The Conscious Universe. The Absolute. Spirit in people is that part of them which enables them to know themselves—That which they really are. We do not see the spirit of people any more than we see the Spirit of God. We see what people do, but we do not see the doer.”
Our Declaration of Principles echoes this truth:
“We believe in the incarnation of the Spirit in everyone and that all people are incarnations of the One Spirit.”
In the simplest terms, we believe God is in, through, and as everything—everywhere.
I am currently teaching an amazing class based on Spiritual Economics by Eric Butterworth, where he speaks about faith as the power that releases our “imprisoned splendor.” I love that phrase. It feels so true. We often imprison our own greatness by not fully grasping what it means to be God in form—a unique, individualized expression of Spirit.
Some people call this inner guidance intuition. Others refer to it as the still, small voice within. To me, it doesn’t really matter what we call it. What matters is the practice: learning to recognize and live from that splendor—the deep knowing that I am enough. In fact, I am more than enough.
When I listen to that voice, good things happen. I have experienced profound moments of guidance and grace by paying attention to it. When I ignore it and try to go it alone, I tend to struggle.
Recently—and this is a small but telling example—as I was preparing to travel from Bellingham, WA to Sun Valley, ID, I was packed and ready to go when a thought arose: “How is my luggage going to get from Alaska to Delta when I land in Seattle?” Had I not listened—had I not paid attention—my luggage would still be circling baggage claim, waiting for me to retrieve it.
On a much larger scale, over twenty years ago, if I hadn’t chosen to visit the Center in Kirkland instead of the one in Seattle, I never would have met my husband. I truly have no idea what my life would look like now if I hadn’t followed that inner nudge.
Our founder, Ernest Holmes, is not always an easy read, but he was a profound mystic. His core teaching—Change your thinking, change your life—sounds simple, yet it is not for the faint of heart.
Recognizing yourself as Spirit in form—already whole, complete, and perfect—takes courage. It requires commitment, willingness, and sometimes a healthy dose of moxie.
And the reward?
Freedom.
Alignment.
The release of your imprisoned splendor.
Practice for the Week:
Each morning, pause for one quiet minute. Place a hand on your heart and silently affirm:
“I am Spirit in form. I am guided. I am enough.”
Then ask, “What would Love have me notice today?”
Move through your day paying attention to subtle impulses, gentle reminders, or unexpected clarity. At the end of the day, take a moment to acknowledge where you noticed guidance—even in the smallest ways.
