[tmtranscripts] Ham on experiencing God

[David G. Schlundt, Ph.D.]

a quote from this lesson

The mind knows perfect peace that is settled on God. Settle your minds 
upon God's perfect spirit and you will certainly know that peace. Once 
you know that peace, you will crave to have it with you always. For the 
Master and the Father both continually exert a pull upon your souls, 
pulling you ever upward and expanding your soul to encompass the ever 
greater God experience.


1/02/2005

Ham: Greetings, children, I am Ham and I am happy to be here this 
evening among you. Let us discuss what it means to find God then what it 
means to grow to know him. Knowing God comes through experiencing his 
spirit. When you know God in the mind, the intellect can discern what 
God should be like, what God should not be like, but the intellect alone 
does not perceive God directly. The mind can decide and differentiate 
between value levels and attributes a perfect God would logically 
possess. But, only the soul can perceive God's spirit and know him 
directly as Father and Friend.

Experience of God, then, must supercede thoughts about God and this 
experience - the direct perception of God's goodness, truth and beauty - 
can then create the mental impression which begins the true knowing of 
God. Experience is translated into thought. Thought about God, at least, 
cannot be directly translated into experience of him. The mind must be a 
doorway, a point of acceptance, but it is not directly the seat of 
God-experience.

God is experienced through the loving channels of the soul. You perceive 
him in your hearts, truly, and this perception is first felt then 
thought about. God's love is known before it is described. God's love is 
experienced and that experience creates knowing in itself. You know the 
color red because you have experienced it. Without the experience, all 
description falls short and description cannot generate that unique 
perception to one who has never experienced the color red. In this sense 
then, the mind is a doorway but the experience of God by your souls is 
so altering, so effective in realigning your perceptions that when God's 
love is felt, there is a simultaneous knowing of God.

If you did not directly perceive his goodness, the mind would rebel 
against the requirement of trust. But for those who have perceived God's 
goodness directly, the question of trust is never in doubt. Once you 
have grown in your perception of God's goodness, you simply cannot help 
but to trust him. And, trusting God is the only certainty upon this path 
of life for God's love is the only constant you will know.

What is God's will? This is truly the central question of your lives and 
yet the answer can only come through the knowledge of God as given 
directly through experience of him. When you experience God in your 
hearts and have learned to trust him, then walking a path of 
righteousness, bearing the fruits of the spirit, and serving your 
fellows all are manifestations of his will. When you know God, then soon 
you come to know his will for you.

My children, you must rest securely in his arms. Allow the Father to rap 
his arms around your life. Allow the Father to guide and direct all your 
efforts, not simply those you have consciously dedicated to him. 
Consciously, you must simply open the door. All else will be added unto 
you and your knowledge of God will grow as you increasingly experience 
his love.

All of you are coming into greater God-knowingness through increasing 
experience of his love. All of you are increasing in your trust of him 
and in your willingness to be led. In this you are all doing very well 
and are finding your love for your brethren increasing over time. Be at 
peace then in all things. Release your tendencies toward worry and 
distress and do not be afraid of what the future holds, for in this the 
Father goes before you preparing a place. You are his children, precious 
in your nearness to him. Trust him and he will not fail you. Lean upon 
him and the way will be made straight and easy.

Q: Today I think I experienced what you are talking about while I was 
out running. At the time I had no doubt about the experience, but now 
that we are thinking and talking about it, is there ever a danger of 
misinterpreting experiences like this? If you are feeling like you are 
experiencing the reality of God or the love of God should you just trust 
that this is happening?

Q: Yes. Do not try to analyze spiritual experience, for in the analysis 
it will seem to disappear. The soul informs the mind on matters of the 
spirit, not visa versa.

Q: Are there certain situations that can facilitate God-experiencing, 
like stillness or being in nature?

Ham: Well certainly this is so, but it is important understand that the 
experience of God can be had any time and all the time. If you confine 
the experience to certain set conditions, you may be hampering growth 
rather than facilitating it. The mind knows perfect peace that is 
settled on God. Settle your minds upon God's perfect spirit and you will 
certainly know that peace. Once you know that peace, you will crave to 
have it with you always. For the Master and the Father both continually 
exert a pull upon your souls, pulling you ever upward and expanding your 
soul to encompass the ever greater God experience.

Q: Could I have a message Ham?

Ham: Yes, certainly my son. My son you are doing well. You have come 
through many difficulties and are now growing in balance and truly more 
balanced thinking and more calm self-assuredness. Your path continues as 
your soul expands and develops. Always remember that spiritual growth 
must come first. At this time, it is well and good to pursue your path 
in the spirit with all your heart for the growth of the spirit, of the 
soul, will lead all other developments. Also, if you are blocked in your 
spiritual progression, you will be blocked in other ways as well. Seek 
first the kingdom of heaven, then all things needful will be added unto 
you. Make the spiritual your priority, everything else will follow of 
its own.

Q: Do you have anything for Rebecca?

Ham: Yes, my daughter, you are doing well. Continue to grow in trust and 
faith. Continue to move forward and to deepen your commitment to the 
tasks before you. Know that the Master's spirit goes with you and before 
you in all things. He will open your way so long as your trust in him is 
complete. Think not of yourself at any point, rather think only of the 
mission and its importance. Let the importance of your work wash away 
thoughts of personal insecurity or failure for these things are 
immaterial. Trust, trust, and more trust must be your mantra. Let not a 
shadow of doubt enter into your thoughts. Rather, be upheld in secure 
knowledge of the Master's spirit and his personal, intimate, and tender 
love. With this love, you can truly be about our Father's business. 
Trust then in this love and your way is secure.

Q: Jarad?

Ham: Yes my son, you are doing well. Continue also to deepen your 
commitment and the consecration of your life's path to the Master's holy 
will. Embrace his love without reservation. Learn that his love is not 
conditioned upon anything you can do or control. His love for you is 
absolute and yet extremely personal, solicitous, and tender. Be at peace 
then, for you way will open.

Q: Do you have anything for Billy Don?

Ham: Yes my son. Truly you have walked through the valley of the shadow 
of death and now you fear it not and thus it has no power. Trust in 
God's love my son, trust in his spirit. Consecrate your will to his 
service and know that he can and will use you for his greater purposes. 
You will be going through a time of decision making. In this, and in all 
things, turn over your decisions to his will and release your burdens. 
Realize that even as you find everything you need in him, so too does he 
find what he needs in you. Ask then to be used for his will and he will 
use you. Ask to know him and you will know him. Ask to be forgiven, and 
you will find the ability to accept forgiveness grows. Love God with all 
your heart and all your might and all your mind and his love will be 
manifest within you. Rest my son. This is a time of preparation not a 
time of action. Be at peace. You are doing well.

Q: Do you have any counsel for me tonight Ham?

Ham: Yes my son, you are doing just fine. You are finding that indeed 
when you seek first the kingdom of God, then the things of this life 
begin to fall into place without too much effort. My son, as you find 
your way forward, remember that growth in the spirit is always 
manifested in every day life. Know that you have past many tests and 
that you are being strengthened for the work ahead. Understand that so 
long as you seek after the Master and his righteousness, you will have 
what is needed in all areas of life. Trust in him and you will have what 
you need.

Q: From Keri: If you have a meeting with Ham on Sunday will you please 
thank him for his continued words of hope and guidance and may I have a 
personal message too?

Ham: Yes my daughter, you are doing well. Gradually my dear you are 
coming to order your life by the priorities of the spirit. Let this 
continue. Find your way forward by means of listening to the still small 
voice in your heart saying this is the way. Pray that you can accept the 
great love the Father continually showers upon you. For the more you can 
perceive and accept that love, the more peace and fulfillment you will 
find in all areas of your life. Embrace God and the way is plain. You do 
well my dear.

Q: Do you have a personal message for Norbert?

Ham: Of course my son, you are doing well. My son, do not worry about 
your future, for your future is secure in your acceptance of our Father 
and your acceptance of Christ Michael and his spirit. Hold back nothing, 
but give all you have and all you are to the greater purposes of our 
Father and his Son. Do not be confused. Seek and you will find. It's as 
simple as that.

Q: Do you have a personal message for Charlie B?

Ham: Certainly my son, you are likewise doing well. Embracing the loving 
hand of God would seem to be an easy and natural thing. Of course, with 
the complications inherent in all of the human condition, accepting 
God's love is often anything but simple. Reach out to your fellows as 
you have done. Do not fear nor worry about the future. You will have all 
you need.

Q: Do you have any feedback for me this week?

Ham: Yes, my son. You are doing well. Rejoice in the spirit for your way 
continues to open. Increase in the fruits of the spirit. Let your love 
overflow to all those you meet and open your heart in increasing measure 
in all areas. Do not be tempted to revert to judgmental feelings, rather 
push through these kinds of responses into acceptance of all who cross 
your path. Embrace and love all the children sent into your charge. Show 
consistently by your example a feeling of calm and a feeling of security 
through knowing God and striving to be like him. Show forth the fruits 
of his spirit. You are doing very well my son.

Are there any further questions at this time? Very well then, my 
friends, as you go forth in this life during the week ahead with all its 
challenges, let my love be with you, let the Master's spirit be 
increasingly part of your experience and your consciousness. Let his 
word speak constantly to your hearts. Until next week, farewell.

 

-- 
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
David G. Schlundt, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology
Department of Psychology
Vanderbilt University
301 Wilson Hall
Nashville, TN  37203

Phone: (615)322-7800
Fax: (615) 343-8449
Email: David.Schlundt at Vanderbilt.edu
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
To science God is a possibility, to psychology
a desirability, to philosopy a probability, to
religion a certainty, an actuality of religious
experience

The Urantia Book, page 1125
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