Mary did not make Jesus feel guilty when she said, "if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died."
(John 11). Instead of guilt, Christ Jesus expressed thanks to God and raised Lazarus from the dead.

Thank you Michelle for this wonderful revelation.

Merci Michelle pour cette encourageante remise à leurs places des 2 compagnons que sont le péché et les remords par la Loi de perfection du Christ.

L. Paris

Guilt is the trapping of regret and fear pulling our thought down into grief.
Paul said, “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do” Rom. 7:19
“I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with my mind I myself serve the law of God” Rom. 7:25
We too have the power to turn to the Christ and serve the law of God.
“Christian Science commands man to master the propensities, — to hold hatred in abeyance with kindness,
to conquer lust with chastity, revenge with charity, and to overcome deceit with honesty” S&H 405:5
We can accomplish this by serving the law of Christ!

ESPAÑOL
La culpabilidad es la trampa del remordimiento y el temor que arrastra nuestro pensamiento haciéndonos caer en la aflicción.
Pablo dijo, “No hago el bien que quiero; mas el mal que no quiero, éste hago” Rom. 7:19
“Gracias doy a Dios, por Jesucristo Señor nuestro. Yo mismo con la mente sirvo a la ley de Dios” Rom. 7:25
Nosotros también tenemos el poder de volvernos al Cristo y servir a la ley de Dios.
“La Ciencia Cristiana ordena al hombre a dominar las propensiones —refrenar el odio con la bondad, vencer la
lujuria con la castidad, la venganza con el amor, y superar el engaño con la honradez” CyS 405:6
¡Logramos esto sirviendo a la ley del Cristo!

Thank you.

Oh, thank you, Michelle. What a message you have given and what a message is needed at this time in my experience. "You hit the nail on the heat" as the expression goes. I shall work with this and not just for today.

Many thanks Michelle for this very inspiring lift. Yes. "To master the good that is most natural, because that's what the Christ, - God's healing message of divine Good, - brings out in everyone of us." "Dear Father-Mother, Thou dost grant/ All good and perfect gifts to me;/ 'Tis mine to raise this beacon here,/ Obedience unto Thee." (Christian Science Hymnal #48).

Thank you Michelle for this lovely messageI will keep it mind and remember it not onl today!

I am so grateful to you for this powerful and uplifting message. There is so much healing in these ideas. It is exactly in our own thought, where we are repeatedly tempted to feel we have failed (yet again), that we can embrace the Christ, God's ever present activity of good, uniquely expressed by us, and rise above the mortal pull that argues only for itself. Mary Baker Eddy told us to "live above corporeal sense and correct it" (S&H p 167) not agree with it that we are in it. The Christ tells us the truth - that we are not in corporeal sense but with God - and so sets us free. Let's act on that!

Thank you for this lovely reminder.

Super! I needed that this morning, this is putting my thought back on the right path.thanks Michelle.

La culpabilidad es una de las tantas trampas que nos pone el error, porque mientras nos estamos reprochando los errores que podemos haber cometido no progresamos, nos quedamos rumiando, culpandonos por haber sido debiles dejando que el pecado se enseñoree en nosotros, y si el llanto surge incontenible, el arrepentimiento por haber obrado mal nos reprocha, no puedo decir que eso sea malo,es una forma de despertar porque el llanto al comprender se vuelve sonrisa, hemos comprendido que el bienestar esta unido a los atributos divinos y que son ellos que rigen nuestro andar, donde no hay pecado por lo tanto no hay culpables, como se dice en ingles acertadamente, NO GUILTY, y es asi realmente no somos culpables, no sintamos culpa entonces, pero SI sintamos el anhelo de hacer lo correcto y hagamoslo, y jamas el llanto volvera porque no hay porque llorar porque la paz reina en nuestro corazones de hecho y en Verdad, somos libres,de escapar del error pero tambien responsables y eso es lo bello.la responsabilidad que tenemos en demostrarlo.nos hace libres de culpa, somos parte de la reconciliacion que viene a nosotros por medio de Cristo.

Muchas gracias Michelle

Dear Michelle

Many thanks for your loving "Daily Lift".

It is interesting to note that when one is involved with an incident in your car, one is not allowed to accept liability untill one has made contact with ones insurance company.
Should not one do the same when a erroneous thought would come to one, and reason from God's perfection.
Could one suggest that we all try it, and wonderful things will be revealed to each and every one of us.

Have a wonderful adventure.

Peter Reichl- Cunningham CS.

Thank you so much!

Thank you, Michelle, this Lift is really inspiring!!

Beautifully uplifting! Thanks!

Yes! Guilt, like sin, would make "that real which is unreal." (Science and Health, p. 339). But what a revelation! Our propensity is actually, truly, towards a child's innocent joy, towards kindness, charity, honesty, chastity. 'Propensity' comes from the roots' leaning forward' +'hang -- lean toward a thing, to be favorably inclined', and it's related to 'pendant' supported from above (impossible to be pulled below); . . . depending." I can't help but smile. Isn't this the awe-inspiring promise for all who lean forward on God, good?-- the words that begin Science and Health? "To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is BIG with blessings!" As we lean forward, on the sustaining infinite,the source of our identity, all kindness, honesty, goodness, we will be supported from above, we'll feel it, we'll love every moment of our blessed life.

What a powerful and inspiring message - thanks so much! I know I've quoted from this poem before, but I just love "Self-forgiveness" by Ginny Luedemann (Sentinel, July 18, 2005) and these four lines came to my thought:

"I didn't mess up, and forget God is here.
I didn't make choices, that made good disappear.
I live in the care and the love of God's grace.
There's no way I can move to a lesser loved place."

God's grace is His gift to us and what a beautiful blessing it is!

Thank you for this wonderful lift!

Thank you so much, Michelle. It's interesting that one can become resigned when trying to move from an impossible standpoint, but there is no way forward when trying to reason with mortal mind. Rather than standing there we need to start from God, and keep moving forward from that point. Progress is inevitable and joyful for all.
Thank you Michelle, and thank you Nate and the team; thanks to the BoL and the lecturers; and thankx to all our Daily Lift family.

Guilt is never productive and yet, as Jesus said in his famous, "Go and Sin no more" - there is an action to take after admitting that a mistake has been made. Making amends is not just saying, "Sorry", but implies a change in future actions. Onward and Upward and Forward!!

Yes! Onward and Upward and Forward!!

Thank you.

It made me gasp to see your Lift title today - "Dump the guilt!" I had worked to do just this last thing last night and first thing this morning! Your message that guilt just pulls us down with fear and regret was what I was sensing - that this guilty feeling of not accomplishing the things "I would" was something I had to put off. Eddy says:
SH 455:3
A mental state of self-condemnation and guilt or a faltering and doubting trust in Truth are unsuitable conditions for healing the sick.
I had a sense that guilt was one of those "material beliefs [that] would slay the spiritual idea" (SH 542). If I was feeling guilt - it really is just a distraction hiding the error that needs to be attended to and denied. I didn't want to be like Michelle's dog, who continues to "sin and be guilty" and not get to feel the real and permanent joy (and power) of being good. As Michelle said - "We've got to drop the guilt and engage the good!" The Christ gives us the power to "break the pattern" and "choke them (bad acts) off!" Master the propensities instead of being pulled down into immobilizing guilt.
And huge thanks to #17 - Diane - for sharing that our true "propensity" (like "pendant" - being supported from above, impossible to be pulled down) is "leaning on the sustaining infinite" and therefore "big with blessings!"

Thank you so much. It a great message and it couldn't be more accurate for my current situation. Thanks again and have a great day!

The regret and fear that pull you down to grief. Michelle, those words really hit home for me to expose the lie of that activity. I could feel myself slipping in that direction today and it's so important to reject regret, fear and grief and turn back to God. Guilt, regret and the idea of failure do not exist in God. I also like the quote from Robert #1 about Mary not making Jesus feel guilty for his delay in arriving to help her brother. Christ's actions transcended time and he raised Lazarus from the dead. Most of all look at the crucifixion. Christ turned that unthinkable, horrible event into a victory over death. I can only imagine the fear, guilt and grief the disciples and those who loved him must have experienced when he appeared to die on the cross. But all was not as it appeared and the victorious realization that "he is risen" awaited them.

Thank you, Michelle, for this very helpful lift. Guilt sometimes manifests as anxiousness when we procrastinate - so I love how you brought out taking action in the service to the law of Christ is the antidote. I see more clearly how guilt freezes us, but Christ frees us! #17 Diane, thank you so much for your comment exploring the word 'propensity' & the inspiration that followed!!! Terrific!

Thank you, Michelle, for the good you have shared with us!

Blessings.

Thank you!

Thank you. That was great.

Very powerful! Thanks for this lift today!

just timely, thank you so much. I like that you added for "each and everyone of us". It is a new thought fo me, to think to see everyone as blameless, but I think this came from reading Christian Science literature. I do know it is better than my way of judging, so I keep practicing this new way of thinking. thank you to you, Michelle, and also to the people who added comments. I learn good things on this Dailylift.

Thank you Michelle...first for the funny story about your dog...then for this message!
Not guilty! (as a former lecturer declared) Fresh ideas on "mastering the propensities" --
As the child of God we are naturally drawn towards goodness, truth, joy, purity, and love of God...
not pulled downward away from God.

Thanks to #13 and #17 for more inspired ideas and everyone who comments . Nate, the lecturers, the Board of Lectureship, the band and the whole team that makes these Daily Lifts happen -- big Thanks!

Before I became a student of C/S, I felt guilty when I did something wrong and, mentally suffered greatly even after I corrected the mistake. But C/S taught me that mistakes wasn't God's plan to bring me to him. In fact God never made me capable of making a mistake in the first place. Guilt feelings definitely is not the way to go, for it could also bring stress which causes disease. That's the mortal mind side of guilt. The spiritual side is "Thank God for revealing my wrong thinking and leading me to the correct way." Always positive, never negative.

I am shaking loose from the dogma and rigidity of the religion I was raised in and am finding the freedom to know God personally. I have a one-to-one personal contact with the God of my understanding. He is my Creator, my Savior, my Provider and my Friend!

Thank you so much! I

Thank you so much for these profound and practical ideas. They will certainly carry me into today and beyond! Thanks also to those who have shared comments.

Thank you Mrs. Eddy for teaching us to examine our motive...not only before but after following thru on a decision.......I was the child responsible for many decisions in regard to my Mom's care in the last few years of her human life and after her passing I was often bothered by a sense of guilt that perhaps I didn't make the right decisions....Then the angel thought came to me that my motive for her was only good, that I had done the best that I knew at the time.......Love lifted me out of that guilt and when it tries to come back, I remind myself that the decisions I made were made with love. I was also able to forgive my alcoholic father for the disfunction in our home as I realized that his movtive was never to harm us....He did the best that he knew at the time (he also had an alcoholic father) and everyday was a challenge for him....Imagine my joy when he went to AA and never drank alcohol again.
Christan Science has been a lift saver for me and I'm so grateful to Mrs. Eddy for sharing her discovery with the world.......My thanks to the Daily Lift team and the BOL for giving us this "cup of cold water" each day...Me and mine and all are blessed!!!

I liked #26 reminder that all those who loved what Jesus was teaching were devastated by the horrible mistake that had been made. All seemed lost and the hopes of a better life felt doomed. But Jesus, himself, rose above that idea and encouraged his followers to keep on trusting in God and experience a sense of victory like he was doing. Grief is not the master of joy! Thank you for ushering in this topic today!

YES! Thank you for this lift today...

Thank you Michelle for this important message on how to dump error, and turn to truth.
This reminds me of a phrase from Hymn 444 in the CS Hymnal Supplement:
"Innocent one, sinless and pure,
Nothing can ever divide thee.
Governed by Love, you’re safe and secure;
I am forever beside thee."

Thank you Michelle,

Instead of Paul's - "the good that I would, I do not," we can turn it into 'the good that I would, I do!" Plain and simple, tho' not always as easy to put into practice. What a great way to start the day.

Merci boucoup

Mrs. Eddy uses the word "propensity" (singular or plural) ten times in her published writings, always in the context of evil, as in animal propensities, lower propensities or beastly propensities. In our textbook she refers to "brutal" propensities, and in the next paragraph warns us to "master the propensities" and "choke these errors." (p. 405) since "the abiding consciousness of wrong doing tends to destroy the ability to do right." Even so, it's helpful to be reminded that man's natural propensities, as a child of God, are all positive.

When someone passes away, error always trys the what ifs, and tries to make us feel guilty in some way. I have been struggling with this and have finally realized I can do better, love more, and know feedom from guilt. Thank you for all the comments, so helpful.

For sure. Thanks Michelle.

Thank you, Michelle, for a brand new take on the phrase "master the propensities". Like Dave in Raleigh (#43) I have always thought of this statement as an exhortation to overcome wrong inclinations, but your Lift today has turned the situation on its head and given the lie to the belief that we can have any propensities that are not spiritual. Understanding our real "propensities" as being exclusively spiritual and God-given, and understanding "master" in the sense of "thoroughly learning" (like mastering an art or a science) rather than merely "overcoming", this certainly shows any material propensities to be nothing but counterfeits or illusions -- a distorted view of our real, spiritual propensities -- which we are indeed capable of thoroughly learning and expressing. A real eye-opener!

Putting a nail into the coffin of guilt is a good thing!

A wonderful DL; THANK YOU !!

Thank you.

The stable I was once working for kept moving farther and farther from where I lived because the business-woman who owned the horses and taught riding lessons had to rent space in 200-yer old New England barns until she finally found space ( 33 miles away from where she started) to build a 400-thousand dollar barn with stalls for 35 horses and an indoor riding ring for any weather. It was built to modern standards with plenty of natural lighting. One of the instructors who owned a couple of the horses herself said, "Old New England Barns are so dark." In her poem "To The Old Year" Mrs. Eddy writes, "Thy purpose hath been won! Thou paint'st thy finger, grim and cold, To the dark record of our guilt unrolled, And smiling, say'st, 'Tis done!" [Poems by Mary Baker Eddy, page 26. ] Light and darkness are like innocence and guilt and cannot dwell together. They are opposites.
Thank you for the podcast and for something to think about today while I was about my business.
I tuned in to the podcast via cell phone twice during the day today. Thanks for the music, too.

Dommage, le lien vers le Daily Lift en français ne fonctionne apparemment pas.
And Thanks Michelle for this great lift on a subject that's for so many a challenge!
Dominique

The French webpage is now working. http://christianscience.com/prayer-and-health/inspiration/your-daily-lift/international-lifts/french/11-7-dump-the-guilt-frn
Daily LIft Team

Thank you, Michelle, for “Dump the guilt … engage with good …” Yes! :-) I’ve been learning that God’s laws include progress and adjustment, as well as unfoldment. I’m focusing on the growth and refinement of my spiritual awareness to the increasingly effective daily application of the Truth of being. When I was a child, my mom taught me a “morning prayer,” which is actually the practice of holding an expectation of witnessing and expressing God’s blessings, as each day unfolds. My mom also taught a “bedtime prayer,” which is a grateful review of each day’s discoveries. It’s not unusual to have, by bedtime, the “20/20 hindsight” of a “better way.” Often, I’d realize that I usually could have done much better! Sometimes I felt very guilty. Then, I accepted the “adjustment clause.” It’s not living in “excuses.” It’s just fair and loving “wiggle room” (mercy and forgiveness and patience), in yielding to spiritual unfoldment, which leads to real change and steady growth into one’s “child-of-God” status. Being gentle while progressing is very much in keeping with the example of a shepherd/The Shepherd, by whom the rod is used, not to “beat up,” but instead, to guide the sheep (thoughts, words, and actions). I enjoy a more joyous spiritual journey now, as I’ve “dumped guilt” and taken up the rod of gentle guidance. And so the “Love of learning” is ever with me as I turn from guilt’s graven images, towards God’s blessings unfolding for me and mine and all – every day!

Thank you for good encouragement to finish the week!

thank you all!

Yes, Thank you for this needed message.

Thanks so much Michelle - just what I needed and what the world needs! Thanks also to no.44 (Marilyn from Idaho) in regard to when someone passes on and the guilt we may be tempted to feel (that was just what I needed too!). Also to Nela (no 52) - love the concept of the rod as an instrument for guidance, not to 'beat up'.
Great stuff! Loving this Daily Lift and all who produce it. THANK YOU!!

As I study Christian Science more deeply, my appreciation for the court case in Science and Health (page 430) grows. The conclusion by the presiding Judge: "NOT GUILTY", and the prisoner (the ill man) rises up healed and free! When we take our thoughts to the Court of Spirit, the Judge pronounces us Not Guilty too! I love this lift...a wonderful online lecture entitled Not Guilty by a lecturer from Atlanta (forgive me, can't remember her name) is worth listening to as well. Go to CS.com, to lecturers, and you will find it. Thanks, Michelle...

Thank you so much for this truly uplifting lift! It's another keeper! I've Iistened to it several times, shared it with others and will save it for a reminder that we don't have to let so called past mistakes become virtual millstones around our neck, weighting us down with such non profitable thoughts as come along with it and add weight to it! We can look up, be grateful for the good in our lives today and "let the dead, bury the dead" to quote our dear Savior, Christ Jesus. Mrs. eddy tells us in her wonderful recorded revelation of the Christ, Comforter, Science and Health on P. 5:3 "Sorrow for wrongdoing is but one step towards reform and the very easiest step. The next and great step required by wisdo is the test of our sincerity, -namely, reformation." I love that! To me it says "ok, you messed up! You realize it, now correct it and get on with your primary job, bearing witness to the truth! Oh yes, one more thing, don't do it again!". Thank you for removing the stumbling block for us all in this lift! I love it!

Thanks Michelle!

I love this line in S&H, it allows me "to turn the other cheek," and to "'Agree to disagree' with approaching symptoms of" guilt (or any malady):

“Sorrow has its reward. It never leaves us where it found us. The furnace separates the gold from the dross that the precious metal may be graven with the image of God. The cup our Father hath given, shall we not drink it and learn the lessons He teaches?”

Having not left me where it found me I rejoice with Mrs Eddy, our beloved Leader when she wrote in Miscellaneous Writings, p 10:

Whatever envy, hatred, revenge
— the most remorseless motives that govern mortal mind
— whatever these try to do, shall "work together for good to them that love God."
Why?
Because He has called His own, armed them, equipped them, and furnished them defenses impregnable. Their God will not let them be lost; and if they fall they shall Rise again, stronger than before the stumble. The good cannot lose their God, their help in times of trouble. If they mistake the divine command, they will recover It, countermand their order, retrace their steps, and reinstate His orders, more assured to press on safely.
The best lesson of their lives is gained by crossing swords with temptation, with fear and the besetments of evil; insomuch as they thereby have tried their strength and proven it; insomuch as they have found their strength made perfect in weakness, and their fear is self-immolated.

Michelle,

 I have noticed in human life,   that some people go on and on about how much rest or sleep they need. It is very individual. And the ones that need more than others don't feel upset about it, they just claim they need it and it must happen. And they get their sleep.

However, I have never heard the same concept with prayer and Bible study. People don't speak up about it. But  some people need more prayer and study. It just has to be for them to function correctly. Shouldn't be shame in that because people that need more sleep aren't ashamed. It just is. 

Guilt tries to make me feel uncomfortable for that need I have. People ask what are you doing? I have been raked over the coals for spending too much time. I have tried to hide it. I had to justify it. Defend it. Others  have said you don't need to do it like that. But it works better for me to approach it as God has shown me. 

I am not taking on the guilt others have tried to give me for needing more prayer time than others deem normal. I am not listening to the ugly comments, "must be nice to have the time to spend on prayer. As they tell me they never had that time to give to it so extensively." or that I must be challenged if I need so much extra time. I am done with the guilt. 

If I needed lots of time for sleep no one would care, just accept it. So needing lots of time for prayer and study is just a need. Go away Guilt.

Sent from my iPad

SOOOO amazingly good, Michelle....I heard a phrase that I have studied for years in such clear tones..."master the propensities"...Ah, yes, this great laboratory for mastery learning. Thanks so much!

When I am away from home, I always love returning to my computer to catch up with these wonderful lifts and comments. Nela, #52, if you come back to this lift, just want to thank you for your words of wisdom. So helpful to me!

Sending love to the entire DL community. I don't always comment, but my life is enriched by each of you. These Daily Lifts are such a blessing as I grow in my spiritual understanding.

60, "they" did the same to Noah as he faithfully built the ark that was coming to him to do, and he was ready for the flood. Stick to your prayers, you'll see your nature transformed, like Jacob, and you'll find yourself rising above "the temporal débris," as Mrs Eddy says.

And Jayne, I came across the Christian Science Perspective at the end of the Christian Science Monitor magazine from October 29, of this year that I think you'll like. Also a friend e mailed this link to me:

http://sentinel.christianscience.com/shared/view/mlv6mwzodo?s=e

I hope you enjoy them!

Much and only. Love!

"Mastering the good"--an excellent idea to carry forward into the day.

Steve, you are so thoughtful! Thank you so much for sending me that info. I printed out the link and will need to really study it more. I'll need to go to our local RR for the CS Monitor and will do that soon.

I truly appreciate your kindness! Much Love back to you!

:-)!

I thank you so much Michelle, for the helpful lift.

Thank you for this Lift! I often struggle with the language of Paul's writings, can you tell us which translation you were reading from (the passage about the good that Paul wanted to do but did not)? I found it very clear, and would like to read more.

Michelle used the International Standard Version (©2012)
Daily Lift Team

Thank you, Daily Lift Team! This will be helpful to me in my study! :)