Faith is a Productive Force
Nothing is more powerful than a changed mind – and when a mind is transformed and restored to Truth there can be no more fear or worry.
Faith does this to us, when we keep going and doing our thing despite of what appearances tell us and regardless of if people are hearing us or not; we just keep moving with that which is of importance to us.
Anything we do, whatever goals we have, whatever desires and hopes we have for ourselves or humanity, none of them can become reality unless there’s faith involved.
Most important is having faith because when faith is lacking there’s nothing there but lukewarm wishes that carries no power at all.
I don’t care what you have faith in; for most people it’s in their God, but whatever you call it I know it’s all You, and as long as you have the kind of faith that moves mountains, then I’m fine with whatever word you use.
If you however don’t have the kind of faith that actually removes the mountains (=issues/challenges) in your life, then this article might be just the right one for you to read right now.
I know that the power is who I am, that it’s all in me and that it is all good – and that same power is within each and everyone of us.
There are people out there that are frustrated and worried –
There are people out there who are wondering if God is even listening – and I’m telling you that you don’t have to have any concerns at all about that because if you heard and understood what you said, then rest assured that your God did too – because you are One and the same!
There is power in prayer (self-talk) and someone I talked with the other day who is fairly new to spirituality asked me “well, how often do you pray..?” and I told them “All the time!”.
My prayers are not the begging kind (there’s only begging and pleading when people believe in duality), they are simply an ongoing, constant, communication with the Truth within me.
We can all can have the wonderful experience of being plugged into this at all times, we only need to seek it out.
Most people don’t though, they prefer running around frantically trying to rearrange surface things instead of coming from a place of peace and inner direction, which can only come from having gone within in the first place.
Intuition always speaks to us (even when we don’t mediate or pray), but to have a constant flow going on there has to be both listening to it and also a more active part where you in prayer ask it to show you whatever it is that you need and want to know. (Listening and asking).
And what’s the use of prayer if you pray without faith? To pray and merely hope, or pray wishing that you’re being heard accomplishes nothing at all.
It’s faith that produces the fruits of our prayers.
I don’t wish that my prayers will come true, I know they are on their way as we speak.
I don’t hope, I know. That’s why I can be at complete peace; there’s no fear or worry in me in times of transition or change. (Or when I have asked for something).
That’s how faith is productive. It will not produce for you the results you want to see in your world if you don’t believe in them!
But do be aware of the fact that fear is productive too because whatever we expect we get, and the world is full of people who expect failure, limitations and lack.
“I expect great things because I know that the power within me is eternally good”.
In that goodness there is no place for fear or worry, no place for limiting thoughts about my life and who I am, and I know that that’s the truth of your life as well; fear is an error-thought that has no place in who we truly are.
I don’t say these things to merely uplift and encourage you, to me this is a living reality and I can with confidence say that however your life may look at the moment, there’s wonderful things happening in your life right now.
Believe it! Expect it.
Look at it this way; either expect great things, or expect to fail and be miserable. (You don’t even have to fail to be miserable, just invite fear into your life and there you have it).
Whatever you choose, don’t be lukewarm about it, be all in.
If you expect to fail then okay, you have the permission to give up right now. Go and be miserable for the rest of your life,
Or, be all in for victory and triumph.
To wallow somewhere in between will keep you wallowing there for eternity. (This is where wishing and hoping lives too by the way).
Say:
“I’ve had it with this on and off thing! I’m gonna do this, even if it’s the last thing I ever do, I WILL DO IT, and I will have faith that it will all work out.
And not only in good ways but in awesomely great ways! That’s right; GREAT ways. I hereby claim the great, the very best!”.
That’s faith. It moves you.
Wishing is weak, hoping is even weaker, but faith is a force of nature – faith will remove the mountains. Not your wishes or hopes, but Faith will do it.
Faith in yourself and the power within you.
I could hear in the persons voice the other day (who asked me about how I pray) that they wanted me to share how to pray, what to say and so on, because they simply didn’t know.
So I shared with them because I want people to know that it’s not complicated and it doesn’t require any props like lit candles or incense, altars, or bent knees or any of that.
It’s self-talk, so you don’t have to impress anyone. Speak freely and powerfully.
Speak with authority, with expectancy, but not in an ego-demanding way, but in a no-nonsense way where you simply claim and appropriate what is yours for the taking.
Because you have come to know that there’s great things in this life that belongs to you because of who you are. (You are Christ consciousness).
You can do this in different ways; either by first going into silence and then when you get into a meditative state, you simply start speaking about everything that’s on your mind and heart and you ask a lot of questions.
In an expectant way; as if you expect guidance and direction. (Again, don’t merely hope or wish).
Always with expectancy and a knowingness that every word you utter has been heard and now the answers are on their way to you.
You don’t ask wishing or hoping that the power within will hear you – you know it hears you and that it answers you.
Or, you can do this in everyday moments at any time without going into silence:
If fear, worry, or doubt comes up, immediately interrupt those thoughts with a statement of Truth.
This too with power and authority.
Do not be intimidated by fear, it has nothing on you and can never touch you when you abide in a place of faith and trust, so don’t be timid about it.
Declare, with authority, that those thoughts do not belong to you; has nothing to do with you, nothing whatsoever.
Don’t be trembling about it or by trying to reason with your fear but speak with authority.
You cut it off with power in your voice, like a parent that speaks to a misbehaving child.
Fear simply does not belong to you and that’s that.
After you have said that affirm what is true about you. (Remember who you really are).
You can also interrupt fearful thoughts with an affirmation or prayer (Lord’s prayer for example) by simply redirecting you attention to that which is true and eventually the mind will grow tired and will no longer go in that direction.
I say this because of my own personal experiences, I’m not just trying to cheer you up.
Keep affirming the Truth of who you are until its established in your whole being.
Know that if your heart is pure then there’s nothing to be anxious about, just continue affirming Truth and don’t engage in worry or fear.
We’re all talking with ourselves all the time anyway so you might as well start saying things that makes sense, and fear is a total waste of time and will not lead to anything good.
It only robs you of your good when you could have been peacefully going about your business doing whatever you feel inclined to do right now, trusting that the power within you is directing all your steps.
Enjoy your life and use your time well, use it on things that matters.
Do this right now if there’s still some doubt left in you:
Sincerely look if there’s anything more you can do (without strain and struggle) and if you can’t see anything, go within and say something like this: (Speak silently to yourself).
“I’m speaking to the power within me that knows everything about me and my life.
I feel that I have done all I can do regarding ________ and you know my heart, you know there’s nothing more that I want than to be moved by the Truth within, so if there’s anything – anything at all – that I’m somehow missing, that I’m not aware of, then direct my ways right now and show me what that is so that I can take appropriate and right action.
I will listen carefully now and if I don’t hear anything I will take it as a sign that the rest is up to you and that I can leave it all to you to handle.
Speak the Truth to me clearly so I that I really understand any messages. I’m listening”.
And then you sit there, listening. Not seeking answers, but letting answers come to you. (Sometimes people think that they should listen to their thoughts, but that’s not it; you listen beyond the thoughts, behind them).
If nothing comes up (you will feel intuitively when it’s time to stop the prayer meditation), declare that you take that as you have done what could be done by you and now the power within does the rest.
If you have done what you can and you don’t see what more you can do, then relax about it.
And while you go about your day and do the things you do, stay attentive and open, but don’t try to fix anything.
Sincerely take your focus off of the issue or challenge completely, trusting that the power and wisdom within you is doing its work in your life right now.
In these times of transition we need to still use our time well, even if we don’t “do” things.
We don’t waste our time on trivialities, but instead we tend to the inner while letting the outer take care of itself.
When we keep doing what we know to do on the inside (sometimes that means reading and listening to inspirational stuff and nothing else) we can be witness to the outer changes with the inner transformation that takes place with no doing whatsoever on our part (things just seem to happen and unfold for us).
At times it may feel that maybe there’s not anything more you can do, but don’t get spiritually passive; keep reading and going within and do things that inspires you to grow spiritually.
Above all, don’t do anything you don’t have peace about, and keep that internal communication going.
“Something great is about to happen, I can feel it!”
Have you ever felt as if life gave you a promise?
I have, and those times have been among the most beautiful and wonderful experiences in my entire life.
I have actually been so taken by the promises that has been made to me that I have broken down and cried of joy and gratitude in the ugly-cry-way. (As in ‘sobbing’:)
I’m sure I’m not the only one that has received such promises.
Trust them. A promise is a promise. A promise. Spirit will not fail you, you can depend on its word.
Something wonderful is on its way to you.
Work is being done in the background of life. You can’t see it, but you can sense it can’t you?
Believe that great things are happening, and remember that the result will be according to your faith.
Faith only works along with patience and full assurance of good things to come. Faith is full of expectation.
Right now you’re being prepared, you’re in a process of growth and you’re maturing, your character is being built, you’re a hero in training, and the power who holds it all together for you is Love. (=Eternal goodness).
Rest peacefully in this love and don’t be anxious; rejoice in what is on its way to you.
Firmly stay in the serene confidence faith brings and continue following your inner guidance no matter how things might look on the outside.
“I’m in the process of receiving my good now”.
Release faith by affirming Truth. (Faith conquers fear every time).
Trust that the ongoing conversation you have with yourself always guides you, and if there’s anything you need to do or know you will be shown exactly what that is;
“I trust my intuition 100%.
I know that the power and wisdom within me directs all my ways, and I have asked for clear direction and therefor I also know that I receive it.
Until I hear clear guidance I will not move a finger on the outside but instead in complete confidence put all things in the hands of the power within, trusting that great things are being accomplished in my life right now.
Thank You”.
Here’s another article that you might like:
mariaerving.com/facing-challenges
Information about different options regarding sessions with me:
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Great read, Maria, as always! Immensely helpful. However, I have a question (s). What is faith? How does a person develop it? You’ve spoken about the importance of having faith but is it something that can be cultivated through sheer will power? You can’t just will yourself into having faith, can you? Where does faith come from? Faith and love are two words whose definitions I have never found.
Without faith and love, life is impossible to live. And right now I am struggling to live my life… Because I have no access to faith or love, despite my sincere and relentless pursuit of truth.
Thank you Razzel, I’m glad to hear that you found it helpful. 😊
And great questions! Thank you for sharing.
One thing about faith and trust is that we all already have it.
You already have faith in something, you already trust something, so the question is; what are you trusting, and where do you put your faith?
In what the small, limited self says, or what your higher self (or God) says?
That’s the question – Because faith and trust are things we already have and practice on a daily basis.
So trust is about CHOICE, essentially, and about awareness.
The higher level of self-awareness you have, the less issues you have with trust and faith, so it’s a matter of learning how to trust in the Right things.
How? By stepping out, test it, – that’s how we find out what the rewards are for trusting the Divine, or the flow of your own life’s energy.
You can also use affirmations to change your thinking by ‘telling’ your limited mind (the ego) that you now CHOOSE to trust in your own inner voice, or “God”, whatever word you want to use.
Here’s a post with a mantra that you can use that can be helpful to you:
https://mariaerving.com/with-truth-now-mantra
And here’s some of my articles and other content about faith and trust that will be helpful to you as well:
https://mariaerving.com/?s=faith
https://mariaerving.com/?s=trust
So yes, there’s will-power involved, but the way you use it has more to do about un-learning the things that you have been conditioned to believe is true, and which always induces fear, worry, and so on, in a persons life.
The mind responds well to the word choose/choice, because that’s what were suppose to use our conscious mind to, to choose (by our free will), and then the higher mind executes whatever we give our trust and faith to.
What faith is? It’s one of our innate faculties that we need to be able to exist and ‘live’.
Some other faculties that we have is intuition, imagination, memory, perception etc (and will).
We already have those things, but we have to learn how to use them, or develop them (because most of us have been taught to only trust what our 5 senses tell us), so that we can live our most aligned and empowered life.
So it’s about acknowledging that we have these things; intuition, imagination, free will to choose, etc, and then learning to use them in the Right way.
It’s the same with imagination; we are always using it, but How are you using it? And What are you trusting, etc.
See what I mean?
You don’t have to learn or ‘will’ yourself to trust or have faith,
It’s more about realizing how you are already trusting, but you’re trusting the wrong things, and thus giving away your power to the ego mind who sees and perceive things through the filters of fear-based beliefs etc.
So you do have access to faith, trust and love, it’s just a matter of seeing things clearly, from a perceptive of your soul, or your higher self, the Truth of your being.
Hope this was helpful to you – And feel very welcome to let me know if you have any other questions about anything!
Thank you, Maria. You are truly a blessing.
Your mention of ‘unlearning’ reminds me of Maulana Rumi’s poetry, especially the line, “Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” I guess I do recognize this idea on an intellectual level but am currently struggling to do the needful – creating a sense of stillness within me so that faithfulness can emerge.
One thing I’d like to ask. I read one of your posts called, “How do you survive on the spiritual path if you don’t have a job?” a few months ago and I left a question in your comments section (under the name ‘Joy’), which you responded to in the most beautiful, comprehensive way. By the time I posted that question, it had already been a few months since I had quit my job. I quit my job because I simply couldn’t do it any longer. I kept it for as long as I had it in me… in fact, longer than that… until I quite literally collapsed. I was and am so deeply immersed in this exhausting psycho-spiritual journey that god has put me on that I can’t even get myself to brush my teeth on most days, let alone work a job. I am a dutiful, conscientious person otherwise and have never willfully abdicated my responsibilities. But these intense ups and downs that come with taking on the spiritual path, have cost me my reputation. The few years when I felt okay, I would study my ass off and maintain excellent grades. But as the spiritual journey intensified, it began to have catastrophic effects on my practical life. In the beginning, when I resisted the path, I spiraled into total darkness. My grades suffered terribly… so much so that I failed my A-levels twice. By the time college happened, I had become a bit more accepting of the journey although there were days where I would go back into my shell again… and so I performed extraordinarily in some semesters, failed in others, and in the end came out with an average gpa. It’s been over two years since I graduated… and the journey is on a downward spiral again.
I worked my job for 1.5 years in a state of extreme confusion and agony. Every day was hell. Crippling anxiety, depression, brain fog, chronic fatigue, nightmares… leading me to underperform at work. My first employer was confused because he knew me to be better than this and so he would go easy on me. He was empathetic and saw my struggle. But eventually I ghosted on him because of the guilt (and now I feel guilty about the ghosting). A friend of mine helped me get a new job somewhere alongside her. I told myself I’m okay and that I can do this. Because I BETTER do this. I need a freaking job! I don’t get to be jobless just because I’m going through some airy fairy concept of a spiritual awakening. But my spiritual journey had other plans. It’s like my system collapsed. The machine shut down. I have never felt such a lack of control. I felt suicidal. I was performing terribly at work… and so I quit it. Told myself I’d give myself to the spiritual journey for the next few weeks, improve my health and then start a new job. But it’s been months now. Every day I wake up desperate for it to be the day I finally bounce back. But it’s not happening. It killed me for the first few months but after a while, when I was compelled to surrender, I realized that as much as I want an out, I know that this is necessary. I know because of how much I’ve evolved in these few months. I can feel the internal calm. I can feel my BPD symptoms fading away. I can sense myself becoming more mindful and accepting. I have shed my desires, ambitions and all those expectations I had from myself. Every realization and epiphany felt like a heart attack, but I pushed through. Nothing matters anymore, except for the pursuit of Truth.
I am able to survive without a job because I’m still living with my parents. While I am so grateful for everything the spiritual journey has opened my eyes to… I am also filled with shame and frustration for what my family thinks about me. They are supportive (which is mostly because they were extremely abusive and neglectful during my childhood which they’re now compensating for because they feel guilty) but I feel so disturbed about the fact that I’m considered the ‘irresponsible’ one of my siblings. That I wasn’t wise or competent enough to find my way in life… that I’m stuck because I don’t have it in me like my brother. Or that I am not responsible enough. Or conscientious enough. That I am immature and selfish. That I am too abstract. It doesn’t help that they don’t believe in mental health, let alone the concept of a spiritual journey.
I have had to let go of my dreams and ambitions. I have had to give up on any chances of me having a successful career… or any career whatsoever. I have had to watch my life disintegrate in so many ways. And I took my time but I eventually embraced it all – reluctantly at first, and then joyfully. I accepted it because I felt the presence of a higher power. I put my trust in him.
But how am I supposed to deal with being misunderstood? How am I supposed to convince people around me that I am trying my best here? That I am not making excuses? I am grateful that I have a house to be in and food that’s paid for by my family because otherwise I’d be out on the streets. How do I deal with being considered a deadbeat? Sometimes my own mind tells me… that I’m just making excuses, that there’s no such thing as what I think I’m experiencing… that I’m dumb and delusional… and that I just need to get off my ass and work. And that if I can’t bring myself to do that, then I might as well just quit life altogether. End things. It’s wrong to live with your parents at 26. How is it justifiable to be jobless for so long? It’s a luxury! I am selfish and delusional, aren’t I? Why can’t I just work? Imagine if I were a man. What parents would offer their house to their unemployed son while he tends to his ‘spiritual journey’? I am selfish and delusional.
But sometimes I am so convinced that once I’m on the other side of this spiritual process, I will regain my willpower and strength to live a normal life (Get a job, put everything back on track) because I believe that what I’m experiencing is real. It’s not made up. And I believe in my conscientiousness. I believe that I am not a deadbeat. Throughout my life, I have never asked my family for anything. Not one thing. I went through all the hell they put me through as a child, silently. Throughout my life, I conducted myself with discipline and dignity. But my A-levels disaster and now my joblessness… How do I explain this to people who speak another language altogether?
And sometimes, I am scared. What if I never come out the other side? What will I do when by the end of this year, I am still caught up with the spiritual process? How will I deal with being misunderstood? How do I contend with the fact that I ghosted on my amazing, empathetic boss? And that I displayed a bad work ethic to my second boss? And that my friends and my family think I’m fooling myself and everyone? And that inner voice inside me… that agrees with them all? Does god want me to rid myself of concerns about how I come across to other people? How is wanting to convince my parents that I am not a deadbeat… emanating from my ego?
And when will this agony end? When will the journey allow me to bounce back to real life again? I’ve been battling with my ego for so long… I am so tired. Is it normal to be so intensely occupied with your spiritual journey that you have no time or stamina to give to anything else? On some days, not even to teeth brushing? I have come so, so, SO far in my journey and yet… this morning, I woke up feeling uneasy again (like every day). I realized I have so much more shadow work to do.
Apologies for the lengthy comment. Thank you so much already, Maria. Just having someone to say this to, helps.
Thank you for sharing Razzel!
Yes! And the barrier, or blockages, has always to do with beliefs, or belief-systems, and the way you think and use (or not use) your mind.
Here are some articles that can be helpful to you to ‘find the barriers within yourself’:
https://mariaerving.com/?s=ego
https://mariaerving.com/?s=belief
I just looked up our conversation below the article about ‘survival on the spiritual path‘ a few months back,
It sounds like you’re in an awakening process, so here are some of my articles that can be helpful to you in terms of understanding what’s going on:
https://mariaerving.com/?s=spiritual+awakening
And yes, just talking about it helps, it’s good to be able to vent and just share freely sometimes.
Hope you’re feeling better now and that you can start setting some new, life-empowering intentions for the journey moving forwards.
Thank you, Maria! <3
You’re so very welcome Razzel, the articles will be helpful to you.
I’m personally not interested in the path that you’re on anymore (the spiritual awakening process), but my articles from that time will always be available on my membership site for anyone who’s going through the process.
Other articles that can be helpful too are these:
https://mariaerving.com/?s=awakening+process
The top articles/first you see are newer ones, but then the rest is pretty much all from that time in my life.
Thank you again, Maria. Lots of prayers your way. I shall look into these articles immediately.
You said you’re not interested in the spiritual awakening process anymore. What do you mean? Just curious!
You’re very welcome Razzel, I know they will be helpful to you.
What I mean by not interested in the spiritual awakening process anymore is that I’m not on that path anymore (and haven’t been for a long time), I’ve moved on to next level stuff.
It happens naturally as you grow and evolve (and awaken to who you are) and realize that you can do whatever you want, that you’re free.
There will come a time in your life too when you’re done with the process (provided you do the inner work and don’t get stuck in any concepts),
and then you just move on and you enjoy your life, focusing on things and people that makes you happy.
You are a free human being, you are Life itself, and knowing this makes life really freaking amazing and beautiful! 😊 That’s the Power and Magic of Alignment!
My About and the Speaking page describes more of what I’m about nowadays, and on the Archives page you can see all the content I’ve published over the past 13 years or so.
Ahh, I see. Well, that’s beautiful and I wish you continued success in your journey! ❤️
Thank you, and the same to you! 😊