FAITH

By

Lilian T. Bowen, Watertown, Conn.

(From the Washington News Letter, Volume 22, October 1916)

OME with me and look in the dictionary for some of the definitions of Faith.

There we see that Faith is belief; unshaken adherence; the assent of the mind to
Divine revelation; fidelity; trust. Then if we read the eleventh chapter of Hebrews we find
that Paul tells us of the many things that Faith will do.

Turning backward we read of the examples of Faith demonstrated by Able, Enoch,

Noah, Moses and many others, for both the Old and New Testament are full of the
evidences of faith and what it can do. Jesus often spoke of it and said, "By your faith are
ye healed."

But Faith belongs to more than religious experience. Faith is one of the faculties of the
Master Mind, and its most perfect expression is, of course, found in the spiritual nature,
but it should be developed along all its lines and in all its phases to bring out all the
beauty of its wonderful character.

Faith is a Power and those who have Faith in themselves accomplish where others fail.

Belief is another term in which to express Faith, and Jesus did not seem to make any
difference between them.

True Faith is not a mental attribute, but is in the inner, the spiritual part of man, and is
founded upon spirit.

As with the other faculties, Faith has a center through which it ex

presses its spiritual powers. By physiologists this center is called the pineal gland, and
is located in the upper brain.

Religious people have always expected great things of Faith in God, and it has
occupied a vast place in their experiences, but it has really been but a blind confidence
that God would grant whatever was asked of Him, and when they were disappointed
time after time, they became filled with doubt and felt that God had changed His laws.
When a man with a large and active brain has perfect Faith in himself he can do a great
deal, but he can do no miracles through that faith, because he is limited by his intellect.
But when down deep in the spiritual consciousness Faith is exercised under Divine Law,
it will bring results that, to some, look like miracles and that without disappointment or
variation.

"According to thy Faith be it unto you," said the greatest Teacher of all. The New
Testament is rich in these allusions.

There is a great and Infinite supply, and according to your faith you may draw from it.
Realize your unity, your at-one-ness with Infinite Life by Faith.

Believe (which means have Faith) and the Life, the health which is the water of the
Living God, the God within you, will overflow its deep hidden wells and so flood your life
with Peace and Joy that you will express in your own being that health and poise and
power for which we are all seeking.

We cannot expect to attain this in a moment, but when we earnestly seek it we will
surely find it.

Each day can be a new beginning, not can be, but is a new begining, and when we
awaken in the morning we should ask for help and guidance just for the one day. Live
one day at a time, "Give us this day our daily bread." We are not told to look or ask for
the supply for tomorrow, but to have the Faith to leave that to the loving Father of all.
Surely He who looks after the sparrows, and considers the lilies, will take care of you,
His own child. And He conies and makes His home within your heart, and the having
Faith is often nearer than you sometimes realize.

Affirm Faith, Faith in God, Faith in yourself, Faith in your fellowman.

The Christians of early times were taught to have Faith, unlimited Faith in God and His
powers, and they healed and performed what would now be called miracles, in His Holy
Name, but as time passed on they lost their unity with the Spirit and their Faith waned;
so at last it came to be believed that those miracles were unnecessary, or that the
power was given to a few, to the priests, or some holy person called Saints.

We of today are beginning to understand the law again, and we know that Faith,
persistent, constant, unwavering Faith, will do the same things that Jesus and His
disciples did.

Never condemn yourself; get in tune with yourself, and so you will get in tune with the
Infinite. When you have done a thing have Faith in it and in yourself, believing that you
at that time did just the right thing. When some other problem comes up solve that in the
same way by asking help from God and having Faith in the result.
You must have Faith in the invisible mental and spiritual forces if you wish to succeed in
demonstrating anything along the lines of the Higher Law.

Jesus said to the woman: "Thy Faith has saved thee, go in peace." There you have it
Peace, go in peace. If we have Faith we shall have peace. Do not be discouraged if the
first efforts are not successful and feel that you have failed. Faith must have time to
grow.

We must have love also in our hearts, Faith, Hope and Love, and the greatest of these
is Love. If we have Faith we will also have hope and love, and love begets Faith and
Hope.

God is the same yesterday, today and forever; so if wrong results come the fault is not
with God, but with yourself. If you see only good, good will come, for evil is only our
attitude of mind towards things. If that attitude is changed, everything will appear good.

If we wish to help ourselves or others we must have Faith that we can do the works
"through the Father." We must develop this faculty, we must use it, for nothing grows
without use.

Even a very little Faith will sometimes bring great results, for, remember, we are told we
can move mountains if we have Faith as large as a grain of mustard seed; and again
that if we do not doubt in our hearts but believe (have Faith), that what He saith cometh
to pass.

Let us have Faith and know in our hearts what has been done, can be done, and that by
continued effort we can make of ourselves that which we were meant to be.

We, each of us, have different problems in life to meet and overcome. Let each one find
out what he needs for his development, his unfoldment, then send out the prayer or
affirmation for that need, send it out in Faith, knowing that it is already answered; that
from the unlimitable, infinite supply of the Father the need has been filled in the spirit.
And if it is held continually in mind, in Faith, it will become a mental substance.

Do not hold that mistaken idea that it is things which make happiness; it is the mental
attitude towards things. A large fortune, a fine house, many friends, do not make
contentment; that is brought about by Faith in the one Great Power, Faith that all is well,
all will be well.

It is our only protection against all seeming adverse circumstances, until we get into
the full knowledge of the wonderful Power that upholds the Universe.

The only True Ideas are those which exist in Divine Principle, and as one grows in Faith
one can perceive this more clearly.
 One should not fight evil; it is but a waste of time; for the only conditions that are real,
that are lasting, are those of good; and if character is built on Faith and Love one will
eventually reach that understanding.

Sometime in the life of each soul, Faith and doubt will contend for supremacy,
sometimes one seems to lose all Faith and let doubt control. When such is the case do
not be discouraged but look to the Master within and ask for help, and the help will
surely come, Faith will again manifest itself in us.

Each experience makes for strength and teaches how the next test that comes may be
met. It is only by practice in exercising Faith, as in other things, that growth is perfected.

Do not say, do not believe that everything is against you, for in that way you set up a
condition of mind that reacts upon yourself, and all things seem to go wrong, for what
you think you create. "As a man thinketh in his heart so is he."

If man will stand erect and use The power of will, his chains will fall

Like worthless rags;

For will and Faith are stronger than
The stoutest chains that men have
Ever made.

I know not where His islands lift

Their fronded palms in air,

I only know I cannot drift

Beyond His love and care.

His love and care, believe in it, rest in it, have Faith in it.

Oh, the sweetness, the lovingness of that feeling when one really has the Faith that one
is never beyond His love and care.