Various Practices To Do On The Hour
Hourly practice is, of course, one of the mainstays of the Workbook. Here are some of the many practices that the Workbook instructs us to do on the hour. If you are in Part II of the Workbook, or are doing post-Workbook practice, you may want to try to incorporate some of the following practices into your repertoire.
Meditate (93, 94 ,95, 96, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 107, 109, 110, 139, 152)
Sink down and inward towards your Self, toward your true thoughts, toward the happiness God placed within you.
Repeat idea, knowing that the Holy Spirit will carry your gift around the world and give it back increased in power (97)
Say: “Spirit am I, a holy Son of God, free of all limits, safe and healed and whole, free to forgive, and free to save the world.” Know that the Holy Spirit will accept this gift, carry it around the world and give it back to you, increased in power.
Repeat the words, let the Holy Spirit give them back filled with conviction and sincerity (98)
Repeat idea (“I will accept my part in God’s plan for salvation”). Give Him the words and let Him do the rest. He will join with you in practicing. He will accept your words and give them back to you bright with all His faith and confidence. He will make every repetition a total dedication, made with deep conviction, sincerity and certainty, and full understanding of the words you say.
Let the Holy Spirit enter the dark and secret places in your mind; forgive those places (99)
Repeat idea (“Salvation is my only function here”) and turn to the Holy Spirit and let His light enter all the darkened places of your mind and light them up. Open your secrets to Him. Forgive these dark places. Forgive your thoughts that you made another self with another function. Realize that this never happened, for it is not the Will of God.
Extend God’s peace and joy to those you have denied these gifts and then accept these gifts for yourself (105)
Think of those to whom you denied God’s peace and joy, for thus you denied them to yourself. Tell each one as he occurs to you: “My brother, peace and joy I offer you, that I may have God’s peace and joy as mine.” Then say: “God’s peace and joy are mine.” Let God’s Voice assure you the words are true. Experience the joy and peace that belong to you.
Ask and listen for wisdom from God (106)
Say: “I will be still and listen to the truth. What does it mean to give and to receive?” Expect an answer, for the answer has waited long to come to you. It will begin your ministry.
Extend light to others and then receive the gift you gave (108)
Repeat idea (“To give and to receive are one in truth. I will receive what I am giving now.”). Close your eyes and offer everyone what you would like to receive. Say, for example: “To everyone I offer quietness. To everyone I offer gentleness.” And so on. Say each slowly, then pause to receive the gift you gave. It will come in the exact amount you gave it. You may want to choose one person as a symbol for everyone. Through giving to this one you give to everyone.
Repeat idea and allow your mind to rest in silence and peace for a moment (Review III)
Repeat and dwell on a longer version of the idea (121, 124, 129, 138)
For instance: “Forgiveness is the key to happiness. I will awaken from the dream that I am mortal, fallible and full of sin, and know I am the perfect Son of God.”
Remember to think of God and thank Him for everything He gave you (123)
Remind yourself of the purpose of the day (125)
Be still and in quiet receive God’s Word. Remind yourself that this is your special purpose today.
Remember your function (137)
Remember your function of letting your mind be healed so that you may extend healing to the world. Say: “When I am healed I am not healed alone. And I would bless my brothers, for I would be healed with them, as they are healed with me.”
Speak to God and listen for His answer (140)
Say your healing prayer: “Only salvation can be said to cure. Speak to us, Father, that we may be healed.” Then listen in joyous silence, and hear God’s answer.
Remember the Holy Spirit and lift your mind to Him in gratitude (151)
Remember the Holy Spirit Who restored you to sanity. Lift your resurrected mind to Him in gratitude.
Thank God for His guidance in the previous hour and ask for it for the hour to come (153-200)
Sit quietly and wait on God. Thank Him for His gifts in the previous hour. And let His Voice tell you what He wants you to do in the coming hour.
Forgive the happenings of the previous hour (193-200)
Apply the lesson to the happenings of the previous hour. Do not let it cast its shadow on the hour to come. Thus you unloose the chains of time and remain unbound while still in time.
Thank God for remaining with you and for hearing and answering your call (232)
Give thanks to God that He has remained with you and will always be there to hear your call to Him and answer you.
[Please note: ACIM passages quoted in this article reference the Foundation for Inner Peace (FIP) Edition.]