Preparation

“Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you.” If you become like God you can read his thoughts; and if you do not you will find the inspirational perception of truth impossible. You can never become a great man or woman until you have overcome anxiety, worry, and fear. It is impossible for an anxious person, a worried one, or a fearful one to perceive truth; all things are distorted and thrown out of their proper relations by such mental states, and those who are in them cannot read the thoughts of God.

“Come close to God and he will come close to you.” If you become like God, you can read his thoughts. If you do not, you will find it impossible to perceive truth through inspiration. You can never become a great man or woman until you have overcome anxiety, worry, and fear. It is impossible for anyone who is anxious, worried, or afraid to perceive truth. These states of mind distort all things and their proper relationships to one another. Those who are in these states cannot read the thoughts of God.

If you are poor, or if you are anxious about business or financial matters, you are recommended to study carefully the first volume of this series, “The Science of Getting Rich” That will present to you a solution for your problems of this nature, no matter how large or how complicated they may seem to be. There is not the least cause for worry about financial affairs; every person who wills to do so may rise above want, have all he needs, and become rich. The same source upon which you propose to draw for mental unfoldment and spiritual power is at your service for the supply of all your material wants. Study this truth until it is fixed in your thoughts and until anxiety is banished from your mind; enter the Certain Way, which leads to material riches.

If you are poor or worried about business or finances, I recommend carefully studying this series’ first volume, “The Science of Getting Rich”. That book will offer a solution to these problems, no matter how large or complicated they may seem. There is no reason at all to worry about finances. Everyone who chooses to can escape poverty, have everything they need, and become rich. The same source you plan to draw on for mental growth and spiritual power can meet all your material needs. Study this truth until it is firmly fixed in your thoughts and all anxiety leaves your mind. Follow the Certain Way, which leads to material wealth.

Again, if you are anxious or worried about your health, realize it is possible for you to attain perfect health so that you may have strength sufficient for all that you wish to do and more. That Intelligence which stands ready to give you wealth and mental and spiritual power will rejoice to give you health also. Perfect health is yours for the asking, if you will only obey the simple laws of life and live aright. Conquer ill-health and cast out fear.

Again, if you are anxious or worried about your health, recognize that perfect health is possible for you. With perfect health, you may have enough strength for all you want to do and more. The Intelligence ready to give you wealth and mental and spiritual power will gladly give you health too. Perfect health is yours for the asking, if you simply follow the basic laws of life and live right. Overcome poor health and drive out fear.

But it is not enough to rise above financial and physical anxiety and worry; you must rise above moral evildoing as well. Sound your inner consciousness now for the motives which actuate you and make sure they are right. You must cast out lust, and cease to be ruled by appetite, and you must begin to govern appetite. You must eat only to satisfy hunger, never for gluttonous pleasure, and in all things you must make the flesh obey the spirit.

But rising above financial and physical anxiety and worry is not enough. You must also rise above moral wrongdoing. Look within yourself now at the motives driving you, and make sure those motives are right. You must rid yourself of lust and stop letting your appetite control you. Instead, you must begin to control your appetite. You must eat only to satisfy hunger, never for the pleasure of overeating. And in all things, you must make your body obey your spirit.

You must lay aside greed; have no unworthy motive in your desire to become rich and powerful. It is legitimate and right to desire riches, if you want them for the sake of the soul, but not if you desire them for the lusts of the flesh.

You must let go of greed. Your desire to become rich and powerful must have no unworthy motive. Wanting wealth is right and acceptable if you want it for the sake of your soul. But not if you want wealth to satisfy your physical appetites.

Cast out pride and vanity; have no thought of trying to rule over others or of outdoing them. This is a vital point; there is no temptation so insidious as the selfish desire to rule over others. Nothing so appeals to the average man or woman as to sit in the uppermost places at feasts, to be respectfully saluted in the market place, and to be called Rabbi, Master. To exercise some sort of control over others is the secret motive of every selfish person. The struggle for power over others is the battle of the competitive world, and you must rise above that world and its motives and aspirations and seek only for life. Cast out envy; you can have all that you want, and you need not envy any man what he has. Above all things, see to it that you do not hold malice or enmity toward any one; to do so cuts you off from the mind whose treasures you seek to make your own. “He that loveth not his brother, loveth not God.” Lay aside all narrow personal ambition and determine to seek the highest good and to be swayed by no unworthy selfishness.

Let go of pride and vanity. Do not think about ruling over others or outdoing them. This point is vital. No temptation is as subtle as the selfish desire to rule over others. Nothing appeals more to the average person than having the most honored seats at feasts, receiving respectful greetings in the marketplace, and being called Rabbi or Master. Exercising some kind of control over others is the hidden motive of every selfish person. The competitive world is a struggle for power over others. You must rise above that world, its motives, and its ambitions, and seek only life. Let go of envy. You can have everything you want, so you need not envy anyone for what they have. Above all, make sure you hold no ill will or hostility toward anyone. Such feelings cut you off from the mind whose treasures you seek to make your own. “Whoever does not love his brother does not love God.” Set aside all narrow personal ambition. Resolve to seek the highest good and not to be guided by any unworthy selfishness.

Go over all the foregoing and set these moral temptations out of your heart one by one; determine to keep them out. Then resolve that you will not only abandon all evil thought but that you will forsake all deeds, habits, and courses of action which do not commend themselves to your noblest ideals. This is supremely important; make this resolution with all the power of your soul, and you are ready for the next step toward greatness, which you will find explained in the following chapter.

Review everything covered so far and remove these moral temptations from your heart one by one. Commit to keeping them out. Then resolve not only to give up all evil thoughts, but also to abandon all actions and habits that fall short of your noblest ideals. This commitment is extremely important. Make it with all the strength of your soul. Then you are ready for the next step toward greatness, explained in the following chapter.