Lesson 1: Bondage Or Liberty, Which?
Historical English edition, complete twelve lessons and study guide
H. Emilie Cady
36. It is perfectly natural for the human mind to seek to escape from its troubles by running away from present environments, or by planning some change on the material plane. Such methods of escape are absolutely vain and foolish. “Vain is the help of man” (Ps. 60:11).
37. There is no permanent or real outward way of escape from miseries or circumstances; all help must come from within.
38. The words, “God is my defense and deliverance,” held in the silence until they become part of your very being, will deliver you out of the hands and the arguments of the keenest lawyer in the world.
39. The real inner consciousness that “the LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Ps. 23:1 A.V.) will supply all wants more surely and far more liberally than can any human hand.
40. The ultimate aim of every man should be to come into the consciousness of an indwelling God, and then in all external matters, to affirm deliverance through and by this divine One. There should not be a running to and fro, making human efforts to aid the Divine, but a calm, restful, unwavering trust in All-Wisdom and All-Power within one as able to accomplish the thing desired.
41. Victory must be won in the silence of your own being first, and then you need take no part in the outer demonstration of relief from conditions. The very walls of Jericho that keep you from your desire must fall before you.
42. The Psalmist said:
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains [or to the highest One]: From whence shall come my help? 43. “My help cometh from Jehovah, Who made heaven and earth. 44. “Jehovah [your indwelling Lord] will keep thee from evil . . . 45. “Jehovah will keep thy going out and thy coming in From this time forth, and for evermore.” (Ps. 121:1, 2, 7, 8)
46. Oh, if we could only realize that this mighty power to save and to perfect, to deliver and to make alive, lives forever within us, and so cease now and forever looking away to others!
47. There is but one way to obtain this full realization--the way of the Christ. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (Jn. 14:6), spoke the Christ through the lips of the Nazarene.
48. Your holding to the words, “Christ is the way,” when you are perplexed and confused and can see no way of escape, will invariably open a way of complete deliverance.