The Voice of God speaks to me all through the day.
1. It is quite possible to listen to the Voice of God all through the day without interrupting your usual activities in any way.I
²The part of your mind in which truth abides is in constant communication with God, whether you are aware of it or not.
³It is the other part of your mind that functions in the world and obeys its laws.
⁴That is the part that is constantly distracted, disorganized, and very uncertain.
2. The part that is listening to the Voice of God is calm and quiet, always at rest, and completely certain.
²It is the only part of your mind that truly exists.
³The other is a frantic, wild illusion, disturbed and unreal.
⁴Try not to listen to it today.
⁵Try instead to identify with the part of your mind where stillness and peace forever reign.
⁶Try to hear the Voice of God calling to you in love, reminding you that your Creator has not forgotten His Son.
3. Today we will need at least four five-minute practice periods, and more if possible.
²Today we will try to truly hear the Voice of God reminding you of Him and of your Self.II
³We approach this thought with confidence, the happiest and holiest of all, knowing that in doing so, we are joining our will to the Will of God.
⁴He wants you to hear His Voice.
⁵He gave It to you so that you might hear It.
4. Listen in deep silence.
²Be very still and open your mind.III
³Leave behind the strident voices and sick imaginings that hide your real thoughts and obscure your eternal link with God.
⁴Sink deeply into the peace that waits for you beyond the frantic, riotous thoughts and the sights and sounds of this insane world.
⁵You do not live in that world.
⁶We are trying to reach your real home.
⁷We are trying to reach the place where you are truly welcome.
⁸We are trying to reach God.
5. Do not forget to repeat today’s idea often.IV
²Do so with your eyes open when necessary, but close them when possible.
³And be sure to sit quietly, repeating today’s idea whenever you can, closing your eyes to the world and acknowledging that you are inviting the Voice of God to speak to you.
I That is so. That is simply a fact, though you probably don’t see it that way. The reason you do not hear it is also very simple: you are not listening. You do not set your will on hearing it, and that is why you do not hear it. You may also be unaware of the fact that your mind’s power to block the Voice of God is as great as the Power of God to make Himself heard, because the power of your mind is precisely the Power of God. Through that Power He created you and gave it to you wholly, along with the freedom to use it as you would.
You cannot hear two voices at once. Your mind always chooses one and disregards the other. That is inevitable. This Course tells you that one is the voice of the ego and the other, the voice of the Holy Spirit. And perhaps this leaves you somewhat confused, because you are not clear about which voices it refers to. In fact, it is very simple. The voice of the ego is the one you know as your own voice. It is that incessant inner dialogue you maintain with yourself, and also the words that come out of your mouth when you speak, without knowing exactly how they occur to you or where they come from. All of that is the voice of the ego, and it is something that in truth has nothing to do with you, even though you witness it. The sad circumstance is that you confuse being a witness with being an author, and you claim as yours what you hear. The truth is that it is not, but you believe it is.
The voice of the Holy Spirit also occurs in you; it comes from God and is the perfect answer to any matter you consider. In this case, it is not a compulsive voice, like the ego’s, but one you must “activate” through your invitation to hear it. In reality, the Holy Spirit has no discourse of His own: He is your Father’s answer to all your requests, nothing more, but nothing less than that.
To hear the voice of the Holy Spirit is the same as to want to hear it and to believe that it will tell you what is best and what you need because, ultimately, it is a belief resting on reality. Therefore, to hear it requires that you engage your will and your trust. Realize that this, in truth, is a Course in the exercise of the will, and remember that trust is the fundamental characteristic of God’s teachers.
II This is the fourth time you are urged to try to pay attention to the part of your mind where the Voice of God resides. Today’s is an exercise of pure will that requires great determination and honesty, but also great innocence and trust. Realize that you will begin the exercise from the lower part of your mind, which rules the ego, but if you do it well you will find yourself, to your surprise, in the other part, in your higher mind, for both are you.
III Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
IV The fact that you remember to do it will give you an indication of what your heart truly desires. Do not be afraid. You will not hear a resounding heavenly proclamation; you will hear precisely what is most fitting for you in that very moment. The content of what you hear will be determined by the position of your heart at that instant. If you are preoccupied with trivialities, you will hear a wise answer to that triviality. If you are distressed for any reason, you will receive a message of comfort, safety, and peace. Try to remember throughout the day what is truly best for you; listen.