Blessings
Whatever good befalls you is from Allah and whatever evil befalls you is from yourself
Surah An-Nisa 4:79
God is love. Every blessing is given to us in abundance through God. We often blame God for the difficulties that arise in both our personal lives and the world at large; yet as the Ayah emphasizes; goodness and light flow from the Divine. In contrast, our own ‘self’ can be the source of darkness.
Take a moment to observe all the blessings around you, whether it is the air you breathe, the beauty of nature, the sounds of birds. Observe your emotions of openness, compassion, and generosity; these are gifts infused into your heart by the Divine. On the other hand, challenges often trace back to the ‘self’, the ego-driven mind, which breeds worry, fear, and destructive tendencies.
That is why the Prophet (PBUH) used to pray:
”اللَّهُمَّ لَا تَكِلْنِي إِلَى نَفْسِي طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ”
“O Allah, do not leave me to my own self for even the blink of an eye”, as when the ego takes over, it can slowly begin to take over our thoughts.”
If the Prophet (PBUH), the most purified of hearts, prayed not to be left to his own self for even a moment, then how often do we need to return to this prayer?
Stay close to the love of the Divine, constantly charging your soul, and allow that love to overflow to your mind, body and heart.
“When the ego dies, the soul awakes.”
Mahatma Gandhi
As Richard J. Heart mentions, “EGO can stand for Edging God out. By not listening to God, others, and our own bodies, we keep God below our radar. We listen more readily to the voices of materialism, consumerism and individualism.”
Today reflect and journal:
Mindful Awareness: What does your mind want? What are your current desires and worries? Ask yourself, “Where are these emotions coming from? Are they driven by ego or a higher purpose?”
Soulful Connection: Then tune into your soul, where you really feel God’s presence. Notice what fuels you, and what blessings arise when you strengthen that loving connection.
“Mine is always your Highest Thought, your Clearest Word, your Grandest Feeling. Anything less is from another source.
The Highest Thought is always that thought which contains joy. The Clearest Words are those words which contain truth. The Grandest Feeling is that feeling which you call love.”
Conversations with God – Neale Donald Walsch
