Edna Lister on Conquering Self, 1940 to 1949

Edna Lister held to a grueling schedule whenever she campaigned in the cities that were on her regular ‘circuit’ of Light. In addition to her public lectures, speeches and sermons, she regularly corresponded with students, and met with them in personal counseling clinics and private group meetings in cities across the country.

The entries in Conquering Self are drawn from her students’ personal notes. A few of them took shorthand, but very few took down everything she said. Most people write down what strikes them as important, so their notes may seem choppy, jumping from topic to topic. Despite a lack of elegance in Conquering Self, some pioneering mystics find this collection to be of the greatest practical help to them. Enjoy!

— Linda Mihalic, Via Christa site editor













Conquering Self 1940

Love fulfills itself, and love will free you. Love is a consuming flame and will one day burn all detriments from your life.—Edna Lister, January 4, 1940.


The Master is always with you, and needs only an invitation to sup with you, and to hold you at his side. Let his joy reign in your soul, mind, heart, and body as perfect harmony and strength. Then gird your loins and fare forth with him daily to do all-conquering battle with darkness.—Edna Lister, January 21, 1940.


The body is but a shadow of the soul, and it is a matter of choice whether you spend your time pleasuring the body’s senses, or serving God with your soul. Nothing, no mind or power, can stop the soul who is choosing, but opening the door to self is never wise. You ask how to dispel the self’s illusions, and the short answer is by regularly dwelling in the silence. The ancient mystery schools required twenty years of silence to train the neophyte. Will it take you twenty years? It depends on your desire and dedication to attain the mind that was in Christ Jesus. No goal is too high to aspire to reach, and you can achieve it if you are willing to pay the price, which is the surrender of self. You can go anywhere if you are willing to move from the place you currently occupy. What pattern did our Master reveal to us as the Way? He gave his life as proof that ascension success is possible to all souls. Giving your life to succeed in polishing your soul is worth the effort.

You are here on earth to serve God, and one way to do that is to serve your fellow man. However, do not think that you may help another if your goal is to change him or to use him. More Light is all he needs, and the change will then be in accordance with his own soul’s path. No matter what he does or how he behaves, treat him in prayer and declare him good according to his degree and kind. For example, if he is prone to worry rather than to trust God, let him worry, but pray and make declarations for his soul’s illumination. Do not use force to change anyone, not under any circumstances.

If you depend on someone who lets you down, you have likely burdened him with too great a responsibility. Stay above the clouds of earth, standing on a cloud of Light. See the other fellow on a cloud also as you declare for his soul’s growth and expansion. He will then look to you for guidance in growing his soul’s wings, so you can help him build them by encouraging him.—Edna Lister, January 21, 1940.


“Regularly dwelling in the silence will dispel the self’s illusions.”


Remember, steadfastness does bring its own reward with it in due season, so go ahead and declare that this is the season!—Edna Lister, January 26, 1940.


Most people have moments of mental malpractice when they think negative thoughts. The thought comes before the words. Some babble when they should not, usually spewing idle words. However, words do not know what you mean when you say them—their meaning may be a blessing of praise or an idle curse of criticism. Every Mr. Fix-it must learn to place a lock on his lips. Unless you keep your vows of silence, you mock God and can ruin days of your ascension progress.

‘It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!’—Luke 17:1. When your tone too often offends others, God must offend you, and He may do so through another fellow’s words, even his curses. Pick up the pieces of the offender’s shattered creations. It takes dynamic Power, not force, for the truth to come through in a statement. Love the offender, but be strong as you speak law. The one who stands on law holds the focal point in a group, and reaches ’round in the circle of Light to lift the others. Train everyone to hold their points. Caution them and say, ‘You must hold your high point.’

In serving as a leader, remember this law: ‘Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.’—1 Corinthians 10:12. To lead, your self must be nonexistent. Humble yourself to take orders from above, and watch for any dictatorial manner in yourself. Do not criticize authority or the orders you are given. You learn and earn leadership by deepest humility of soul. Watch this in yourself. If needed, soften your attitude to be loving and gentle.—Edna Lister, February 2, 1940.


“Your words do not know what you mean when you speak them.”


You have come to a crucial point in polishing character, a most delicate point of balance. Do not use force to get your way! To overstep the boundary between determination and force is easy, and the danger of becoming hard, dictatorial, or overly forceful is great. Making demands of others will cause resentment that would be fatal to their trust in you and toward you as the offender. Stand, know, love God, and let love do the work. Your business is to agree with God and adjust to others on the common ground.

Never let go of the vision of your high goal, never back down from the high ground gained, but stand unmoved before friend or foe, balanced, poised, and untouched. Hold your head high as a Master of Law, yet pour only love on everyone. Permit yourself no resentments, no element within self that could fight. Others will always try to pierce your armor of love illegally and unlawfully. However, they cannot succeed if yours is pure love—they can but try.

You are entering a world of jealousy and envy, and you cannot change it. You can change only yourself to be so filled with love that love changes whatever you touch and adds it to your power. This is what ‘making your enemy your footstool’ means. (‘The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.’—Psalm 110:1.) You will be called on to work out any remaining pride, arrogance, intolerance, self-will, rebellion, and resentment. Even a trace of such taint in you is a less than perfect expression. During this trial, stand, love God and praise much.

This is your reward for complete surrender of self and your former unbelief—to be a Master of Law and not know it, to be perfect and not know it, to be an angel and not know it, to be beautiful and not know it. Know only this—‘Of myself, I am nothing. The indwelling Father, He does the work.’ Know yourself as only an instrument and a voice through which God speaks, while you remain unconscious of self. Know only Shekinah glory as your goal, your honor and where you stand.

You can follow the Master all the way home simply by letting nothing that happens on earth hold you back or stop you. You may enjoy others’ appreciation as you serve where you are, but do not lose sight of your destiny. Full soul vision and soul-satisfying knowledge of perfect expression will be yours. You will see and hear spiritually as easily as you see the person next to you. So, hold fast to your ideals, and let your banner fly high. You have no time to cater to personalities, near, dear or outside. You know what you want, so be strong enough to conquer self.—Edna Lister, February 2, 1940.


“Of myself, I am nothing—the indwelling Father, He does the work.”


To ascend, you must cleanse your mind of limiting ideas, and your memory of false beliefs. replace them with these declarations: ‘My soul’s place is in God’s glory. My heart is now filled with the Light of God’s presence. My mind is filled with illumination of the Christ mind. My body is a vehicle of the Father’s expression. My feet are shod with His glory. My hands bless and lift all they touch. My lips always shout glad words of praise. Love possesses me, and I have only love for all others. I have no enemies.’

Always accept, believe and stand, on these truths lest you be in danger of the judgment. Do not be judgmental. Rather softly walk before God, and know that His judgment of you will be as exact as is your judgment of others. It can never be otherwise.—Edna Lister, February 26, 1940.


Those who love God more than self advance to the heights of ascension. Yet those who love the self more will be found wanting in the day of judgment and when found wanting, will clang like an empty, hollow mockery to the whole world, proclaiming their lacks to all who hear.—Edna Lister, February 29, 1940.


What are your beliefs? What do you get from our work of soul ascension? Is it worth your effort and time spent? Are you bored? Are you discouraged by delay? Do you think some unworthy? Do you hold yourself above others? Are you humble in your heart? Are you ready and willing to give outer place to others? Do you think only on the things of good repute?

Do you dwell on others’ sins, which you are shown only for lifting them onto a special cloud of Light? God could not have all darkness lifted unless He gave it to His Elect—the places, people, and conditions which are presently bound in darkness. How could you know where to lift, whom to lift, if He did not bring it to you? Lift continuously and in all ways and in all places to cover all manners of needs—lift!

When you express peace and radiate harmony from your soul’s heights, you express the beauty of soul to the world. When you live at your soul’s heights, only sweet, compassionate peace can move into action to fulfill the law. Why seek patience to face the discord? When you observe in peace and joy, you cannot see discord in the face of a friend or the world. Be not double-minded or double-sighted.

Do not say, ‘I see love,’ and later, ‘I see hate.’ Both cannot be true. You either see love, or live with hate. Why live with hate, or see what you do not desire as your portion? If you truly desire love, you shall have it, for it shall bloom for you. You cannot see hate when looking toward God. If you look toward the world only to see hate, how can you hope to see God?

God gives you laws to guide you into perfection. Laws are given to follow, not to disregard. Laws apply to all, not just to one. If you will not follow God’s law, how can the world follow you as the Master’s chosen representative?

You have everything in your hands, to use according to your choice. If you choose to go backward, the ‘little thou hast’ shall be taken from you. If you choose to use everything upward into the Light, more shall be added. However, your work must be at the white point of heat and more since lukewarmness besets you.—Edna Lister, March 3, 1940.


Be ever watchful. Allow no gossip or outer suggestion to move you to let go your hold on Light. Push upward toward the Light, ever seeking to release more Power.—Edna Lister, March 14, 1940.


You have planted in the heat of the day. You have watered when faint and weary. You have shared when you did not have. Yet I would warn you, because you have borne the burden and have shared yourself, be watchful. In no way misuse Power, fail by lukewarmness in sacrifice of self, or join your enemies of self. Carry your load to the top of this mountain of desire. Do not lay it down when nearly there.—Edna Lister, April 4, 1940.


Feed the Master’s sheep by living the law. Feed them by loving your enemies. Feed them by laying down your life in surrender to the Father so that all knowledge and understanding shall be open unto you in heaven.—Edna Lister, April 5, 1940.


“Feed the Master’s sheep by living the law.”


‘The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.’—Luke 18:27. Nothing is impossible to God—anything can happen. What ‘impossible’ goal do you have in mind? What do you desire to see that the world says cannot come? Let the Light shine on these impossible goals. Hold them higher to bless and praise them. Thank God that He can do anything at any time, and that your impossible becomes His most possible, the easiest thing He can do—provided you say it is. Declare, ‘Father, You can do anything at any time; therefore, I know You can do this for me now.’

He wants you well and strong so you can love, praise and serve Him, so others can realize how wonderful it is to be with God, to be like Him as nearly as possible. When you ask, stand and know, when you love and praise enough, He will aid in building what you want, in order to glorify Him before the world, not just for you.

The Master stands beside you but you often do not hear him. You have been given eyes to see with and ears to hear with. Why do you not use these gifts? Do you doubt his power? Do you doubt law? No. Self’s downfall is its grasping habit of holding fast to bits of old darkness thus remaining lukewarm when you should wax white hot. Let God’s Light entice you far above the darkness where pain dictates and doubt shreds your soul’s fine building.

You are the Master’s sheep and he is your Shepherd. You are dwelling beside the river of living waters, yet you thirst. You are dwelling beneath his tent of mercy, but go unfed. Reach up and let life flow through you. Reach up, praise God, and you have it. So, open your ears and eyes—do not let the veil descend again to hide the Master and the Father from you.—Edna Lister, April 12, 1940.


The answer to prayer can come instantly, if you have redeemed enough soul substance and offered enough praise to make the answer manifest. You can gather enough substance only by looking at the Light, standing in the Light, and thanking God that you can see the answer in His Light. Light is all you need to see. Until you see only the Light, you will never see anything else. Look at the Light. Stand in the Light. Live in the Light.

Take your lines of responsibility into the Light with you for prayer. Give only Light every second, and you will not need to worry. Many among the Elect waste much valuable time seeking selfishly when all God asks is prayer of lifting love and fulfilling praise. To seek for self creates more self to seek, nothing else.—Edna Lister, April 15, 1940.


See to it that you send each breath of the Holy Spirit forth as light only and in no way colored or disturbed by thoughts of self. With this letter, I am sending you a pair of ‘rose-colored glasses’ to wear while watching your lines of Light and responsibility—always wear them. Keep them dust-free so you can see through them clearly.

Each day you add new bricks to your roadway to God. Those who praise shall reap the reward of all their desires fulfilled, for praise is the key, the door, the substance, and the form. Praise also releases the Power to bring all miracles to pass. Praise will give all things to all people, and is the only means of fulfilling God’s promise of Good in your own life. So, your only true need is to offer more prayers of praise. Delay in receiving the answer to prayer is good, for when you build your foundation of love, Light upholds it, and all your desires may come to fruition.—Edna Lister, April 19, 1940.


[Dunkirk, France was evacuated from May 29 to June 3, 1940.] This slaughtering of men is almost unthinkable. We can do nothing but pray and lift to the very end. Declare that Light fills Europe. It will all work out to the good, though at great loss of life. God has never allowed the Philistines to conquer, and He never will. He will answer the prayers of His millions. Pray that Light permeates every nurse and medic, and all bandages for healing. Those who have and are dying on sacrifice are heroes.—Edna Lister, May 30, 1940.


[Edna Miriam was counseling a young concert pianist.] Clara Schumann lived vividly every moment of her life and therefore lived a long and beautiful life. Use her as your example. She expressed what you will in a greater degree. She had great poise and never allowed trifles to upset her as she kept on serving. Do as she did and you will find tensions lessening and that old conditions will not bother you as much. This does not mean that you will have no problems, but you will work them out. Plan ahead and do not fret. Do something toward your freedom each day, and one day you will have that freedom. This is the seed time, and one day you will have the stalk, the leaves and the fruit. It is inevitable.—Edna Lister, May 30, 1940.


The only fruit that falls off the tree is either overripe or green. The one will bruise and the other will bounce. This describes self perfectly.—Edna Lister, June 19, 1940.


Law is law. Light is Light. Law may not be set aside nor may Light. All life is contained in Light. In it is no darkness. Truth lives in Light and lives forever. Be of the law of Light. Praise that Light is the only truth and all truth is contained in Light. Therefore, only Light which is truth, and truth which is Light shall endure. All else shall fall of its own weight. Light has no weight. Truth has no heaviness, but carries itself, because Light can only lift.

Light cannot fall, neither can it fail. Truth shall know its own and so create its own. The law of Light is to know Light. Let Light place its seal upon you and so shall your own creations stand established unto you. Waver not, neither allow any shadow of turning. Let Light lift you and let truth establish your foundations. Hold fast all that you have gained, and reach to further and higher heavenly gains, even to the highest.—Edna Lister, June 26, 1940.


None in the kingdom is great or small, yet some make a small point great while others weaken a great point. Choose, then stand unwavering in the Light until the whole task is finished. Do you have enough desire to see it through? Does it burn at a white point of heat? Do you desire to make a greater effort? You need soul exaltation, a burning desire to be and do, to melt self in the heat of God’s furnace that achieves purification and brings it to pass.—Edna Lister, July 28, 1940.


Pray and know that release from worldly cares is yours now. No worldly ideas may clog God’s ways or works. Stand in absolute confidence in the faithfulness of God’s Power and Love to fulfill all His promises. Wait upon the Lord in the high place of sanctuary and poise while you work out your salvation in your daily affairs. Continue declaring, ‘Miracle after miracle,’ and it shall be so. The Power moves forth and performs miracles beyond man’s mind to conceive as a possibility.—Edna Lister, August 2, 1940.


“The law of Light is to know Light.”


May compassion be your greatly treasured possession, purchased with the great sacrifice of self, for all you truly possess is self, and in selling that, you replace it with immortality of soul.

Live high, agreeing with the Light at the place of poise, then you will express the necessary patience in peace. You will have miracles and will be happy in these miracles. Hold fast. Do not worry about anything. You are going on into the Light.—Edna Lister, August 9, 1940.


You can carry the whole load for lifting when you set self aside. If you each carry the whole load and are determined to do all the lifting on the inner, the burdens will be lighter on the outer. It works that way—each doing more than his own share. Enough love, a little more love, a little more praise and it will be over the top. The law only knows how to work toward perfection.—Edna Lister, October 22, 1940.


God is working in mysterious ways His wonders to perform—even more than usual. Remember, Light is all there is. It is the substance of your body, your affairs, the life that you are and are to become. Faith is your rod of Power, your measuring rod, your staff to lean upon, your life itself. Unquenchable love, backed by unconquerable faith, can melt and dissolve and absorb any bondage earth can create.—Edna Lister, October 25, 1940.


Are you ready to give up the self? To see the puny, weak self crucified upon the crossbar of each hour’s making? You are the life, the substance. Your choices in life use your soul substance to fashion the cross of self-crucifixion, and nails to affix yourself to it. Why? To use all of yourself as glory, to glorify your Father in heaven is far better. Make your kingdom one of Light and glory. Make yourself after the Father’s divine pattern, given you on the high mount.—Edna Lister, October 30, 1940.


“Make your kingdom one of Light and glory.”


Despite selfish delusions, excuses and indulgences, each thought, each word will stand as a record to confront you in heaven, to acknowledge as yours. Then you must wipe it out on earth, making full recompense to the law. This is law. Speak not in condemnation against anyone, especially not to the children of the world. To seek the altar in humility, seeking full forgiveness, is better than to excuse the self for indulging its appetites to your soul’s detriment.

All God asks you to do is to consider only the Light, to call everything perfect, to accept law as your true guidance in daily living, to see only the good and just, to keep your countenance shining with love and no darkness moving from you. If your self-love is greater than your love of the Master or the Father, then by all means, indulge self. The Master has never painted an easy path for us. It is hard, this Via Christa. It has no room for self.

The law is ‘Seek first the kingdom of heaven,’ not seek first gain to self. Prayer first and always. Five minutes spent in prayer, with your mind altogether on the altar, will enable you to do twice the Labor. If you cannot put your whole mind on the altar, you cannot pray true prayer, and lip service alone is worth nothing. Always kneel at the altar a few moments before you act.—Edna Lister, November 6, 1940.


Walk softly before God. Speak gently before men. Keep golden silence on high matters. Make wise speech to defend truth, not self. Hearken to God’s Voice. Heed all commands and laws. Follow the Master under all circumstances. Obey all laws of Wisdom, Love and the Word. Give sacrificial service. Be sweet in all Light. Be firm in all principle. Be final in lifting all darkness. These will fulfill the law of love in your life.—Edna Lister, November 8, 1940.


Lift all petty taints of self. The law is, ‘Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.’—Luke 6:38. When you ask for outer credits for giving, you are then taking full payment for all giving. If you do this long enough, only outer things will remain. Selflessness gives no thought to what anyone else does or leaves undone, never allows a single thought of criticism to enter the mind or heart, never looks right or left, but applies to all alike. Only God can judge as to merits or demerits. Only He can say, ‘She deserves. He does not deserve.’—Edna Lister, November 13, 1940.


God created law to express His rule on the outer, and created us for that law to use. Law is perfect, whole and complete, here and now. Resolve to be a perfect instrument on which the laws of God may play those perfect, harmonious Symphonies of the Almighty, which will ring around the earth. Love makes everything beautiful whenever you let it have a free, clear passage through you. It quickens your creations, bringing joy to everyone on your lines of Light. Be determined to allow nothing to keep you from love or joy for a moment. Surrender now to the full Power of God, as its servant. Move forward on an ever-ascending current of joy until you truly do have miracle after miracle.

Rewards shall come according to your ability to stand serene in the midst of confusion, seeing no darkness, admitting only Light. Choice is yours. You are your own judge. Yet only the Father rewards. Being your own judge means that the deep thought and desire behind your words and actions brings your rewards on the outer, but only what the Father judges as rewards.

When you walk in darkness, you have made that darkness yourself by bowing to the little self as the ruler of your life.—Edna Lister, November 14, 1940.


To free yourself and the whole world from domination of the appetitive soul, seek new ways of sacrifice to the Master and the Father, knowing that this sacrifice can only be of the little self, until that appetites become truly subject to soul, honoring the Master and the Father in true humility and devotion of time, strength, love, giving, praise, and understanding—not of people, friends, family or the world—but of God’s Laws. Self must serve God with greater service, rendered without thought of credit to self or rewards to self.—Edna Lister, November 20, 1940.


“You can rightfully judge only your own self.”


Watch closely and guard yourself against critical attitudes. See only Light. Allow yourself no leeway in fault-finding or critical answers at any time.

You have no time to wonder about anyone’s darkness or lack. Take on nothing that is not your own. Your task is to stand in the Light, triumphant over any manner of darkness. However, in your own mind and heart, you are too ready to place blame. God has not made you a judge on earth. Therefore, how can your words of blame carry weight with the Father except to bring judgment on you? Watch, therefore, for you can rightfully judge only your own self.

When you can see utter evil and say, ‘This is good,’ lifting it to the Father in love, then your returns of prospering success shall abound. Sadly, this lesson costs much effort of time, yet you must learn it. The appetitive soul puts you through great travail until you fully cleanse it. Your devotion and love are perfect where you stand, but watch the beam of blame in your eye. Be a perfect ensample of compassionate love.—Edna Lister, November 26, 1940.


Never bow down to the self. It always misleads and retards your progress. Self holds you on the same step of the same degree, always falling behind those whose sacrifices of self are found worthy and acceptable.

You shall succeed and hold fast to your vision of fire and flame. It must be so. Prove yourself to be the one who stands and sees only the perfect Light. Hold to that point of consciousness to hear and see spiritually. You have a long trail before you, and much self to conquer, even as I have had to do. But one step at a time will finally bring you to your high goal. You can speak to only a few in terms of high vision. Others would count you daft or worse. So always hold your golden silence in mind.

A few times in my life my pen has been dipped in silver as I write. Shining, glowing silver of spirit, not quite purified into the high perfection of gold. Stand firm on your center of Light. You do not need to understand anyone else. Let God understand others. You aim always to understand Him and release Light over all, calling all by its only name: Good.

These few rules, followed forever, will take you up in ascension, when you never again see any unlikeness to Light anywhere, anytime. Your advance shall be as great as the sum of your experience until now. May your calendar year bring success beyond your dream-visions and love’s glory to carry you on and through the year.—Edna Lister, December 11, 1940.


God help anyone who wants to live in the past. To live in the eternal now is a law of ascension. You cannot drag yesterday with you. You must go forward; that is also a law. It’s a physical impossibility to re-live a single second that has already passed. If you dare waste your time waiting and watching for the other fellow to stumble, you are on the outside looking in. An angel with a flaming sword stands in the way to guard the path to the future and to the past; you stand between the two.

If you allow time to rush by without having lived it, it is empty, never having been lived. Every time a gate closes behind you, it blocks your access to a lost paradise. Live in the now, looking through the window of soul above you every inexorable second. You can’t miss it, so don’t worry. Wait for the answer, the Light in the high place. Work out your own salvation where you are now.

Release Light and pour it on your own soul record. Do not paint a picture of what you hate with your criticism and condemnation. You cannot make anyone else live according to your vision. If he does not live according to your vision, let it shock you into becoming what you wish to see. The bridle on a horse is like the curb you must put on your tongue. You will never succeed in molding your family or loved ones into your image for them. You can only transform yourself—this is a great truth—all change must come from within.

An optimist says, ‘My glass is half full.’ The pessimist says, ‘My glass is half empty,’ which is nearly equal to ‘I’ve wasted the best years of my life.’ To the world, faith and honor are two old-fashioned laws. Honor waits upon the Lord in faith until the answer you need, the miracle you need, will move you forward with its unconquerable stream. You will be too busy to watch how another is living his life.

You are your brother’s keeper, but this means not to keep criticizing him. You do love your neighbor as you love yourself, just as much as when you say, ‘I hate my life. I hate my fugure.’ Through the years, you must carry with you the consciousness that you lived one hour at a time. Look upward and outwardly. Declare, ‘I love life!’ Live, move and have your being in the River of Life. Take joy in expressing the beauty that is you. How much more graciousness can you send out in joy? You will be amazed at the response. Try it!—Edna Lister, December 15, 1940.


“Only you can transform you, and this is a great truth—
all change must come from within.”


Instantly, you must agree with the Light and adjust speedily under all conditions. Anything that is not of the Light is yours to declare as being filled with Light. If you pray for patience, you attract all the things that bedevil you so you can use more patience. Why does this happen? Because you are recognizing annoyances.

Pray to live in the place of poise, and its expression is peace. Impatience then inevitably disappears. The sure cure for resentment is to declare, ‘I now agree and adjust with the Light quickly and instantly under all conditions.’ Darkness is the adversary. When you use any negative emotions, such as resentment, self-pity, pride or intolerance, they become your adversaries. Your adversary is the remnant of self, all the little taints within. People say, ‘I can’t understand why’. The Bible never says you should understand what the other fellow does, but to simply cast your burden unto the Lord. Whatever comes to you is yours to lift into the Light.

Hate is the negative use of love. This is how the deepest love in someone’s heart might operate as hate. All the negative things people do and say started as love. If someone comes to you in hate, turn on the Light! The love in the other fellow’s heart is founded on something. The hate reveals that he has something to lift. He comes to you because he wants help in overcoming it, and you must have the experience in lifting it impersonally.

If you judge others self-righteously, your judgment is born of a revenge motive. In every initiation, you must deal with pride. To give away your soul substance bit by bit is foolish. When you love to understand, your desire to understand stops you from giving yourself away. You are the captain of your fate and the master of your own soul. In looking up to God your one glance upward encircles the world 5.5 times with pure Light.

When you decree, ‘I now look up and agree and adjust with the Light instantly under all conditions,’ the action of the law of justification is inevitable. An old axiom states that only truth can stand the test of time. The negative things fall of their own weight and die. You find the Light untainted and impersonal by looking up in consciousness. Then you find it simple to forget the adversary and to agree and adjust with the Light. All is then well. Take down the barriers you have built against the Light.

The greatest thing I (Edna Miriam) have learned in these past forty years is that when I make a statement of truth, I must too often observe those whom I love twist that truth, yet set them free to work out their own salvation until they realize that their interpretation was faulty. You must accept full responsibility wherever your name is used or mentioned, even if you are falsely accused. You are responsible for everything that follows in the wake of your name. Your responsibility is finished when your name is erased from the memory of everyone involved. The prayer treatment is not for something. You do not treat for the incident only, but lift constantly. Lift when the other fellow calls for help or when he comes to mind.—Edna Lister, December 16, 1940.

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Conquering Self 1941

‘No man can serve two masters.’—Matthew 6:24, yet you must master self or self will surely master you. All is a matter of choice to accept or repudiate your responsibility to conquer self.—Edna Lister, A Design For Ascension, 1941.


The law is, Ask, believing, then praise and act as if you have it.

The weeding-out process continues. Those whose own lives mean more than surrender of self, those who make self a high god to glorify the self—eliminate themselves from the Elect to take a place fitting to their own ideas of glory. No one is forced to remain, for God can compel no one. The compulsion to follow the Light into high places can only come from within.

The Light travels high and ever higher. The self travels low and ever lower. The self and the Light cannot both go, only one may go. The Light cannot become the self. The self, which must become the Light, may do so only through surrender of self. You can surrender fully only through soul compulsion. Each takes his own earned place. If no further soul compulsion carries you higher, you earn what you can hold. If you wish to attain further heights, you must let soul set the pace, to dictate and compel the self to give up and follow the Master, the Light. Let nothing of self cause you to fall by the wayside.—Edna Lister, January 7, 1941.


Vows of sacrifice of self are personal, not general. No one is asked or forced to make them. You may do so or not, as you choose. Yet only by more sacrifice of self can you help to lift the world’s darkness. Further surrender of self to be used by Light, further giving up of all emotional shadows to release more love and more praise—these constitute the kind of personal sacrifice that will make your creations perfect.—Edna Lister, January 15, 1941.


‘Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee. My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me. My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.’—Psalm 38:9-11. You stand alone, even when with your family and friends. This is not an easy way, but it is the way of enduring eternal love.—Edna Lister, January 19, 1941.


You may not set yourself above another, or say, ‘Follow me, for mine is the only right way.’ This action is worse than any original offender. Who is perfect now? Who desires to tell God how to run the lives of His other children? Cease all foolish, vainglorious speech and attitudes. Let him who is ready to rule earth make a sacrifice of self to surrender ‘I’ am this or that, or ‘How can he,’ or ‘I can’t understand.’ Such a one is reveling in ignorance and has no understanding to give to another.

See only good. Pronounce only good. Hear only good. Declare only good. Lift all weakness in compassion. Release all Light, and admit no darkness into your kingdom forevermore. You are great, therefore much is expected of you. Go, and see to the beam in your own eye first of all. Then, by declaring good, the Light of your love shall melt any lesser mote from your brother’s eye.—Edna Lister, January 21, 1941.


Kingdoms and principalities may pass, and those who head them, but truth shall stand forever. Truth is a living monument, which nothing of earth may ever disturb. Those who are foolish to use the not-truth for any reason whatever shall eventually find themselves with no sure footing over some quicksand or abyss. The world is forever trying to make truth out a liar, forever seeking to destroy truth. All the world may do is hang a garment of darkness around truth for a time. Yet in due season, the weather of gales and storms from the world rot and cut down the covering, and truth stands revealed in the Light once more.

What is truth? Your truth must be a universal truth individually held. Once you admit it, you are solemnly obliged to live truth, not to talk it but to live it. Truth is your highest present concept in mind of action. It is a standard of thinking, feeling, picturing, speaking and acting in the moment. It must be an ever-ascending concept, or regression will set in when a bulwark of truth is your greatest need. Truth is your idea of the Christ-like thing to be, the Christ-like thing to do, the Christ-like thing to say. Make your concept of truth so great that you shall be living, growing, climbing ensample of the Christ life.—Edna Lister, January 29, 1941.


Is your idea of self mastery one of controlling self or conquering self by surrender, sacrifice, and lifting it?—Edna Lister, February 3, 1941.


Hold everyone high in love. Do not allow anyone to be or remain hurt without pointing the love-way. Do not push them. Remain in the background, yet stand on principle always.—Edna Lister, February 11, 1941.


Unconquerable faith, unquenchable love, and invincible joy are free. They cost nothing but the sacrifice of self.—Edna Lister, February 12, 1941.


Why do you waste time wallowing in self? Are you forever to have a greater self than a soul? Which is the true? Which the false? Which dark? Which Light? Choose this day whom you will serve, self or soul, and choose wisely. Pay no attention to any self, yours or another’s.—Edna Lister, February 13, 1941.


A group banding together against another is shameful.—Edna Lister, February 18, 1941.


When a soul is unbalanced, or demands perfection from another, hold both in balance until they may see clearly. The truth will seem an illusion to those with no understanding. There are those in whom the truth does not lie, those to whom all truth is a lie, those to whom truth is truth once and a lie another, and those to whom all is a lie. Yet some are steadfast under laws of Light, to whom all is truth, and the Father sees to it and makes it so. Do not believe the lies at any time.

Stand on truth for truth’s sake always. These are your tithe. ‘Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.’—Malachi 3:10. When you pay your tithe, God will pour upon you blessings greater than you have room to receive.

Others’ lies shall be revealed as truth for you, all doubters shall believe, all fears shall be turned into faith, all deceit into substance for reuse, all treachery and all reviling into ‘added things.’—Edna Lister, February 25, 1941.


You are happy in direct proportion to your efforts expended in trying to make others happy and yourself good. To be good is only to be as God on earth, for He has made you in His image and likeness. When you act as He acts, then you are good. So, when you aim to be as perfect as possible at all times, you are good. Then others are happy because you allow them to do all the talking, and never contradict them. Stay busy under the white Light, doing all you must under divine principle, a balance of Love and Wisdom, and free everyone else to do he feels he must his own way.

You need not say, ‘I’ll do it your way.’ Just smile and let them talk. Then, when you need to do differently, they are happy to go about their own business because they think you are doing it their way, when you are only agreeing with them that it is their good way. You shall do ever greater things in ever greater ways, but only if you work in ever more fervor with every breath you draw and improve day by day in every way.—Edna Lister, March 5, 1941.


You must learn just how great or how little a burden of responsibility you can carry on the outer. You can carry a load of responsibility as great as your desire to be selfless in God’s service. Everyone is important to some degree, but you can depend on each only to his saturation point. Please understand me. Not all who are called are chosen, and not all those who are chosen are permitted to attend the altar in the Holy of Holies. You must understand this.—Edna Lister, March 18, 1941.


High places await you in heavenly realms. All doors at which you stand and knock will open to you, if you earnestly seek while God tests you for weakness. How can He open a door to you, not knowing if you can bear the high Power? He must know whether any dry rot or desire of earth could tempt you to lose your place and have to make such a climb of sacrifice again. Being tested and tempted first, giving you full opportunity to shed such weakness is better. Being tempted while being held safely, securely on the path is better than being unaware of God’s Power, or of any danger of temptation.—Edna Lister, March 26, 1941.


Most people ascend just so high but no higher, preferring prefer to settle back, rather than chance losing all desire of self, which they value as theirs. Surrender rids the soul of desires of self in any form, wipes out all desire to profit by the little me. One who still wants to profit through self—reaping rewards, credits, and so on—simply refuses to surrender. Selfishness is the first sign of one who runs from surrender of self, full indifference the second, even to forgetting the real mysteries, the third.

Selfish souls have decided to do as they choose instead of following the Master. They have decided that God does not know best, or that He does not want them ever to suffer, hurt or struggle. They turn back to the world to avoid becoming unselfish and turn again to the world to get what they desire.

The Master grieves when you turn from a high initiation to regress down a path that was so hard to climb. Yet if you need more world experience to learn that you may have ease and comfort only by earning as a creator-servant, God must allow it. The path of earning and advance is the same for prince or pauper, descended creator god or creature climbing up for the first time.

Pray much. Praise more. Be just in your dealings, neither overly soft nor hard. Be sweet, always seeking to give more understanding, more compassion. Yet be firm in law and dealings of principle. Be final in forgoing and trafficking with darkness.—Edna Lister, April 1, 1941.


Nothing limits where you can go in service to the Father if you can continue in utter surrender of self, until absolutely only He uses your tongue. Pray without ceasing and ask Him to bless every step you take. Pour out love, especially where you are, declaring, ‘It is finished’—fill it full to overflowing. In the past, repeatedly you have fallen into the error of sinning against the Holy Breath, since you forgot from where the Power came. Keep your knees bowed, ever acknowledging the Father as the Source of each moment’s strength.

Recall hourly that of yourself you can do nothing, again surrendering self. Also, say nothing to any, lest they misunderstand, because your unruly tongue to exalt the ego often has tripped you into further debts of law. Many have grasped the Master’s words and have seen the vision of serving him in his name, yet their love for self has crept in and colored their vision. No one may exalt himself. Hold this high point of consciousness. Only the deepest humility and love of honor above all things can be your safety, not love of self, or to be thought great in the world.—Edna Lister, April 29, 1941.


Law challenges all you say or do, and you must prove yourself as trustworthy for the advances you have already earned. You need only to hold them now and let nothing wrest them from you. Allow no man or circumstance to disturb your balance in joy and peace. Remain tranquil when you see others’ falsities. You surely will see your own. You are shown them in yourself and others to make certain that you strengthen yourself in the only place possible, the heavenly realms. Depend only on God, not on man or the self.

The Father’s free will is only free when it may move through you freely, without being colored by will-full-ness of the personality of earth. Let His free will possess you unto joy abounding.—Edna Lister, May 6, 1941.


Carry the Master’s torch into all darkness. By his banner of Love Light lifted high, open gates for lost sheep, aid the fallen, those blinded by the world’s glitter, to see the true Path. Light the doors for them as a true ensample of steadfastness for them to follow. Feed his sheep. Share a cup of joy with them. Comfort the sick. Blame not. Let him too perfect to live with God cast the first stone. Feed the weak. Lift the fallen. Stand by those in sin who see not and are willfully deaf to the Master’s call.—Edna Lister, May 18, 1941.


The Father does not ask you to judge another. Everyone may choose to agree and adjust, to be lenient. Each places himself according to his criticism. Some almost place themselves ‘out’ because of their intolerance. Speak only when you know it is necessary, without using the ax on anyone. When you speak brusquely and offend, it does not pay. Graciousness is better, and humility. Without these virtues, you are nothing.

Do not be self-righteous, but humble. Make a stand when right, but calmly, prefacing your statements with ‘let.’ Do not fuss at what others do, or waste time in futile gossip. The hour is too important, and the Power is too great. Allow no lukewarmness in your love. Think not of self, but of God. Be humble in all your going and coming. Keep a pillar of fire around yourself.—Edna Lister, June 30, 1941.


‘I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven … And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal.’—Revelation 4:2,6. The ‘sea of glass’ is that water that is so still that it reflects the thoughts of God. The truth is reflected in the individual consciousness. Your face reflects the Face of God, it is so still. At that point, nothing can move you from it. You do not need to push, shove, demand or expect. Everyone who can come through has. Lift and let everyone else follow their path. Each has backed up to his polishing wheel and is releasing as much Power as possible.

‘The graciousness and the loveliness of the Lord Jesus Christ now abide within me and move through all my affairs.’ You cannot be gracious save through love, peace and joy. Everyone is judged according to effort of desire, obedience and surrender. Hold fast to your gains. Everyone is important to God. And remember, the lights are on everyone for jealousy when another advances.—Edna Lister, July 3, 1941.


Whenever a discussion goes beyond the point of relevancy, bring it back to the original topic. ‘I put my mind on the goal, let go of myself, and let God!’ No matter what you do, pray yourself out. Jealousy, revenge or condemnation mean you are not yet ready to serve God. You may once more come through from the bottom and make the whole climb again. It takes seven years to climb back.—Edna Lister, July 10, 1941.


Your first need is to choose your own particular idea of right. Then take one step toward that goal of right with every step you take. Then dare to defend that idea of right with your soul, your mind, your heart and your body. Anything less than all effort is unthinkable. Anything less is weakness. You must do this to let the Father’s strength flow through to bring that right to pass: The courage to dare to stand for your chosen right, the love to lift all toward that universal right, the selflessness to be used for that universal right.—Edna Lister, August 20, 1941.


Pray to be alert to apply all law to the lesser self you uncover, which would anchor you in a physical body. To ascend the body, you must make it into Light. Dense substance must fall off and life sparks be drawn into the desire body. Then you draw this molecular substance from the desire body to form the mental body, and the mental body atomic substance be drawn in to build the fire body of electrons.

To cling to old opinions and resentments creates internal lesions, making the physical body denser and more prison-bound. Many lose their bodies because of soul taints not lifted. Be ready to accept and apply law to the self to unbind you from the density of earth’s shell, so you may follow your Lord and Master. Choose now whom thou shalt serve—the small self or the soul.—Edna Lister, August 26, 1941.


Disappointments and delays always test and tempt you. Yet, as each strand that makes up a great cable must be strong to bear the strain, one weak strand will eventually weaken the whole cable. So, you must be tested for weakness, usually through delays that take the heart out of you. Stand and know that unquenchable love will prevail in giving you every desire of your heart. Unconquerable faith will ‘bring to pass’ whatever you decree and declare. Be willing to take one step at a time, not to jump upstairs, but to lift everything and everyone with you as you take that next step.—Edna Lister, September 23, 1941.


God has called and set you aside from the indifferent world, chosen and blessed for special work. To be the least means to be the greatest in the kingdom. You cannot do it just to be great, for this is self-love and crosses itself out. Seek to forget self. Love diluted by selfish thoughts does little work, because it is not the pure essence of golden love. If you understood the need, if you could glimpse behind the scenes for an instant, you would no longer delay, dally, hold petty thoughts, dawdle or play with life. You would never be the same again. Yet to see behind the veil, you first must reach full obedience to the check rein, to follow law in instant obedience.

You never apply just one law to get an answer, but must apply each law in turn to reach true balance. I must speak in riddles, since law forbids giving anyone the full answer before his examination. In riddles, you can find all answers, if you apply yourself to seeking indications, for Light on your path. Every mystery is given in riddles. Yet the full truth lies therein.

Diligence in seeking will give you what you need. Diligence in loving all in selflessness will give you your own full keynote of love and desires fulfilled. You are prepared and fully worthy, qualified and Chosen. Let nothing else interfere with this. Release joyous praise on all your problems and needs, release Power to cover all outer needs. Then be perfect as the Father is perfect.

You came to earth to be absolutely selfless and impersonal, to stand in absolute harmony of purpose, to leave all thoughts of self outside the Gates, to forget self-love, self-indulgence, self-glorification, self-exaltation, self-hate, self-condemnation, self-criticism, self-needs—for this time and place to hold only Light, to release only the pure essence of the white Light of the Christ on the world. You have done this for our Father, and shall continue to do so.

Release more love. Forget what others do or do not elsewhere, at other times. Forget all but the need to release the pure love-substance. Make your own weary climb pay great dividends of life and glory, to bring you all added things. Give love for love, love to love, love as love, love as God’s Power to overcome all evil of darkness remaining.—Edna Lister, October 3, 1941.


Double your guards at each door of life—imagination and its pictures, emotional desires and the self, which always subtly sneaks within, thinking and its wild, uncontrolled wandering. To be saved does not always mean a complete healing of selfishness, but is only the first step. Those saved from annihilation must also work out their selfishness, which means stepping up, falling down, repenting, climbing back, aiding, undoing harm, and repenting. Please understand, once you start to save one or a million, the work of saving continues, no matter what they do, until they are completely saved. This is just your service.—Edna Lister, October 7, 1941.


Use love and compassion for everyone everywhere. All are under the same laws and requirements, and will be tested. When you put another on a pedestal of admiration and expectations, you are disappointed when their weakness shows through. Keep yourself under wise control. Call on the Master and you will be given patience and forbearance. What you see in another reflects what is in you. Check on self first. Perfect your own manners and hold back on criticism. Do not say anything that you do not mean, or speak impulsively. The laws of mastery require that you speak softly and walk gently. Your tone of voice will always produce a reaction. Act and speak from that point of tranquility and command of the self within.—Edna Lister, October 12, 1941.


Because you have chosen to be Chosen, you may not hold any thoughts of self or opinions of others in your mind or heart that dilute your stream of life, causing grave delay for your own added things. All souls are under law. May the Father overindulge one child at the expense of another child? No, God will give each according to the measure of substance he metes. If that substance is diluted, he delays his added things. Even teachers suffer this reward, for they are accountable for the lukewarm dilutions of substance by those whom they lead, and so greatly delay their own added things.

Students and disciples excuse their own lukewarm folly to break from the way-shower they follow, saying, ‘I am doing as well as this teacher; therefore, I will no longer follow.’ All law used by the self, for the self, to pleasure the self in satisfaction with the self’s accomplishments must be paid for by the self. In no way may another, regardless of desire, sacrifice or assuming of responsibility, pay for the self-indulgence for any soul. It must return to its source for lifting and payment.

Then the selfish one crucifies the teacher whom he has recently idolized. For while teachers may not pay, they may hold back the reaction of law for a space, to give the disobedient one time in which to gain strength and balance to see the pure justice of law. For you can receive only according to your use of law. God protects His own, forever, and no one is allowed to suffer beyond paying for his own broken laws.

Payment is usually tempered and spread over time, lest a child is lost to Light from rebellion, saying, ‘Why should I be treated so when my sainthood is obvious for all to see.’ Yet such a one, knowing his own sainthood so well, is thus breaking and misusing the law, which shall return to him, even as the self that is speaking it. Law is exact. No man may set aside one jot or tittle of it. It fulfills itself, exactly and perfectly balanced. To protest as to your own goodness or perfect use of law is in itself the Oversoul’s knocking at the door to be allowed in to sweep and dust, to cleanse the rational soul of selfishness.

Self always comes out in speech, in fault-finding with others, in planting seeds of doubt in others’ minds, in demands for recognition. These are signs of an awakening—not of sin or evil. When soul speaks thus, the old is being broken down. The new begins to seep in, and all is well. When a crack is made in the thick armor of the appetitive soul of self, the wise teacher is shown how to widen the breach and free the burdened one from the smugness and the self-satisfaction of countless ages. Yet that teacher is always misunderstood of man, yet well understood of God, the Father.

When you stand in the white Light, you are incapable of seeing, hearing, thinking, feeling, touching, voicing or knowing anything but perfection. You cannot see, hear, feel or speak anything but love when there. You can touch it, contact it and come forth from it a thousand times a day. Yet if you think of the little self or focus on wrong anywhere, you lose the perfect contact. The longer you remain in the white Light, the more Power is pressed through you, and the greater use you are to God.—Edna Lister, October 14, 1941.


Be steadfast. Be constant. Be selfless. You do not know yet what true steadfastness and constancy are, except to your self. Be as steadfast and constant for God as you can be and are to your self. ‘I come with a sword.’ Truth is always a double-edged sword, and it cuts both ways, the one using and the receiver. Yet how would earth learn its lessons unless the sword of truth cuts Light from darkness? You dull the Light to gray, and sometimes blacken it when you spare the double-edged sword of truth. Is it good to spare the rod and let the child grow into disobedience? Is it good to spare the truth and let children grow into the softness of self-satisfaction? No. Speak truth, yet only when you know you must, lest the double-edged cutting reacts on you, the user.

The Master drove the money-changers from the temple of the living God. He shall use every means of persuasion, and commands, if soft words fail, to drive the money-changers of self from your body temple of the living God. Yet he speaks not in anger, but only when you have failed to see with Godlike clarity. You must admit that the Master and the Father see more clearly than you do. How do you think he feels when you do not love one another, but carry all manners of suspicions and less love for each other, rather than that miracle of love which casts out all sin and evil of self? You are his own ensamples of love fulfilling all law.

‘A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.’—John 13:34. Does he ask you to be perfect before he receives you? No. He says, ‘Come unto me now as thou art, then go ye and sin no more.’ For each shall be healed unto all perfection in due season when the little self seeks no more rewards of honor or credits for service given.

Peace, joy and love are yours to use. The Master does not blame, or demand perfection when he sees and hears you misuse pure love. He grieves, but continues loving you, sending even greater love. You at once become the ‘lost sheep’ he brings into the fullness of all Light. Mediators love deeply or they would not be mediators. Your lack of love withholds your hearing and seeing. Therefore, love. Surrender to ever be a more useful and greater servant of all the Power. The Father needs everyone. Forget self in service to God. Forget that you are serving so that your whole mind, heart and soul shall be lifted in service of love and Light.—Edna Lister, October 21, 1941.


Pray with the Master until you are no longer conscious of your personal life, office or the world. This is consecration to our Lord. Stand and serve the Master until you can see only God. Pray to be perfect, forgetting that anything else exists, then you will be impersonal. Do not to compare yourself with anyone else, only with the Master, forgetting all else. Enough love will come through to hold you forever.—Edna Lister, October 28, 1941.


There is one God, one Mind, one heart of Love, one Substance, one Power, and none else besides. Only in imagination can you ever be separated, either from the highest or the lowest. Every cell of life adds its heart-throb to yours. Every unconscious breath of the very rocks of earth adds to your own breathing, because there is only one Breath. When you decide you are all alone as a ‘little self,’ you get into a state of confusion.—Edna Lister, October 29, 1941.


Stand, expecting a miracle, with no doubts or fears, which cause lukewarmness. Always see perfection, twenty-four hours a day. Know what you must do and where you are going.—Edna Lister, November 11, 1941.


Mutual tongue wagging separates a marriage, a group or a partnership. When you surrender to God, He uses your tongue. It is God’s work, not yours. Wait upon the Lord where you are. When you gamble with God, remember that He holds the stakes. When you follow law, all things work together in the right way. Love, and the heat of soul desire, which have brought you this far, will carry you over the next hurdle. A little more heat. Do a little more of what you have been doing.—Edna Lister, November 27, 1941.


Bless all food that you eat. You love God, and it is in your power to change it all into pure spiritual substance to heal. Keep your vows of silence. You do not yet know what silence is. You have earned the right to make sacrifice at the altar for others. You have the law in your hands. When you hear an idle word, lift it immediately. Put Light on your lips and over theirs to dissolve the idle words in Light.—Edna Lister, November 29, 1941.


You never gain by letting down or compromising your convictions and principles. When you stand firmly in wise silence, using only wise speech, you will not be moved by threats. Stand.—Edna Lister, November 30, 1941.


When even an iota of the soul calls for repentance, the rational mind still holds, is not discarded and may turn to God in sorrow or disease. Such a soul is in regression, but is not cut off. When a soul is doing harm, but has credits remaining, it will return again after death of the physical. When a soul reaches the end of all its soul substance, it fades out. Yet this does not happen until the soul consumes all its soul substance, including the Oversoul in wrong deeds and demands.

The Oversoul withdraws upward when the embodied soul misuses, yet even God cannot withhold the Oversoul when one demands it, just as He cannot deny a soul’s plea for mercy when it is made under sacrifice of repentance. The plea is the Oversoul rescinding the lesser soul’s demands. You are to overlook, overcome and understand to ascend. You must let go of earth before earth lets go of you.—Edna Lister, December 4, 1941.


Some people must have an operation before they know that all healing is spiritual. When one fully desires to be pure, the Father pays no attention to what they spit out from past incarnations for lifting. Pay no attention to egotistical behavior. However, when one is exalted in self, God whittles him down to size. Your silence is worth millions. No law pays greater dividends than silence. Golden, wise silence is a creative stillness in which the inspirational Word comes through.—Edna Lister, December 6, 1941.


You must want the Light above all else and seek it for itself alone—just to worship the Light, not to get something. The Light is all there is. When you give enough to the Light, it fills you and you become the Light—but you have to give self completely in worship of the Light as the only Light of glory. Forgetfulness of self in worship of and service to the Light will make you shine.

Make everything you see the Master. See only the Master as all. Look only for the Master in everyone, everywhere and in everything.—Edna Lister, December 30, 1941.

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Conquering Self 1942

You can conquer self by changing your general attitude toward family, friends and life.—Edna Lister, Life in a Nutshell, ‘Mastery: The Bottom Line,’ 1942.


Let the law use you to its own glory, for law always seeks a new means of serving God. Law serves only God, not man. He who lends himself as the servant of God shall be used by perfect law to perfect expression of the fullness of life.—Edna Lister, January 5, 1942.


God always wins when you let Him do through you and stand in sweetness plus firmness but sweet and gracious, not self righteous for that means self consciousness, not God being the only conscious one. Just surrender all your self this time. Be confident in God’s Power, not your own, for you have none, but only God’s through you when you are serving as a perfect instrument.—Edna Lister, January 17, 1942.


The righteous shall prevail. To prevail is to conquer, to triumph, to be victorious.—Edna Lister, January 20, 1942.


No sin against God is so great as pure selfish indifference to the cry of your fellow man. As long as one child of God suffers in pain, starvation, cold and dies alone while another has enough but shares it not with his brother, he shall be indicted before the throne of God as being in sin. He shall suffer also for the greatest sin of all—lukewarmness to God in prayer and faith, and indifference to the suffering of a brother.—Edna Lister, January 22, 1942.


Earnestly seek to better yourself, your disposition, your ability to love, to declare everyone perfect, yet lift any unlikeness to God the instant it appears.—Edna Lister, January 26, 1942.


Anything you need in experience you will receive as you live life in this world. Thus, each will learn by deserved criticism to do the Godlike thing under all conditions. Harken, since all will learn the same way.

How deep is your desire? Do you hold selfish desires? To travel in the Master’s footsteps, to take up his cross of love, to be crucified, to ascend is the only true desire. When you carry his cross of love of service, you will not always find the way easy, but your soul will be satisfied. You will have peace in your heart in all you do. You must desire to be perfect, then the next step is to live it. Stumbling stones are tests to climb over. Do not grow weary or discouraged. The next time you will be stronger and it will be easier.—Edna Lister, February 6, 1942.


What are your true desires? Are you steadfastly faithful to them, or do you allow the dense fog of earth to settle on you? Some would gladly see a fog bury you from all Light. Will you allow this or will you lift your self above the clouds that no fogs of earth may obscure your vision?—Edna Lister, February 8, 1942.


Work stands according to the foundation on which it is built. If truth, spoken and lived, can tear anything down, then that is a not-truth, for truth builds truth and may not, cannot, destroy itself. If lies have done the founding, then truth blows away the structure. Seek to exalt truth, to justify honor, loyalty and truth. Stand nobly and serenely on the truth, being steadfast to establish truth can harm no one, but only draws to itself all others from the deep shadows in the vale of illusion. This is truth and the truth shall stand, clear and free.—Edna Lister, March 3, 1942.


You cannot just bluntly tell people the truth. Hook the other fellow on a line of Light before you tell him the truth about what he must work out. Love him along. If he asks a question, give him the right answer lovingly.—Edna Lister, March 16, 1942.


Faithfulness has a reward. Idle words are foolish. Put a bridle, check-rein and bit on your idle words. Watch your hearts and minds for a slight doubt, critical thought, or condemnation. Watch that.—Edna Lister, March 19, 1942.


You are a key on earth. Open your door, so that you may move and act in Light. As you do, you are perfect in Light, love, in selflessness and in understanding. Sometimes the key will not turn. When your key jams, Christ opens the door with Light and Power. ‘Disposition’ is being out from the Light. Always be in position.—Edna Lister, April 3, 1942.


Hold your self firmly in line and you will re-weave your soul mesh to eliminate the past weaknesses. Do not be weak, but hold to the middle line. Be just and merciful but firm in your justice. Do not blame others. You may love only to love, not to possess another or to demand for self. Your task is to ascend your body and consciousness. Do not make hard work of it. Learn how to let go of self and not to demand in heaven. You are worthy to come to the Father when you can sacrifice self instantly and have absolute faith. When you become conscious of jealousy or another soul taint but do nothing about it, the Gates of Light close on you.—Edna Lister, April 13, 1942.


Idle words, idle thoughts: Which is greater, self or ascension? Condemning and criticizing are worse for they destroy the vibration. Watch for the sun. Do not look back into the dark valley. Take what you do well, and do it. Do just what you see must be done. Keep your minds and hearts clean, and tongues from wagging. Get closer in understanding and compassion.—Edna Lister, April 23, 1942.


How strong do you want to be? If you sink below mental power, you will see only grayness. The Power will be great. Remain high in consciousness. A single upward look, saying, ‘I thank You, Father. I love You, Father,’ increases Power a thousand times an hour to cover everyone and everything in Light. Do not impede the Power’s progress through you, or you may explode atoms, molecules and cells.

Do not let little things delay you. God does not smite you, but you have smitten yourself often. To love God is the only possible way to create on earth. If you love self, you will be an empty, dry pod. You can have anything you desire of the Lord, if you believe—deeply, truly and with no thought of fear. Anything is possible that is not a selfish demand and will be for the good of all. You have gone through the fire. Your own ability determines the Power you release. Your desires, your illumination and capacities determine what you can do. Compare your self with God, not with man. Humbleness will take you through and make you wise.—Edna Lister, April 30, 1942.


How steadfastly can you hold to your high point in consciousness? If you allow the cold intellect of earth to chill you, you must still conquer this cooling off process.—Edna Lister, May 7, 1942.


Your desire to seek God must be greater than self. Unity of soul in consciousness cannot coexist with disunity.

When you cease praying, you regress. Hold your point of progress. Before you condemn or critically judge another, consider that each adds something to the whole. After gaining more experience in life, you will understand situations that you cannot resolve now. You will be conscious of it and able to help everyone. Share your experiences with others. All children of earth will someday share these experiences. Everyone must eventually conquer the self and ascend, which makes for the Oneness of the All, enfolded into the Light. People are not all exactly the same, but whatever you share in the Light reveals what you are.

You have knowledge of your weaknesses, also of your great strengths—to hold you in the Light. You are stronger than you have ever been. Your eyes and ears are open. If you hold to that high calm point of activity, you will see and hear spiritually. See and hear—go out in the night watches and watch—then return early in the morning to remember. Watch your step.

After Ascension Day, the Father frees you to apply what you have learned. The Power will go through your spoken Word, or drop off through June, July and August. You receive double credits for all your studies and sacrifices then. If you exalt and praise, you release more Power. Simply pray and praise and do your daily labor and lifting for all life. Throw your net on the right side of the boat and haul it in.—Edna Lister, May 14, 1942.


You have bodies of at least seven densities, three beyond the cellular, molecular, atomic and subatomic, which are invisible to physical and to clairvoyant sight. Sublimation is translation, being raised in vibration to become more selfless. Parts of the body remain physical during translation. Transformation moves from negative to positive. Transmutation ranges from darkness into Light. You can either raise or lower the creative fire’s vibration. Enfolding refers to a marriage of the Lamb; for example, the Oversoul enfolds you in the second marriage of the Lamb.

The four degrees of substance below Light are color, tone, number and name (which is form): The first descent of the Oversoul (Light) is marked by humility and weeping, consciousness of being a member of the Elect (color), and of the importance of being a mouthpiece of the Father (tone). When you touch tone, Oversoul’s descent requires becoming the thing itself (name as form). Yet first you need to be and do without being conscious of being or doing anything.

You are conscious of the choice, but it is sacrificial through number—the number of sacrifices you make, and their degree and kind. In physical form, you are self-conscious. Number is soul consciousness—you choose and separate soul from self. Under tone, you are becoming unified in soul, and cease making choices, but hear the choice by listening to your Oversoul. Color then brings spiritual seeing. Light is what the soul becomes. You are dynamic and vital only under obedience to law. Remain attuned and drawn to your Oversoul.—Edna Lister, May 16, 1942.


Time is such an excellent teacher. After you learn, then apply so much law for a season, the worldly mission always comes, where you must prove every step of law you’ve thought about, let alone taught. Many tragedies can occur along the way, owing to intense egotism, or equally intense opinions and prejudices. Perhaps these last are harder to conquer than the former.—Edna Lister, July 3, 1942.


Be ever alert and pray without ceasing, for you cannot have as your own anything you do not give. Prayer does return to you as added things. It does come home.—Edna Lister, July 9, 1942.


For every release of even a small mystery of wisdom, you must assume a correspondingly higher responsibility to become more nearly perfect as our Father is perfect. If you do not desire to be perfect, but are seeking truth just to be wise, someday you will find a gate barring your further progress into wisdom. It is of wisdom to know. It is of love to understand. When wisdom is greater than love, knowing is much greater than understanding, and you lack compassion of mercy to cover the transgressions of others. The desire to parade that knowing grows, wisely and unwisely.

An intolerance for others and their knowledge can grow within the heart and mind, even to a cold intellectuality that bars the way. Intellect is the gate barring the way onward, put there not by the Father but by the seeker after greater wisdom who does not give enough of love in payment for that wisdom. Wisdom is God’s Bank. Forcing wisdom is robbing God’s Bank, unless you have put in plenty of love deposits: Love for God, for neighbors, for humanity, for the ways of others, and love of self to lift it unto soul-responsibility. Manifold are the loves you must deposit before you may lawfully withdraw wisdom. Only love may court wisdom. Woo it as you would a jealous mistress, for it brooks no doubts or whys. To hold wisdom fast and receive more, you must be constant in devotion, praise and in the joy of prayer.

All this is yours to do. To purchase love at the great price of the sacrifice of self is best. Accomplish the full surrender of self if you desire wisdom. Only by eliminating the self can you make room to receive true wisdom. You cannot have it for the asking only, or for constant fevered seeking. Only love opens all doors, burns down all barriers, makes dark into Light and fulfills all law. Therefore, your sacrifice to love and wisdom will give you full knowledge of your fullness of responsibility. To seek without responsibly lifting self will deaden the delicate nerves and glands of head. Finally one can seek and tell only that small portion of wisdom yet retained, which he will finally give away in words, until only seeking and no wisdom remains.—Edna Lister, July 29, 1942.


Cultivate the virtue of taking time to live in God-consciousness. Cherish your hours of communion with Him as you feast on love and fast from the world of things.—Edna Lister, August 4, 1942.


Allow nothing to cause you to let go of your point of contact with Light—nothing. Take these heavenly gains from your life, and what is left? Where would you go for assurance, confidence, strength and understanding? Hold all your gains. If something of the world causes you to let go, reach up again and grab the ‘live wire’ from your source. Waste no time in vain self-condemnation or foolish grief. Grieve just enough to go to the Mercy Seat in repentance for allowing anything to cause you to lose a moment’s time, but grieve while praising, looking up, lifting and holding. If you slip, you can always climb back, but climb.—Edna Lister, August 19, 1942.


When anyone desires greater outer exaltation or recognition than another, he causes a disturbance in the vibration, which soon moves through all Power released through a group, so diluting its ability to cover transgressions.—Edna Lister, September 2, 1942.


Trials come to make you strong. If you say, ‘I am weak and cannot handle this’ or ‘do that,’ then so it is. Yet if you say, ‘I am strong in God’s strength to do any task set before me,’ then this becomes your glory and strength.—Edna Lister, September 23, 1942.


If you can praise enough for what you truly want, I know God shall fulfill your desires. Praise for the things you do not want, saying, ‘You’ve been a fine lesson (body or affairs)—but now you are lifted, melted and dissolved to make room for all the new.’ Even your vague wishes grow up into burning, flaming desires, because a faint wish is a baby desire. So, let’s praise enough.

You are Chosen. Therefore, put on the whole armor of Light. It is yours now, to use. Let praise echo and re-echo between you and God. Let love vitalize and quicken your life, your body and in your affairs. Sometimes you allow your body and affairs to stagnate and almost die. Yet the same life that gave you the first idea, or opened a business in the first place, can again make it alive, if you grow hot enough in your praise. Lukewarm praise produces lukewarm results. Let’s burn. Let’s flame. Let’s sizzle till consumed by the full heat of the white Light of the Christ.—Edna Lister, September 29, 1942.


Do not seek to know ‘why.’ Know only that you are required to release more Power. You have reached that place where the law requires responsibility for your place, the Power to run that place and substance with which to build and create new things. Have you decided to dream, to float, to let go? Are you fully using what has been given to you? Renew, vitalize, quicken and recharge your affairs now. Nothing is wrong. The Father but awaits your release of enough of your own soul substance to send Power through your affairs.—Edna Lister, October 7, 1942.


The first step is always, ‘I accept.’ The second is always, ‘Let Power’—fill it, make it over, recreate it, vitalize it, open this door, move this mountain, fill it with strength, etc. Add anything you need under this ‘Let’ as a statement. The third step is always, ‘Thank you, Father, that it is so. It is finished,’ then again, ‘Let it be so.’ This looks simple, but it is one of life’s hard simples. To keep it up day after day, week after week, requires a determination which few people have developed. This is the full formula, though thousands of words can be said about it. ‘I accept. I let. I praise without ceasing.’—Edna Lister, October 21, 1942.


You are finishing something you left undone, and you had better walk on eggs or you could flop in your initiations. Get ‘prayed up’ and do some soul-searching for leftover indulging in rebellion, which you still must lift. You are in the right place, but not yet in the right attitude. In the rightway, the right place, at the right time, you’ll be promoted—Edna Lister, October 28, 1942.


God tests you on your balance of desires when you are living as you personally desire. You cannot understand your lessons unless the Father advances you beyond what you have earned. Understanding comes only from advance beyond your ability to reach at present, to a point to which you do not yet even aspire. This is the Father’s way. Your aura lights determine your true point of ascension. Your desires, fervent and alive, keep the Gates open.

Watch your life closely, for all hidden enemies of self will arise for balancing. Unlovely unconscious expressions will cause embarrassment as you bring them forth, unless you lift them to God now. What is your will on this? Are you ready to cover all self with the consuming fire of love? So shall it be made into Light. Live in full glory, in the fullness of creative love.—Edna Lister, November 2, 1942.


God cannot set aside law to suit anyone’s whims or desires. You may not use law. You may invoke law, yet beware, lest you invoke it unworthily and it returns to delay or even to destroy your plans. Many seek but do not find the Master, because they do not seek him in the way of sacrifice of self. He said, ‘Follow me,’ and carried the cross to physical death. If this trial was not set aside for the Only Begotten Son, how can it be annulled for any other? The Via Christa requires courage and endurance, so laugh and sing while remembering that no task is too hard or too long, and no effort too great to do in love.

Greater credit will accrue if you look forward, while declaring your past good and very good. ‘This is good and very good.’ Once you truly learn your lessons, they come no more. Until you learn, they come repeatedly. Why stand on one step continually asking why? Use this valuable time in climbing higher, and one day the sun will melt the clouds and you will see the why, the reason for all past experiences. Much that you cannot yet see or hear becomes yours as you increase your flame of desire.

Make certain that selfish desires do not color your seeing and hearing, for selfish desires lead straightway into the vale of illusion and self-delusion from which no one escapes easily or soon. Once within, you may not turn back, but only follow paths through mazes, each path to its final and often bitter end. This is a sad way of great delay. To seek advice is much better. How else can you learn to know the true way? Seek advice before entering the long path through the vale of tears.—Edna Lister, November 5, 1942.


All the Elect who now wander abroad, seeking in strange vibrations, shall return again to Christ. Each will have received an abundance of experience for comparison until he is fully satisfied. You cannot successfully flatter anyone into walking the Way of the Cross and Ascension. Loose them all and let them go to seek the full cup of experience, each for himself. When they have become fully disillusioned, Master Jesus can once more reach out and lift them to him.—Edna Lister, November 11, 1942.


The work of the Christos Degree is to become fully responsible. It means to be as forgiving as God is, because He cannot see anything to forgive. It means continuous holding and lifting of any who have walked the Way, yet fallen from it. They will return someday. All must garner full experience, and pay many unfinished debts on the outer to be free. Yet, to be faithful in your mind and heart to these truths, which are behind the veil, is essential.—Edna Lister, November 18, 1942.


It seems to me that you have learned a truly fine humility and that your divine desire to ‘let’ God bring all good to pass must bring results, as a ram waiting in the bushes. You could have no greater message than that. Read it again (Genesis 22). Isaac’s surrender to his Father’s will. Abraham’s surrender to his Father’s will. Someday you will know just how much you have earned by your sacrifice. It is a fact and an accomplishment, and because you have surmounted it, you shall find those to aid you in surmounting every other obstacle in your path through the future.—Edna Lister, November 25, 1942.


I confess that I do not always understand why some things happen, but I’ve never asked, because I know that nothing can come unto me but my very own. From this truly mighty initiatory experience, your greatest knowledge and advance comes, I know. You are now stepping into your very own vibration. You are sent back to lift this particular situation. When you left before, you still held resentment and blame. In other words, until you were quite purified, you could not do that perfect work required of you elsewhere. See to it that this is work for God.

Let love flow out on wings of joy that you are found worthy for such great tests. Only the strong can stand in these trying places. You can take it even as I’ve always had to take it. Let who will run, run! We’ll never run, but live to fight another day, too! Your delays have paid for your hasty temper and judgments of and resentments toward others, especially of those who are resentful in return. You may surrender this all at once and release love on your whole past. Enough love will wipe away all your debts.—Edna Lister, December 1, 1942.


Let God rule, control and conquer as you.—Edna Lister, December 27, 1942.

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When you see, hear or think someone or a nation is doing wrong, ask the Father to release enough love and Light on them to store credits for them to use in their time of greatest need. Thus, they can pass an initiation and right their wrongs as you have righted all wrongs credited to you by others. It’s glorious to find new ways to mind the Father’s business instead of the other fellow’s.

‘I am now so busy minding my Father’s great business of love that I have no time to mind my neighbor’s business or even to see or think about what he is doing, while the Father minds my business perfectly.’—Edna Lister, February 10, 1943.


Do not seek causes for past soul debts, but pay them gladly and abundantly. Stand and let love move forth when doubt assails you, when burdens grow too great to bear, when anything touches you. Nothing can harm you. When delay comes, it is to cover another secret and hidden need of body or affairs, or to protect you from a falling bridge, which you built too hastily and perhaps did not anchor safely or strongly enough.

Nothing can harm you. Your present need is to stand and know this until you forget everything else and go free of all past bonds. Nearly always, a sudden pain or illness releases poisons that would cause death later if not allowed to escape into the Light where you can fully conquer them. Therefore, all is good and all things do work together for very good.—Edna Lister, February 18, 1943.


All’s well, though it may seem completely dark. You hold the Father’s hand, but can retain your hold only by constant vigilance, and constantly permeating all war zones with love. You can lift and harmonize those whose ruthless power hurled civilization into utter chaos in past ages, only by continued praise and prayer.—Edna Lister, February 22, 1943.


God can show you your path only after you have cleaned all those unfinished projects from underfoot. Do one thing toward it now to clean out that undergrowth. Your path will stand revealed when you have finished cleaning, whether in joy or grief, for self or in service for God.—Edna Lister, February 24, 1943.


To grieve about your failures excessively is a sin. Repentance must come, preceded by protracted, deep grief. So then, the problem is to sublimate grief, its sharpness, so its ever-present burden is a constant reminder that you have earned nothing. Either you let grief fasten onto you, or hold it at bay, to set aside pain and say, ‘Be absorbed in joy.’ This is a delicate balance to be reached, and is not to be attained in one hour or in a day, but to be attained constantly. From deepest experience arises the deepest desire to act. Indifference is built from one fall, one little lukewarmness an hour by a thousand people. Indifference is a curse.—Edna Lister, April 18, 1943.


Your point of white heat is how much joy you can release, how much love is in your heart and how much laughter on your lips. Living at the white point of heat is hard, but as long as you desire to work, you have the desire to achieve. To be perfect in health, put your desire in the atmosphere, form it into a thought. You can think it into reality. Do everything in your power without using force.—Edna Lister, April 29, 1943.


If you are in doubt about a situation, stop and ask for wisdom and guidance. When you ask, keep worldly thoughts from your mind. Have the problem before you to be solved. Close out the mundane, the conversation in the room, persons, radio. You will have your answer of wisdom.—Edna Lister, May 6, 1943.


If you are feeling weak, take seven deep breaths, with a good stretch between each while you empty your lungs. Do it slowly and use this statement on your out-going breath: ‘I am now one with all the universe. The universal Breath now moves through my soul and body all day long, remaking them into God’s perfect image and likeness of Power, of strength and of glory.’—Edna Lister, June 27, 1943.


You cannot afford to be lukewarm at any time, lest you open yourself to attack from the self within, which will push you back into the ‘cup of Lethe’ [forgetfulness], which lulls and puts to sleep all effort and flame of desire.—Edna Lister, August 31, 1943.


Joy that produces, creates for itself, of its own essence and substance, that which it desires. Joy causes the hearts of madmen to change and say, ‘Yes,’ when their mad answer has been, ‘No.’ Nothing can resist its appeal, or turn away the one who knows its magic and will stand in joy and sing songs of praise for those whose minds are in such sad confusion. In the confused mind lie many unseen fears, all for the self.

The confused soul always seeks to block the way of the one sent by God. Yet, that dam shall burst, sweep away its builders, and exalt those who create in the joy of the living God. They know no fear for the self, accept ridicule and dismissals as part of the confusion, and in no wise intended by God. One always feels a grief of compassion when one finds that the mentor to whom one looks for guidance is petty or has a closed mind.—Edna Lister, November 15, 1943.


You shall be promoted into your own position. Yet, remember, you take yourself along, lifted and cleansed, or this cleansing yet to be done. Isn’t it better to conquer where you are now standing? You shall do each thing as you see it to do. Joyous praise shall bring all your desires to pass. Hold fast all gains. Speak in understanding to all. No one is required to understand you, for you climb the steep way of the Masters, yet you are called on to understand all others.—Edna Lister, December 20, 1943.

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Conquering Self 1944

It pays great dividends to seek advice first, no matter how sure you feel or how right your thinking seems. Just seeking advice gives you millions of credits, and proves that you mean your surrender to obey God’s will for you.—Edna Lister, January 4, 1944.


Those who are warned against unwise actions seek to avoid an I-told-you-so reproach. It takes much prayer to reach them, prayer based in pure love and deep compassion. When he has had enough, plenty, all the experience he can stand, he will return. Better to gain it now than to waste another lifetime. When you think you must have an experience on earth or feel cheated of life here, regardless of the heights attained, God will send you all the way back to get it. Some take the downward step of self-indulgence with no regard to laws of convention or dignity. Yet, each must gain all needed experience-as-knowledge. The disappointment that seems hardest to bear now is usually the very experience that makes for your future protection.—Edna Lister, January 30, 1944.


If you use self control, you are using Power. Conquer instead; then the Power is using you.—Edna Lister, February 22, 1944.


Always seek greater ways in which to sacrifice the little self. Seek deeper within for any dry rot of self-satisfaction. Take greater responsibility in lifting, in covering all the transgressions of others, of loving them from darkness into Light.—Edna Lister, March 19, 1944.


You can always put more into your prayers. You are really learning that law works perfectly through you when you allow it to. Can you keep your vibration high enough to walk the heavens without self-pity, curses, criticism or condemnation?—Edna Lister, May 15, 1944.


Begin anew and let all things be ascended into a cleansing Light. Mentally make all sacrifice. Be willing to cover the transgressions of others. Avoid the self’s love of martyrdom. Lay all burdens of earth in God’s hands and let love lead you. Be in peace and let the candle of joy be lighted in your heart. Let joy and laughter possess you and do not condemn yourself.

True repentance for even innocent blindness is required of all, yet renunciation of the blindness, releasing Light and glory to cover it while singing, praising and praying, is your task. Hold fast to the Light, looking always up to Jesus the Christ, and you shall ascend step by step to your heavenly crowns and robes.—Edna Lister, May 19, 1944.


A statement of full surrender: ‘This is Thy will for me this day! Thy will, Thy Power, Thy Light, Thy glory, Thy faith. It is Thy will and I, thy [son, daughter] stand serene and confident in it. This is my place and I am in it!’

There is no going backward, no faltering, no possible cutting of your cables of Light to this matter, and no further delay—one step upward at a time but always speedier, according to the surrendered degree of your service. The only way to follow the Light is to face the Light, no matter what. You must completely let go of all negativity before you face the Light again. You may not face sideways—you either face the Light or the dark. There is no sideways facing.—Edna Lister, May 30, 1944.


Never work for patience, or you will call up ten million things on which to practice patience. Move up in consciousness into the ‘high place,’ the ‘tower room,’ the ‘sanctuary,’ and live as poise so that peace will express itself as you in the world. Do not look for help from within but from God. Use the essence of your experiences, but take your guidance from above, from the ‘Father of all Lights that lighteth the world.’

Declare, ‘I will arise and enter my Father’s House. I will stand under His Light forever.’ Extract all good from the past, string every tiny joy into a brand-new rosary of pearls while deliberately casting the chaff, the hurt and grief into the consuming fire of love. Let nothing remain underneath the surface in the subconscious to pull you down later.—Edna Lister, June 5, 1944.


You need only one law, the law of love. Only love fulfills law and causes substance to adhere to principle. It will make of you a beautiful chalice for love to fill. Let no one tip you over, for you cannot serve while down. Love opens every door. When in a difficult place, mentally chant, ‘Love,’ and think of God.

The right-hand path of ascension will never be easy. Weakness results from too easy an advance, blindness from letting others choose for you or tell you what to do. None of your guards will tell you what to do. You must choose. They may say, ‘This is the suggested way.’ You must follow eventually, but remain free to choose when.

Love one another. Bear one another’s burden. Love your neighbors and send them thoughts of love and compassion. When they look weary, surround them with Light. The time and effort you spend in prayer and lifting self, yours and others’, are the only gifts you bring to God.—Edna Lister, June 29, 1944.


You have prayed for healing and received it. Your maladies are largely imagination, so treat them as such. They are a memory of suffering, not the real thing. They do not exist, so take no heed of them. The Father has cleansed your past. You do not need to review pages that are already clean. Do not look for mud where none exists. Each day is a clean page. Declare, ‘This one thing I do now, pressing on, reaching forth to the high calling of the Lord Jesus Christ.’—Edna Lister, June 30, 1944.


How can you cook a meal in a lukewarm oven? Lukewarm prayer needs higher quality. Turn on the heat if you want anything of God. First, look to God, then pray and praise. The Father always says, ‘Yes.’ Second, lift the world into His house of Light. Speak the Word! Lift the worldly things into the house of the Lord. Third, let the Light uncover hidden things, what you must do, details to cover, etc. God gives you the whole apple—He doesn’t take a bite out of it first. Finally, thank Him that you already have the miracle. A miracle is the acceleration of law.

Declare, ‘Thank You, Father. You always say yes. I believe. Help Thou mine unbelief. As oil mingles with oil, as water mingles with water, as air mingles with air, as light mingles with Light, so does my life mingle with the life of God. Father, here I am today, an open book, a blank page. Write Yourself upon me today. Amen.’

To be o’ershadowed requires a high point of contemplative tranquility above the brain cells, at the heart of the Oversoul star. It is a dynamic stillness, a positive active receptivity. You cannot receive an answer from God if your mind is a blank. Remain at the receptive high point of your own Oversoul consciousness.

You must know when to push, when to pull, when to pray, when to entice, when to give slack and when to hold. Stand as truth. Give law emphatically, but without being insistent. You may modify law, but add only a grain more truth than the other fellow can take. Pray and entice him to be good, to live up to the highest possible point for now, according to his faith and the strength of his weaknesses.

Do not interfere with his free will. Be kind and compassionate, but demand nothing. Hold him in your arms of Light and love him. No matter your motive, you have no right to manipulate or enforce your will on another. Leave him free to choose his own way. Apply a little more praise, a little more love. See to it that the seed of life you plant in another is not a dead seed. Do not kill it with criticism of him. The wise sower waters the seed with love.—Edna Lister, July 14, 1944.


Read the Declaration of Unquenchable Love every evening before you pray.—Edna Lister, July 19, 1944.


Only love can open the physical glands on earth, or the Gates of Heaven. Love enough opens everything. Do not force, become tense or strained, for this always closes the door to love’s action. Watch closely lest you let anything from your past earthy consciousness creep in with you. Close your mental and soul doors to earth’s pettiness, caused by ignorance of God. Be on guard by always standing in the Light where nothing of earth may enter.

We’re a group of fair to middlin’ folks getting better—we hope. We just strive to understand what God desires and hold our torches high. If one slips or stumbles, everyone hangs on until he can scramble back on track again. Enough love will fulfill all law. Too much law and no love, or too little love, has been the rule. The love of God carries the will of God with it and plenty of law for every soul.

Sometimes law seems such a burden and a cross that a weak one just sits down and gives up without trying at all. So we love him on and into the full Light. He will learn law eventually. It is quite inevitable under love. Of course, you need to be wise and fearless in giving law, if and when it is needed for balance. In prayer, just forget everything else; just talk to God and tell the Master how much you love him. This will lift the world.

Each new law carries a tremendous responsibility to love enough lest the Power it releases reacts on your physical body. Therefore, your life’s keynote must be to release ever greater love on the world and everyone in it. This includes your own immediate past. Continue to cover the past in love and Light until you no longer remember it. Use this declaration, ‘This one thing I do now, pressing on, reaching forth, having now lifted all things of my past and having forgotten them in the Light.’

Accept the precious experience of each small episode, which has given you credits in Heavenly Realms, and rewards and advance in initiations. Be certain that you have carried each pearl of experience forward with you, that you have not discarded any in your haste to forget all past hurt, sorrow, grief, burden or darkness, before you have forgiven all your debtors.—Edna Lister, July 31, 1944.


Because of our Master’s love, you are privileged to ascend in this lifetime. To fan the flame of your desire to white heat, stand under the Light from the Source. Patience and understanding are necessary. The choice is yours. Love is God’s gift to you, and He asks nothing in return. When you ask for love, you may return only love as selfless sacrificial service. Raise the torch of love—let it burn higher. Kneel at the Mercy Seat for prayer, make your desire known, and it shall be heard.—Edna Lister, August 3, 1944.


Love unquenchable has never been put out. Faith unconquerable has never been conquered. Wisdom invincible has never been weakened or diminished. These principles are still standing. Understanding is untouchable by earth. Its glory is undimmed by misuse. All you need to do is to stand in love. Law must be filled with love to be fulfilled. Love enough is all you need to do. Not even a shadow of selfish ‘little me’ may remain in your soul. So pray, praise and love enough. The secret of healing for everything is more Light.—Edna Lister, August 22, 1944.


Not only transition, death of the body, brings a new life, but also when you have turned your life around. Souls whom you knew before may still make noises to attract your attention, but do not look right or left, only up to God. Look at the new step the Master will place for you. See only his hand outstretched to you. Let nothing of the past capture your attention.

Selfishness neglects others and lacks true helpful interest in them. Be a friend to all with a companionable dignity. Show a radiant countenance, glowing with joy. Do not think of self even once, or what others may think of you. Think only of their needs, ignoring all else. Love enough, to look up always. Breathe deeply just before speaking to anyone. Let love reign. Let the love of God be your support, for when His love moves forth from you, nothing can move in on you.

When you renew great vows or take new ones, you release more Power, and the tests and temptations always come to prove your right to stand so high. This is why I use such caution in telling what I know. So, of course, it will be harder to hold your firm and high point of balance. Who expects such glories for nothing?

Everyone will do devilish things to you and be a tempter for you, to make you conquer. So what? Do you want to regress or go on? Do you want to be a strong creator god or a weakling, shoved, moved and discouraged, crying, ‘I’ll quit’ every time it gets harder and tougher?

You are worthy or you are not. Think of all the curses hurled at God! What if He paid any attention to them? You are strong, now. You can pass any test at 100 percent now. I know. I love you. I stand with you and you can handle all this new Power as love, easily, in ease and comfort, compassion and understanding.—Edna Lister, August 28, 1944.


Only love can unlock the door to your Oversoul. Only love, which limitless in its power to do and to be, can ever release what you need in life. You have the power to overcome all obstacles by sacrificing the self. The power of love can create whatever you desire and decree for your body and affairs. Your results depend on how you use love, and your imagination is its only limit.—Edna Lister, August 30, 1944.


True obedience in sacrificing self never asks why, but is ever ready to do at once. Let no lukewarmness creep in to cool your vibration, or you become unusable by the Light. The Power you released then would damage the endocrine glands like a burned-out light bulb. Stop talking about the past and old news. Lift it in prayer only. Speak of it to cleanse soul substance, not to gossip or in vain repetition. Today is the time to sacrifice and surrender self, the high time for ascension and lifting earth. So declare, decree and lift.—Edna Lister, September 11, 1944.


You can pray for another’s miracle, so declare, and it will come to pass. While you may not ask for the self, you can thank the Father and praise a miracle into the outer while you act as if you already have it. Your words carry Power like a battering ram or machine gun fire when imbued with kinetic power. Therefore, be certain that your declarations contain no hatred, resentment or tinge of a predilection for either wisdom or love. Your words and tone may carry the neutral kinetic power itself, nothing more.

Dig out the last tiny roots of old hurts and resentments. You are the master of your physical body. You have either given up the past, or you haven’t. If you have given it up, it’s gone. Why dig it up again? Love protects you. It is a matter of which is most important to you now, past or present.—Edna Lister, September 19, 1944.


You are as great as your love and surrender to be a perfect instrument of God’s Power. You are as great as your ability to sacrifice self. You are great by the grace of God only, because love causes you to live by the honor of God. Honor God and praise Him. Become the fullness of law with nothing left to self. Be selfless and abiding.—Edna Lister, September 25, 1944.


When you have released yourself from the past, your destiny becomes visible. This is living in heaven, here and now. Some forever fail the race by stalling at the gate, never quite ready to give up all self. Others desire God so much that they are becoming absorbed by God, then are they power-full. All you need to do is to be as perfectly surrendered an instrument as is possible, and God will give His work through you.—Edna Lister, September 27, 1944.


You may not hold the past and greedily grasp the future at the same time. As you constantly cleanse the self and memories, conscious and subconscious, the past will bury itself as it erases itself from your consciousness.—Edna Lister, October 2, 1944.


You are a pilot light for God’s Presence. When you allow your flame to flicker or go out as you enter a room, what are you? When you keep your imagination stayed on perfection, your mind on God, surrounded with Light and see Light, you will see nothing but Light. Others may call you a fool behind your back but you will be a sublime fool who knows God and trusts in Christ. ‘We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ.’—1 Corinthians 4:10.

How often does God have to relight your pilot light? How long will you allow others to put it out? Why do you care what they say? What do the predators, the jungle cats and hyenas matter? Does the Master let them scare his Light into hiding? Remain high. You are brilliant, and can do anything you want to do because you already have the necessary capacity.

Why try to impress the intellectual snobs? The greatest social asset is to be an intelligent listener, with all brain cells clicking. Take it all in, and drain the talker dry. Ask an occasional intelligent question. If this punctures his tire, he is a fraud, a make-believe. If he is well-informed, this will make him feel so important. With an occasional question to the point, he will feel good for hours and pronounce his listener, you, good and brilliant.

Genius is being able to draw the best from the other fellow. If he is a snob, flattery and self-effacement work. Say, ‘Oh, you’ve had such marvelous opportunities for education, travel, study.’ In discussing books, plays, places, etc., say, ‘I’ve missed that—please, do tell me more about it.’ Ask, ‘What is your philosophy? What fields of study interest you? Who is your favorite author?’

Snobs live on the surface of life. Look for their lights and colors, as the colors in a pilot light, which will tell you everything you need to know about them. The golden-orange in the flame is the flaming desire to do. The red is mainly self-interest. The yellow-green color, so beautiful in flowers, is the color of jealousy in an aura.

When you are free of self, you can view life from a point of calm poise and draw all good to yourself. If your audience is cold or unreceptive, you have not sufficiently prepared them to receive your message. When you are scheduled to appear, find the location first, and prepare it, filling it and yourself with Light, mentally and spiritually. Later, when you step to the podium, the atmosphere will instantly change. The audience should become mellow and warm. If you cannot win them as soon as you begin, it is you. It is your duty to take full responsibility for your audience or you set up a resistance.

You have not ‘arrived’ until you can see the lecture hall, podium and those who are there as aides to help you. You do not see an audience ‘out there,’ but ‘with you.’ When you enter a room full of people, let your aura fill it with Light. To lift the vibration, you must be alive, ablaze with Light and free of self. Then all your brain cells will be open and alert with the life more abundant.

You have more life in your little finger than most and this is why many are jealous. To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved by friends, acquaintances and associates. If you never let anyone offend you, you never let anyone beat you. Every time you look into your own past, you push your present gains into the future, and we call it delay.—Edna Lister, October 8, 1944.


Experiences that teach you law and show you the way are always good and very good. God deceives no one. Yet, each soul on earth must be cleansed of its own conceits, and so come through the vale of illusion into all knowledge. Your guards and the Master must look on in sorrow when you delude yourself. They may only protect you from harm, loss of place, position and point, and hold you as you wander around in a confusion of your own making. Yet even while deluded, you still have freedom of choice. Innocence is no protection to anyone, high or low. Only full knowledge by experience and wisdom can protect you. To be an oracle, used fully by God as a mediator between heaven and earth, you must cleanse soul of self. You color everything you see and hear to the degree of self still remaining in you.

Unless you can discern, discriminate and segregate the degrees of truth, you have no business in seeking to lead others. This is how the blind lead the blind until both fall into the ditch. Waiting until you do not use your own imagination to mediate is best. Wait upon the Lord, learning full law to equal this so-great gift. Of what use are you when unable to discriminate between your own imagination creating illusions, instant knowledge of a strange alien vibration seeking to break through, and actually seeing the form and hearing the voice of God’s agent?—Edna Lister, October 20, 1944.


Ascension promotion comes from conscious full knowledge of all laws given. All further advance depends on your individual interpretation of law.—Edna Lister, October 25, 1944.


In my early years of ascension work, my biggest trap was my mouth! I always knew that I could not evade any responsibility and that I was fully responsible for the outer effects of every word spoken or written. Initiations are useless when someone else writes your papers for you. Strength comes from misusing law, having your nose rubbed in it, and so learning how not to do it. God is so good to allow us to release enough love to make everything right.

Give no more law at a time than your listener can bear and use. Otherwise, he will misuse it and it will take longer just love him up again in consciousness. Releasing the power of love cannot harm or mislead anyone. Experience is a good counselor, and true protection. You are only as great as the extent of your ability to be completely surrendered in obedience. Obeying law is best, even if you see no way forward.

The path is narrow and beset with snares and delusions. When any self remains, you can fall into these pits, one after another. Take the low chair if you desire to sit in the high one. If you give one thought to withdrawing from the responsibility of your own ill-advised acts, then that is self. Lift the self. Much appetitive soul remains and it will die hard.—Edna Lister, October 27, 1944.


No one likes to look at the hidden self, which is exactly why people hide it so safely and securely deep, deep below the surface in the bottom layer of the appetitive soul. To repent, put on sackcloth before the altar. In heaven, sackcloth is not an emblem of guilt or shame, but of knowledge of law. It symbolizes your full surrender to become the servant-instrument of all the Power, of the ability to sacrifice the last particle of self. So truly, sackcloth is a robe of glory that represents having the intestinal fortitude to dig down into the little self and face what you see. To say, ‘I don’t understand,’ expresses the self that you are working to dig from the appetitive soul. The treadmill of the wheel of fate consists of this.

Cry if you must, but never try to hide what you have done. Assume the full burden of lifting in your heart and before the altar, but without any self-blame. Praise God day and night for the experience of being made perfect, whole, complete and beautiful. Use your God-given faculties for every experience—honor, loyalty, logic, reasoning, discernment, discrimination, and discretion. Follow law until the veils of illusion fall away.

You may not use ‘I want’ as an excuse for not following law. Never use your royal faculty of imagination purely for self-centered desires. Any excuse is the little me of hidden self talking. No one on earth is so perfect as not to have any appetitive soul-little me-self. To believe so is considered as pride and arrogance. The ‘I can’t’ is the ‘I won’t’ the subconscious mind presents. ‘I can’t understand’ is ‘I won’t understand anything that doesn’t pander to my self-love, to my idea of my already-present perfection.’

Do not say, ‘I can’t understand.’ Instead, say, ‘I do understand that I am a child and beginning anew, knowing nothing each day. I do understand that my little self, the subconscious mind that has come up through evolution has hidden traits of all animal life, racial-consciousness and memories of all evil of the past. It holds hidden inclinations of every soul taint. These must come up into conscious awareness and I must sublimate them again into the soul of God. I do understand that everyone has these traits.’

The perfection of the Oversoul cannot lose or leave behind even a single negative thing. Scrape and dig until you have dug it all out and lifted it. As you do this, you must face yourself. You may not say, ‘I can’t understand,’ to anything on earth because this admits your hidden negative tendencies of the self, which will work out as experience before the world, people, and groups until you accept the law and dig them out. The Oversoul—the real you—does understand. This has nothing to do with the conscious mind’s goodness and virtue or the glory of the Oversoul’s pure delight in God. You can be a saint and still die of disobedience to law.

Your attitude must be all love and all innocence. Say, ‘I cannot believe I have done all these things.’ You may not honestly say, ‘I couldn’t be guilty of this because I am already so perfect.’ Be just and divinely wise on this now. Lift this pride of self. Do you think that you are made of something extra special, high and holier than all the rest? All my life I have lifted self by asking myself what made me do, act, speak, react, think or imagine what I did. Every word, every choice has a hidden reason plus a conscious one. Dig the self up, out and burn it in the fires of the soul. You do always understand. For when you do not, you are looking back and down into the hidden darkness of the little me, poor little imposed-on, misunderstood me.

Never blame anyone or anything outside the self. When you hide self, it starts a fire smoldering under the surface that finally burns through all crusts. Yet you must declare, ‘I am perfect now,’ to remind the self that this is so. It is one thing to declare that you are perfect but quite another to become so on earth. Let him who thinks he stands, take heed. If you have never thought you need warning and correction, it is self-pride.—Edna Lister, November 1, 1944.


You advance only by overcoming and mastering self, by becoming law, which will uncover all the self’s hidden taints.—Edna Lister, November 2, 1944.


‘As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.’—Proverbs 23:7. You express crystallized ideas as repressions, fears, opinions, prejudices and inhibitions that can freeze and lower the body’s vibration to the point of paralysis and death.—Edna Lister, November 3, 1944.


There are seven great steps in ascension and only in this order can full knowledge enlighten man’s so great spiritual darkness: Acceptance, surrender, sacrifice, repentance, praise, exaltation, illumination. Many schools list repentance first, but it means giving up all self. Yet it takes acceptance, surrender, and sacrifice just to lift off the lid.

Great-grandma said, ‘Least said—soonest mended.’ You are accountable for every word now. You have decided to do it the best way, and not lend yourself to inspired writing until you see clearly who is talking and you know how to interpret exactly. Sometimes I have asked the speaker to repeat it a dozen different ways until I know what he means, not just what the words sound like. Some day, when we have finished this discussion, you can use these letters as lessons.

When treating for another, circle him with Light and declare, ‘You are a true son or daughter of God. You are coming up in consciousness now.’ Leave all else to God. For protection, declare, ‘No one who is sent of self can come nigh this dwelling, nor anyone in it, nor mine own household, nor myself, Thy servant. Only God’s Agents and Jesus the Christ may ever use me at any time as an oracle. Let God so make me a ready instrument under His Law, in due season.’

Give others statements of truth. Ask them to pray with you. Say, ‘This is law,’ or, ‘This is the way I seem to ’get’ this.’ You will be given, but for God’s sake, never involve any of God’s Agents again by naming him. Give God all the credit. God will credit the Agent He uses.

Pray for your students. Lift them. Hold them. Teach them how to use the golden silence, but forget your self. You are now the instrument of law. It takes a long time to clean up one small misuse of law. I’ve found that God is quite capable of taking care of everything Himself, if I keep my self out of it. I just hold fast to God’s coattails and stay close to His heart. Then He can and does bring such balance, such beauty, such glory, such marvels to pass, that it leaves me breathless.—Edna Lister, November 10, 1944.


The weeding out still continues. Only by greatest effort may you hold your present position because you forgot law. You are therefore charged to stand on law. Do you desire to be great in others’ eyes, or to be great in heaven by obedience to laws given? Choose. You may not have both. Outer unpopularity comes from being strictly obedient always, because none on earth desires public or private correction of any kind. Greatness consists in being amenable to high law. State law fearlessly, in deepest love and compassion, but state it to save the whole.—Edna Lister, November 17, 1944.


The full Light of pure love renders evil and darkness impotent. You can lift anything if you are selfless.—Edna Lister, November 23, 1944.


Just stand firm in love and praise in which is no resentment or complaint. These are the two counts on which you’ve gone down in initiations in the past. Stand! You are winning fully this time, I know, positive. I am so glad you are really seeing and hearing. Everything becomes much, much better after this comes to pass. Don’t be a jackass—poke your ears up through your hat so you can hear the Father before you slip. Hold fast to your soul gains. Let no petty thing drag you back into delay.—Edna Lister, November 30, 1944.


Law is your joy and fullness of strength whenever you hold fast to it instead of to self. Remember that one small misused law disturbs, lets down, causes disruption of the Father’s Plan for all. The vibration finally fills the universe, like ripples on the surface of a pond, until all have been tempted and freed to choose their new way. The Elect must pay tremendous soul debts for one foolish breaking of the least law. The sum total of all disturbance caused by such is your debt to law. You lose joy or strength only when your subconscious mind betrays you into looking backward and downward.—Edna Lister, December 2, 1944.


You ask for information on what you are doing to cause certain effects in your life. You ask why your prayers are not answered, yet refuse to hear, to see, or to pay any heed when you are actually told the what and the why. There is only one answer: You are breaking a law. For whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend on one point, he is guilty of all.—James 2:10.—Edna Lister, December 7, 1944.


What price will you pay for pride? You either love God or you love your own pride! You really have chosen God or you have chosen pride of earth. Use a surgical knife on pride. Excise it! Make one operation successful or in this case, the patient will die—to seeing, to hearing, to knowing.—Edna Lister, December 8, 1944.


Remember honor first and above all things of earth, given to God, then you will not dishonor yourself, or another. Remember the love of God always. Remember the faith of God, which cannot doubt or fear, forever and ever. You have no excuse for failing in love or faith, hour by hour, moment by moment. Honor, love and faith form the roots of your heavenly anchors. All else branches from them. Study, ponder these principles and hold fast to them with all your soul, your mind of reasoning power, with all your heart and with all your body, lest self betrays you again. Whatever demand you make becomes law for you, and the Council requires it of you.—Edna Lister, December 11, 1944.


All is well and your heaviest trials are over, if you make it so. Your hurt feelings at your boss’s treatment of you has delayed plans twice already. Your resentment has cut your lines. You cannot afford to be hurt or offended without resenting and blaming, which is judging another. ‘This is an hard saying.’—John 6:60. Yes; law is hard to become, but it is glorious to be, after you get there. And, there is no easy way. Until you serve God only, and never even notice how you are treated, this same situation will arise. In fact, it will always arise wherever you are, whatever you are doing, whenever you are in a position to learn not to be or do something. Vows are one thing, practice of vows always hurts.

No one can keep you from God’s place for you. God can put you anywhere He wants you, any place, any time, when you forget all ‘but God.’ When will you truly forget self, and serve even your enemies joyously, gladly, lovingly, freely and graciously. Cut this out now. Submit to God’s law. Look up in consciousness. This could be the greatest year of your whole life—all dreams come true, all visions fulfilled. Nothing can take your crown of glory from you, especially not that little old self-pitying self! You shall be consumed with the fire of the glory that fills you. You are so good. But any offense you take at anything means self, and a lack of love enough going forth at that hour, even if every other hour is over-filled.

If you could know the glory ahead of you, truly no man or situation could force you to look at the meanness others do, even for a minute. Remember, you will always have the mean ones to deal with. Learn to love now, lift and know God’s love, even when they are in action with it. You are now being polished to an unbelievable brilliance. Will you hold one facet of the diamond to the self—dull—while the others are glorious? I’m lifting, loving, holding and knowing you through this initiation and above it forever. Of course it comes when you are physically tired, lonely and alone. Your weakness then rises up to slap you down, until it becomes your greatest strength. Do you think I do not know?

When you find fault with earthly actions, God records it as a complaint of the initiation, and if the complaints continue, the initiation is set back where it is easy. Can you gain the Crown that way? This is always the way it works on earth. Let God promote you. Do not shout so loudly for your self. Do better than your best for the worst boss on earth and God will surely promote you. Surely. You may not hold onto even a small bit of self, for self, and become that full Christed One, which you must become to fulfill your own soul-chosen, God-appointed destiny. You have always been ready to let go of self, yet you hold onto the small self as pride, which constantly makes you feel inferior to others. You are not the greatest in the kingdom, neither are you inferior.

If you now strive toward full surrender of all self, you shall greatly increase your strength into ability to know instantly what to do and how to accomplish it. You shall see in advance what you need when you can no longer blame another. Complaints against heads in business, mentally whining about offenses, and taking offense has caused you to err. So great a glory awaits your full, total and complete surrender of self. Do you think you can earn the high place by finding easy ways, smooth ways? You gain heaven by finding hard things to do, hard ways to climb, tough people to work with and for, meanness to lift. The Way of Christ is the hard way to glory, not the easy way to the bottom. Greatness consists in being amenable to obedience to high law. Outer unpopularity results from always being strictly obedient to law. Why? Because no one on earth, including you, desires public or private correction of any kind.—Edna Lister, December 17, 1944.


Live life from above, not in the dirt. All you need to do is to look up in consciousness and thank the Father for your lovely, beautiful, perfect new place, wherever it may be. Then do not waver or notice any delay or detriment in the outer. You held on long enough to something that wasn’t yours. You did not take too long to finish, but held on too long. Remember, it is only of self if you pound at heaven’s door, and keep asking or thinking of changing. It is only legal to serve well where you are with all your mind, heart, soul and body, while praising and thanking God that you are finishing an old vibration in joy.

Keep thanking God for your new better-salary position in just-the-right place God has already given you before you thought to ask Him. When you continue asking, 90 percent of you is stomping its feet because God isn’t satisfying your demand right now! All you need to do is to say, ‘Thank You God. I already have this position. Let it come to pass now.’ And it’s always now. Then, hour on hour, move to meet it. You help yourself by acting as if you already have it under law. Let God push you into your next place. Forget such attitudes as ‘But doesn’t it seem that this should happen—if.’ Your statement, as you wrote it, is a demand on law and the ‘if’ definitely says that you already know you haven’t earned it.

Your idea or concept is right. Your words are wrong. Say, ‘Father, I am now doing all in my Power to do and be, to finish up this old and past vibration, in total perfection, joy and love. Here I am, unwavering, steadfast, and I shall not fail You, Father, again. I shall do it beautifully, graciously, in the loveliness of the Christ, right now.’

Where is the room for ‘if’ in God? If expresses a doubt. Why entertain doubt when you intend to be perfect, unless your subconscious self is leaving a loophole to be able to indulge itself? Never mention, or allow self to dwell on ‘how good’ you are, or ‘how well’ you are serving where you are. Leave the approval to God. Plan trips or vacations or a lovely apartment, anything. But keep 100 percent of yourself on the job—all there, while there. This is winning hour by hour while you praise the Father for releasing you into your new place, not releasing you from the old.—Edna Lister, December 19, 1944.


Only needed lessons can ever touch you. Darkness always betrays pure innocence. Pride is the one thing that sneaks up on you, though you have gone through all the Gates. Sacrifice it daily throughout life. ‘Come unto me. My yoke (love) is easy and my burden is light’—pure shining Light that is also light in weight.—Edna Lister, December 21, 1944.


On teaching: Life itself is your challenge to life, to be constant in your effort to ascend each day, to be determined in your effort to live life fully every hour of every day. When you really make sacrifice and surrender to become law, then the Father can use you more than if you were speaking to crowds of thousands, because more Power moves forth unselfishly as God. When your full sacrifice of desire here accompanies inner initiations, the physical body reacts to the point of feeling blistered by the high fire initiations. This is not imagination, but proof you are passing your initiations. When they are only mental, you experience no physical reaction.

Any teacher of laws of the mystics can tell exactly what grade, phase, realm of inner work one is in, or if it is only imaginary, because of much reading backed by desire of self. It is really very simple, once you have become law. You just know because you have earned the right. Nothing can be hidden from the one who understands, meaning that once you have ascended, you see all below where you now stand. The higher the ascension, the more is opened to us. You just cannot avoid knowing if you ascend.—Edna Lister, December 28, 1944.


Live each day giving of yourself in service to His little ones, and in so doing you will earn ever greater rewards. You will receive inspiration for writing as you give more time for pondering. Go deeply into the golden silence by lifting yourself in prayer to the throne of God. There you will receive. When you return, immediately write what you have received, though it is but a line. Gradually you will find it will piece together until you can put it into form. Just keep trying and you shall be rewarded.—Edna Lister, December 30, 1944.

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Conquering Self 1945

Any brain cells you have not opened and developed can cause a mental blankness on matters pertaining to them. Be conscious of this weakness until the final awakening comes. Your obedience to law must go beyond simple submission. It must be a burning desire to become the law.

By your own choice, you have come this far. Keep your imagination stayed on perfection for what you want, and thank the Father for it in advance. Do not dwell on the need or on pain. Keep your mind stayed on the things that are pure and just. A prayer is your highest thought about anything. When something from the world hits you, do you know you will have a miracle? God’s winds always blow for you and with you. When you lift everything to God, His hands hold it all.—Edna Lister, January 1, 1945.


You need greater humbleness, lest unwarranted pride slips into your thinking or actions. Pride caused all devils in the beginning—pride of beauty, pride of intellect, pride of place, pride of position. None of these belong to you, for love alone places you. All else is apt to prove a tempter and cause you to lose ground, making you need to regain ground held, then lost.

Review in your mind, then state aloud what has been a pitfall in the past. Make it into a law, such as this: ‘Guard against pride, resentment, arrogance, self-exaltation, etc., lest it subtly creeps into my speech, or causes action such as (name an example) at unlawful times.’ You need not state it exactly as above, but it must be clear enough to serve as the framework for a later Book of Warnings to Neophytes. {This website started as that book.} This aids you to become observant of illusions, self-delusions, and to speak truth on each thought, action, desire of self. Studying law teaches you law, forms a bulwark against misuse of law, and serves to inventory your soul-stock, while disposing of all spoiled stock on your mental shelves.—Edna Lister, January 4, 1945.


I have often spoken of holding your high point of consciousness under all circumstances, and to hold all ground gained. Always keep in mind that you must follow all past orders and lessons to hold your gains. Start each day while sitting at the feet of the Master, not sitting on a throne, ruling. Then you are in the proper attitude for the day. No matter how high you climb or where, self continues to present hurdles to prevent soul from progressing. Self tests and tempts you, so you must constantly lift it. These points of self are kindergarten, yet you must serve God now. Nothing limits how high you can climb or the glory of your service, but, and this is the BIG but, you must earn it all along the way. You are doing this every moment, even when you are alone with self. You are still under the lights and the eyes of the Council.—Edna Lister, January 16, 1945.


It pays great dividends to seek advice first, before acting, no matter how sure you feel, or how right it seems. Just the act of seeking advice gives you millions of credits. It proves that you mean your surrender. Prayers are not simply words. They are being and doing on the inner, while those of earth-consciousness pray with words. This is your reward for giving up everything for the golden silence. You can truly see and hear only in the golden silence. You cannot be objective and inner-minded together. This is the Pearl of Great Price.—Edna Lister, January 18, 1945.


I, too, am very often quite puzzled by orders given, but the Father does not explain why. I’m supposed to know that there is a perfect explanation and by following orders instantly, I always do the right thing at the right time. I’ve never caused confusion of myself, deliberately. I am at times an instrument of confusion on unfulfilled promises, etc.—not because the Master is wrong, but because the folks involved grow lukewarm and do not come through.—Edna Lister, January 31, 1945.


Thank God you have learned to catch your commissions and omissions before they create wrongly. When you acknowledge that you just may have misunderstood, God can make it work together for good. Your guards build another cross-cut path back to the original path for you. They are so good to you.—Edna Lister, February 7, 1945.


When you really desire to give up all self, you can tell the difference between truth and illusion. Only then can you make the right choice at the very first test. When the self-desires blind you, you are really blind to the difference between truth and illusion. For illusion is always founded in a fact, which someone then distorts to fit a perversion of truth. People go off the deep end when they please themselves by taking the attitude that others should understand them. By telling half-truths, they too often brand themselves as liars because, in fact, they have been deceitful before God. God is very, very good to me to really justify my stand for truth. I know God. He’s never let me down—never.—Edna Lister, February 22, 1945.


Unless you give up believing that you will find true and perfect love only on earth, you will never be able to feel, see, or know it in heaven. You must wipe out that past belief completely. You cannot give up something you never had. You have never had anything but an idea to give up. You were forced, by law, to work out and through the idea through experience in the physical world, in order to eliminate the idea and become ready to advance spiritually.

You still have some further polishing to do on old arrogance, false pride-of-self, self-pity, self-blame, self-exaltation and self-glorifying of the services you have given. Let these rough spots be polished away now until your soul is like a flawless diamond, reflecting only God’s life and Light. Let nothing mar this gift of full standing on faith, until God’s Light can cause those who now say no to say yes. This is your chance to stand and give a supreme gift to God. No man may change God’s plans. Man may only promote God’s ideas—your promotion. Into a better place, a better salary, a greater opportunity to express and give of your heart and mind.—Edna Lister, February 28, 1945.


Joy is a weapon of defense against all the darkness that is in the world.—Edna Lister, March 13, 1945.


Remember DETAILS, not DE ’TAILS’ always be-hind!—Edna Lister, March 28, 1945.


By loving your own place, by praising God always and in all ways, by praying in joy, you will find release from the world darkness. Live in the high place of soul glory.—Edna Lister, April 5, 1945.


Your soul roots reach to the groundwater of Spirit. Laughter circles earth as fast as Light, and revitalizes your youth, but grief deadens you into old age. Criticism of self devitalizes, and wastes universal energy. Study awakens new brain cells and neurons, opening the treasures of past lives. Mere reading lulls the brain cells to sleep. Study keeps the awakened cells active, and awakens more of them. False pride creates illusions and hallucinations, not soul vision.—Edna Lister, April 6, 1945.


You can make no trustworthy analysis until after you pray. Before you can judge others or make a just appraisal, you must use Light for self-analysis first; otherwise, you clog your own channels of desire and will, of thinking, emotions and imagination. Agree with your adversary within and without, meaning the appetitive soul and subconscious mind, or with the other fellow. Each degree has seven lesser degrees, making forty-nine in all. You earn ahead on the degrees, according to the fervency of your desires and prayers. Every word you utter, creates.

You may not simply talk about being a servant of the Almighty, but do it. Service means devotion to the Master, not boasting. Ascension leads you to complete surrender to be used by the Power, with no thought of self. Impersonal prayer, which is of the soul, not the self, takes place in the silence. The white Wings of the Christ descend to cover your head like the helmet of salvation, to protect you as a mediator as you may see and hear.—Edna Lister, April 13, 1945.


Requisites for standing in high office include holding your tongue, and speaking only at the right time. Do not react personally to anything said. Think impersonally as a creator god. Think of God first, second of state, and do not consider the self. When thinking of state, think also of the Master and what it will mean to him and to you.—Edna Lister, April 16, 1945.


Fundamental laws include ‘Agree with thine adversary.’—Matthew 5:25 and ‘What is that to thee? Follow thou me.’—John 21:22. Illusion is a product of imagination, based on a fact. You must face the initiation of the veils of illusion, in which you polish your discernment and discrimination of fact versus illusion. Your present state of semi-perfection does not take you through the Gates and into the Light, but your present desire for perfection does. The Elect are the Elect because they descended first and choose (elect) to return first by recognizing their responsibility for everything their personality or name has ever touched. The Elect are great only when they assume full responsibility and never ask anything for self, above all things, credit.—Edna Lister, April 18, 1945.


A Star is a Light in the world. To be a Star requires steadfastness in shining, constancy in obedience, being without self, and doing without thought of reward on earth. The attitudes of a Star are faith unconquerable, love unquenchable, wisdom invincible, praise unfailing and unceasing, and joy all-possessing.—Edna Lister, April 20, 1945.


It is a law: Better wise silence than an unwise word. You must learn wise words, plus a wise silence.—Edna Lister, April 23, 1945.


Substance has only the power of becoming. The soul, conscious or unconscious, has the power of conscious direction and control. You are held in bondage by your unconscious mental jumble, which passes for thinking. Until you lift the appetitive soul completely, you cannot know complete soul o’ershadowing in the Light. You cannot fully awaken brain neurons while darkness from the past remains. Breathe deeply to lift this. The Holy Breath is the great Source of creative substance for all creations, and it descends from above to permeate everything. Thus, everything is good, after its own degree and kind.—Edna Lister, April 24, 1945.


‘I am now become responsible for all my own earth life. The place I occupy now I have made for myself. The work I do now is as a servant of God. All that comes to me is my very own, either Light or dark, it has been created by me for myself by my own use or misuse of life, Light, Power, Mind and Substance. That which I do not like or enjoy, I have created. From this hour forth, I shall live my life by love alone and let God do His perfect work as me.’—Edna Lister, May 17, 1945.


Seek to know how to love one another greatly, so that you may be your own fulfillment of life and law. To live fully and have a full life you must know love and be love. There is only one way: Sacrifice of the ‘little’ of earth to gain the ‘much’ of heaven. Make further and greater sacrifice of self. Live in the high place that you can lift the appetitive soul of self still embedded in the world. The appetitive soul has long been in command over the outer self. Therefore, it finds it hard to give up reigning to be submerged in the Oversoul. Yet it must be so. It is the only way to go to the Master, through the Gates, while still in the flesh.—Edna Lister, May 18, 1945.


When you see something in your brother’s life that needs to be lifted, remember to lift the same thing in your own, for until you are unable to see critically but see only compassionately to lift, you also need cleansing. Let each wash the other’s understanding with love. This is the meaning of the washing of feet.—Edna Lister, May 31, 1945.


You are fully responsible for always seeing everyone and everything as perfect and good, to see darkness only for an instant, only to lift. To lift, and to let glory rest on what is dark, is the full measure of your place on earth, given you by God. See to it that only this total Light possesses you. Pray this prayer of service without ceasing, hour on hour, saying, ‘Let the Power of God use me now to its own great glory. Let the glory of God use me now unto the complete lifting of all darkness from the whole earth. Let the full Power now make me its own servant forever and forever. I am now the willing servant of God Almighty, forever and forever, Amen.’—Edna Lister, June 11, 1945.


Your prayer work is building a vibration that shall last throughout all the eternities of all time. Nothing can retard the steady advance of Light along all lines, for all nations. What we have declared shall stand forever, and for ever. God’s promises shall be fulfilled, one at a time, in heavenly miracle ways. Out of total blackness God shall bring full Light and glory.—Edna Lister, June 18, 1945.


Make your decrees, then remember to stand on and by your own Word. Decree your desires, true and steadfast, then keep all buried past doubts and fears lifted as they arise to your conscious mind, and in no way prepare a table at which they may feast, either in your mind or heart. Declare, ‘This hour is my hour of glory. This hour is my hour of complete knowing. This hour is the very greatest hour of my soul. I live. I grow. I expand. I see. I hear. I know.’—Edna Lister, June 21, 1945.


You are only as great as your least obedience to the least of all laws. Your weakness in that least obedience is stronger to cause you to fall than all your strengths of love, devotion and humility. Therefore, watch hourly for the least forgetfulness or failure to be the law that you have been given. In this way your greatest strength will be born of your greatest weakness. Only so can you ever attain the Supreme, which awaits you. Make of your self a chalice of purity. Empty the old hourly, lest when you come to the Fount of All you either have no room for the real, or the sediment in your cup muddies the stream of life. Only a cleansed mind and heart may receive the fullness of God’s perfection.—Edna Lister, June 25, 1945.


The Lord is in His Holy Temple now, which is your physical dwelling. Therefore, honor the Holy Temple in which you now dwell. Are you dwelling well grounded within your Holy Temple? Breathe yourself back into your body, every morning on your return, for your day’s work and lessons on earth. If you are feeling weak or out of sorts, take seven deep breaths, with a good stretch between each while the lungs are empty. Do it slowly and use this treatment or statement on your outgoing breath: ‘I am now one with all the universe. The universal Breath now moves through my soul and body all day long, making them over into God’s perfect image and likeness of Power, of strength and of glory.’—Edna Lister, June 27, 1945.


Cease fretting over mundane things. Do the next thing next, do everything to God’s honor and glory, and He shall increase your substance, your money, strength, business and love, for one is as important as the other. God can provide more than you can use or desire when you let Him do so. Let Him be your true and only Source. Let God do all things to your honor, which is His honor. All you have comes from above. Do the next thing next without any doubts, fears or in any way forgetting that God is your only Source.—Edna Lister, June 28, 1945.


Let nothing of the outer world cause you to falter in the so-great climb of ascension. Your guards cannot hold you against your indifference or lukewarm attitudes. Once you fail to heed their warnings or offer any self-made excuses for not becoming the law you are conscious of knowing, even briefly, then you are considered as knowledgeable of right and wrong, and have free will to choose your own path of life.—Edna Lister, July 2, 1945.


Your path is narrow, sometimes with room for only one foot at a time. Then doubts, fears or self-pity assails the conscious mind, and hidden detriments arise from the deeps of the subconscious. Lift them. Stop at once and raise your arms in surrender to the power of love. Declare, ‘Father, let Your glory move in to possess every corner of both my mind and heart. Let the glory of the Almighty move in and possess me! All darkness is absorbed by Light!’

If you find darkness, the answer is more Light, more Love, and more Power. This is always your first step. Many become bored with the pettiness of life’s many details—they grow too weary or bothered by the small, but necessary, everyday tasks and so waste and lose time. Yet you can make life’s meanest daily duties into stepping-stones to the fullness of all glory. Surrender of self and soul discipline are your great needs now. For the climb upward you have no greater need than to keep the vows you have made to yourself, to watch each task and finish it. Redeem your time. Redeem each moment of the humblest task to do it better or faster. Leave nothing for another to stumble over as he may seek to redeem time.

Your desire for perfection is good. Yet your self-discipline is too cool to melt and dissolve the petty self enough to lift the appetitive soul to serve the conscious mind fully. You cool off at a point below that perfect white heat, which you must maintain for soul-balance and a three-way simultaneous daily expression—appetitive soul ruling the body as pure love, the rational soul fully God conscious, and the Oversoul living with God. We call this the way to being a seer and a prophet.

Seek to praise for longer moments, with deeper soul fervor, until you reach a place of Light from which nothing of earth can drag you. Make new vows to lift yourself to this high fervor with complete continuity of consciousness and expression. Use everything you have to feed your undernourished souls.—Edna Lister, July 3, 1945.


You have only begun to surrender self, even at your greatest present point of surrender. Always seek new ways of vowing, then become what you vow. Surrender your whole self. Gather still more attitudes, opinions and prejudices from your deepest past to surrender to God, the Father. Whenever you speak the Word, begin your declarations with ‘Let.’ Your greatest past surrender is only a crude beginning. Surrender itself takes time. You are still only learning how to surrender. You are still babes in even knowing what surrender of the self is all about.

Seek to learn what the true sacrifice of self means. True surrender to be possessed of love gives freely without counting the cost to self, or hoarding of self or things for some distant day. Give while you may, to God and to man. Wherever you see or feel a need, there give. Surrender. Praise. Love.—Edna Lister, July 5, 1945.


The next two months will be filled to overflowing with earth-lessons for everyone. Those who remember to operate on the following words, which really are states of consciousness when lived, shall reap rewards and credits greater than at any future time.

First, instant recognition, because, ‘This is mine or it could not come to me. It has my name on it, which I gave it as I sent it forth.’

Second, instant acceptance, ‘This is mine to lift right now. I accept this as my present lesson. Let me, oh God, gather from it every tiny bit of knowledge for my future guidance and protection.’

Third, repentance, ‘Here I am, Father. Let Light shine on the unconscious memory that drew this lesson to me, and let thy Light cleanse and scrape the platter of my appetitive soul clean and lift it into Thy glory now.’

Fourth, surrender, ‘Here am I, Father, now surrendering all my past, present and future unto Thee, so that I may be Thy perfect servant of all the Power.’

Fifth, sacrifice, ‘Father, let me find new things of self, those still buried in my appetitive soul, hidden from my conscious mind, to lay on Thy altar forever. Accept my soul, heart, body and affairs as living sacrifices unto Thee, to be used as Thy servant and strong pillar in Thy Temple.’

To follow the Master, you must cleanse the traces of self from each nerve plexus, gland and vital center in the body. The yet remaining traces of self in your cells causes all crystallization and weakness. Since each cell has its own individual memory, each must be cleansed. To do this requires constant watchfulness of every detail of your life.

No detail of daily living too small to censor. Idle words, actions, idle expenditure of energy, such as gossip, criticizing, even self-condemnation, instead of proper repentance and lifting, surrender, giving up of self-things, you must account for all this in each day’s final judgment. Therefore, watch for small and idle things in each small detail of your life.

With God, it is never too late. Pray and see everyone receiving legacies, salaries, etc., and sharing with you. You can grow selfish in your desire to give, you know, which closes all your opened channels. Also, check yourself again as to whether you use the power of knowledge for selfish reasons. You may answer others’ questions only, not pontificate. Law never finds you in deliberate offense, or as an offender, unless you think of Power as yours. Power is God’s only. You will be the perfect instrument when you see the Master only and not yourself or what you are doing for him.—Edna Lister, July 17, 1945.


One law encompasses all law. Love will fulfill all law. Yet, love cannot fill a vessel already full. God cannot fill you unless you empty the self from your soul. You must learn many laws well before you empty appetitive soul completely. You might empty it all at once, but you do not. You empty the self a drop at a time, and God adds a drop of Light in that space. Drop for drop, so He gives. He touches you with love’s magic scepter, asking if you will give up all appetitive soul to Light.

Have you the strength, or must you continue to surrender self a drop at a time? Why dally in surrender? St. Paul said, ‘I die daily,’ for the self crucifies the soul. You can go to the Master a drop at a time or all at once. A ‘drop at a time’ is dying daily, which you can overcome by completely sacrificing self now. When love supreme possesses you until no taint of self remains, love will then fulfill the whole law within you and for you.—Edna Lister, July 17, 1945.


Light is invulnerable. Once the soul takes charge as Light, you are invulnerable.

The great soul can stand and be used by all Power and Light. The greater the soul, the greater the possible use.—Edna Lister, July 21, 1945.


The point you forget most often is that your vibration falls when God’s ‘need’ arises. Thus, when He needs you most as a perfect instrument, to let His Power move forth to lift something in the world, you are as deflated as an old, cold flat griddle cake, and no Power can move through the soggy mass. Therefore, keep your lamp trimmed and burning, filled with oil lest when His call comes, you are too low in spirit to do anything but gasp and cry. When something hits you, it is God calling you to release Power. When you are releasing it all the time, you’ll never need to be called. You’ll go along on an even keel, with Life singing to you and for you. Problems are God’s call to arms, so be ready. His Power has already answered them. God’s perfection is your answer now.—Edna Lister, July 24, 1945.


Love is a consuming fire to burn out all dross. This dross lies in the hidden rooms of the appetitive soul until the Oversoul seeks to ascend the whole soul. What you have hidden for ages boils up to the surface, thus allowing itself to be remade into Light, as it was in the dim beginning of time, before the appetitive soul traveled up through the life of evolution. When the rational soul lifts it freely and no longer succumbs to its clamoring for power, then the body ascends with the soul. Thus, you achieve the full stature of the Christed One.

When the conscious rational soul listens to appetitive soul’s plausible yet specious reasoning, it adds to its power until it boils underneath, eating away or dry-rotting the cells of the body. In some cases, also crystallizing the cells. Yet the ever-ingressing, consuming fire of Mother Love, so principled to burn darkness, enters—and the war between Light and Dark happens in the body itself, as the battleground it then becomes. Therefore, the law of the consuming fire of Mother Love is that it will either burn out the dross or burn out the body to consume all darkness.

Obedience to the laws of ‘letting’ and ‘lifting’ will cause the dross to be consumed to the complete purifying and full ascension of the body with the soul. Let all hidden things come to the surface of the conscious mind. Look yourself in the eye and conquer all petty self. Search and lift all that residue of self from its polluted lair of the appetitive soul. You would not drink from a foul cesspool. Past self-prides, self-conceits, self-satisfactions are the foul residue left in the hidden caverns of the appetitive soul.

Lift even the worldly appetitive soul, leaving the body free to be healed and lifted, or to be burned out, thus freeing the hidden taints to be taken to their own place to be chained for a thousand years. Therefore, search the hidden rooms for negative selfish little-me remnants. Surrender them to Mother Love to be consumed into pure Light, which is then added to your rational soul substance for use now.

Your greatest virtue can ascend you only step by step. Your smallest weakness can throw you down a whole flight of steps in an instant. You are only as strong as your weakest weakness. Search for that weakest part diligently and with as much fervor as you seek your greatest delights. Thus you will free your soul of all hidden taints forever and ascend your body under law. What is Light ascends; what is dark descends. Choose which you will serve, Light, or the dark of the appetitive soul. Listening to the inner voice of conscience when it cautions you not to say or do certain old, off-color things opens the path to receiving high information. Every time you listen and obey, you spiritually see or hear something higher.—Edna Lister, July 25, 1945.


You grease the pole as you slide down in consciousness.

Emotional conquering is lifting the tears, not letting them fall back into your heart.—Edna Lister, July 26, 1945.


You have desired knowledge of illumination. Yet, at times you have been unwilling to pay the price. The price is responsibility for every hour’s effort, for idle thoughts, pictures of imagination, false and treacherous emotions and all words spoken. The price is full responsibility for every breath you breathe of the Holy Ghost.—Edna Lister, July 31, 1945.


The Master’s Path is steps, and only by climbing one step at a time, while building the next step and gaining the strength for standing on and defending that new step, can you become a Master in Law. Take time to become law. Seek ever to live by and as law. One law well learned, until it becomes a life habit, is worth more than a book full of knowledge soon mislaid or forgotten in life’s turmoil of actions.—Edna Lister, August 1, 1945.


You remain stuck, unable to pass other initiations until you conquer all fear.—Edna Lister, August 19, 1945.


To love God with the love of God is the sum total of all your needs. Love does fulfill all law; therefore, let love be your Power. Let love move forth from you in ever-increasing volume to fulfill your creations. Ask what you may, then release the love to fulfill your wish. Let love be the substance to make your desires solid. Let love fill your desire-molds. Love more. Let love possess you to the exclusion of everything else. When you cannot love a condition, turn from the condition and love God. He will then send through your love enough Power to change the condition. This is law.

Let the law of love do the work. Love must flow freely through you to fulfill the law of your life, and this love must be the full love of God, pure and undiluted by the self. Therefore, lift the self to be soul; lift the appetitive soul. Then let the love of God possess you and use you to the fulfillment of all your desires and needs. So shall perfection follow, and through the spoken Word it shall be completed. Love is all. Love is complete. Love is success.—Edna Lister, August 24, 1945.


Let the Power move forth undiluted by any self, no doubts, fears or self-pity. Finish paying your own debts speedily. Use love’s power as strength through these days to come. You have the full strength to accomplish anything that you desire. You have eyes that see fully, and in them no darkness nor any manner of limitation. Your body is perfect and divine, and in it no weakness of pain or lack of strength to cover all needs.—Edna Lister, September 10, 1945.


Plan more loving attention to the smallest details of daily living. God knows how drudgery bores you, how tired you are of slaving away. Yet how does He view your resentments about tasks done grudgingly, as if you were doing another’s task? When you seek with all your heart, soul and mind for perfection in the smallest detail of each task, then you shall truly overcome and act as what you are to become. Details will lift you to the highest height of glory, once you attend to them in enough joy, enough love, and enough praise. Unless you use love in each task, as it comes for you to do, you are always creating more occasions to do the same thing. Working in love is the only upward-traveling way. To use it or not is your choice.

If you have done something that is not good for all the world to do, then you are breaking a law. If you have left undone something that is good for all the world to do, then you are breaking a law. If all the world may do it always, if you can do it always, if your family can do the same thing always, then it is good. If all may not do it forever, then it is of darkness. So small a law broken breaks all law. This is law. To leave one detail undone, to half-do a detail and leave it for another to stumble over, cuts your high vibration, for law is broken. To cover one detail carelessly, or in a way that all the world cannot always use also, is a broken law. The least law broken is all law broken.—Edna Lister, September 17, 1945.


You must gather up every smallest detail of your life. Like a thread left lying on the floor, one small detail will be an anchor holding you to earth under delays and obstacles. Therefore, search hourly, lest one detail is holding you from full vision, seeing and hearing spiritually while fully conscious on earth. Pray, and search through today’s doings for small things left undone. Remember, nothing is small. You are tested on the small things. Then you build the strength to overcome all the large things.—Edna Lister, September 20, 1945.


I have been given the power of the love of God. (Use it.) I have been given the power of right faith. (Use it. Become unconquerable.) I have been given the power of full glory of Light. (Use it.) I have been given the full consciousness of God, complete for every hour of every day. (Hold it.) I have been given the power of the joy of God. (So live.) I have been given the power of full vision. (Look up.) I have been given the power of full hearing of God. (Listen to Him.) I have been given the power of the virtue of prayer without ceasing.

Each smallest task, each simple detail is based on law. If a thing is not good to do or to leave undone always, by everyone on earth, then it is not a good thing to do or to leave undone, not even once.

You have been given the power of right thinking. (Use it.) I have been given the power of right love. (Use it.) You have been given the power of right seeing. (Use it.) You have been given the full power of right hearing. (Use it.) You have been given the power of right discrimination. (Use it.) You have been given the power of right reason. (Use it.) You have been given the power of right use of Light. (So use.) You have been given all power over darkness. (Use it.) You have been given the full power of all discretion. (So use it.) The right use of Power is ‘letting.’ To ‘let’ means that you become fully unconquerable and invincible law.—Edna Lister, September 24, 1945.


To be impersonal in love means to be universal, to love, love, love until you reach a place of ecstasy, then continue loving without asking anything for self, without expecting or demanding one bit of love from anyone in the outer. Just loving because the love of God possesses you so fully that it must express as you, yet forever pouring forth more on everyone, even those who despitefully use you! You cannot love enough.

Love is the emotion of the creator gods. Love cannot be ice or static, which is not love but is born of selfishness. Love is active heat—it burns, it flames, it moves up and out. The world has thought that to be impersonal is to be cold. Selfishness is cold, personal, and ruthless. Impersonal love is God acting within the person or God as the person. So how can an impersonal lover love universally? To love impersonally, you must do all the loving without regard about where it falls, on stony or fertile ground, or its reception by anyone. Impersonal love always growing, never reaching enough heat, never flaming enough, never going high enough or hard enough.—Edna Lister, September 27, 1945.


There are many levels of Light. There are three times 144 steps to the full Source. On each third step is placed a pool of Light in which each aspirant stands in turn. Many never move beyond the first of these pools of Light, so thinking, ‘I am in the full Light. I need go no farther. I am in the Source.’ Each pool has many stagnant ones standing and thinking, ‘Now am I God.’

As long as you can be offended in any way, then you stand in a pool of Light, stationary. When you are still letting self rule instead of soul, you cry under all forms of initiation, ‘Lord, look into my heart and judge its purity’—instead of seeking the selfish appetitive soul cause of your own self-pity. When you have fully surrendered the appetitive soul of self, others can take no offense. Search deeper for the offensive, buried, petty self still skulking around in the appetitive soul, seeking ever to devour soul substance in false, silly, petty emotional attitudes of self-pity crediting self with lovely virtues. The cry of such a one is, ‘I am misunderstood.’ Those who have ascended all the way know. They have fully surrendered to be cleansed of all self.—Edna Lister, September 28, 1945.


When shall your love of God wax strong enough to cover your path in the outer with smoothness, which is His inner gift to you? When shall your love be great enough to instantly glow with joy that you find a rough spot in your day, that your released love shall be there to cover it to His glory? When will you hold the joy you have attained? When shall you fully ascend into the kingdom so long held open to you? When will the open kingdom mean more to you than the so-called hurts of life, your own self-made miseries and self-pity? To have the kingdom, you must let go of that self-made kingdom of darkness and of weakness, not one-half or ‘almost all,’ but completely.—Edna Lister, October 4, 1945.


The rational soul has been given the full power of a creator. Hourly you may create graven images that you worship for a time. Only under despair do you turn to the Light from this image you have created from your own distorted opinions and prejudices to your own undoing. You must seek perfection, lest by using that creative power with which God endowed you in the beginning, you still have self-opinions and prejudices left underneath the surface of the conscious mind that are still creating falsely, unknown to you and without your consent. You are a creator born. Yet, only under sacrifice of all self is full power of creation released to you for use. Surrender to love. Sacrifice worshiping the petty self.—Edna Lister, October 12, 1945.


From a letter to a newly engaged young woman: Life is beautiful—every single part of it. Let no disturbing thought, or lack of idealism in others mar one bit of your love or life. Hold it in a chalice of glory and it will remain a beauty and a delight forever. You have the Love of God and are bathed in that Light. You walk in beauty because love is all beauty. It enfolds you as a cloud of pearly mist, filled with Light. If you hold love as your sacred bond, you shall go on from glory unto glory forever.—Edna Lister, November 15, 1945.


Enough love and understanding will hold fast all you have been given. You can keep heaven in your arms and heart always. I’m so happy I could go burst over God’s goodness. His ways are most surely glorious beyond compare. He can take you the rest of the way, if you love enough. Praise enough, and stand completely on your rock of the faith of God.—Edna Lister, November 21, 1945.


Be circumspect in reaching to unfold the mysteries or too sudden a release of Power could shatter the physical heart. Assume full responsibility with each revelation. To know that your mission is great requires a complete surrender of the self to be used by the Light as you assume that complete responsibility.—Edna Lister, December 5, 1945.


You lift many lines of Light when you lift one soul. The project of our group is prayer. Many lost souls can be righted from a lack of responsibility by prayer.—Edna Lister, December 10, 1945.


God desires more Power to be released. You need more understanding of law for Power to use you. It is well that you seek law from these lessons so that Power can use you. I have given you law and lessons in how to express that law, and more than the rest of the world has ever had. To sit in the silence of prayer and release Power is the greatest release of Power possible. Lift, release Light, and call down fire from heaven on it. Return to stand in that shaft of Light until the Power’s work is complete and under God’s control. For those who do not find this acceptable, who cannot remain awake with the Master the whole night, other ways, places and grounds exist for self-expression. Until you can pray for twenty-four hours to release Power, you do not know what expression of law is.

Yours is the greatest opportunity for ascension yet. The work of a creator god is to stand to be used by Light in the overcoming of darkness. It is not the knowledge you have, but the love of God you express, the prayers you say alone, not on the street corners to be heard of men, but the prayers and the Power you release for the Almighty when you are alone.

You can release Power as you stand, sit or lie down. You are the perfect expression of God when you are lifting, letting the Power go forth, praising the Father and letting more Power go forth. God created you to become an expression of divine Power. He did not create you to express to be heard. God created you to express as Power’s vehicle, as love, as faith, to release it continuously, to pray without ceasing. Because so few can express Power in prayer, as prayer, just as prayer, the world is in this great need. Often, you will be put in places where you may not express anything but prayer.

You could release enough power of love in twenty-four hours to accelerate law, to change the face of the earth. In one year the whole world will be the culmination of the release of Power from tonight. A cyclic vibration works that way. You are being trained in law. There are other groups to manage emotions, which will solve your emotional problems. If you want to be great in the eyes of men, hunt your group. They will inflate your ego if you inflate theirs. If you want to be ever smaller in self, follow the Master and become ever greater in soul. You will find the work worthwhile. Your initiators test your needs, weaknesses and strengths. You are being trained in law.

Petty opinions from small minds do not interest God, so keep your opinions out of any discussion. Lift all factions and release Light for all and to hold all in balance. God is not interested in opinions, but in a group with no opinions or prejudices. Avoid arguments for or against, but declare that both sides are of the Light. All you need to do is to stand and pray, ‘Father, use me for the exaltation of Power.’ That is all. Only those who have the heart to stand remain. Stand on a higher level, with your feet more firmly placed than ever before.

Walk on the still waters of ascended emotion. You shall see the Master walking toward you. Practice this alone. Look for him on the inner. Pray with more fervor in your expression for lifting. Lift force to the solar furnace, the Sun. Do not sling it back at someone who is using it, Take it, lift it, and see soft rays of Light filling the void places. Leave no void hollow.—Edna Lister, December 13, 1945.


Law is the orderly procedure of the unfolding of God’s Mind to man. God’s Mind is the balance of Wisdom’s unfailing principles with Love’s sustaining and enfolding life.—Edna Lister, December 14, 1945.


‘I am now possessed by the fire of the flame of life immortal, and everything that I do is touched by its glory.’ Let the flame of fire from above, which consumes all else unlike itself, consume you. Use this constantly and see the glory of God descend on you.—Edna Lister, December 14, 1945. Top ↑


Conquering Self 1946

Now is your chance to prove God’s miracles by letting Him use you. Ask, seek, knock persistently, constantly. Declare, ‘This is my year of fulfillment and each hour is full of miracles for me, for you and for the world. This very hour I am one step nearer my miracle.’—Edna Lister, January 25, 1946.


The love a woman gives wholly, freely, completely, without asking anything in return, makes her beauty unearthly, not to be found on earth, and increases it a thousandfold. Love, selfless enough, is beauty.—Edna Lister, February 8, 1946.


To look backward is very dangerous. Therefore, though much of your own misuse of the full power of love comes to you as force through a focal point—the body, possessions or affairs—look up in consciousness. Never seek causes except from a high upward look. Stand and know that it is but the need to focus force into one spot to lift, and for you to send forth love to melt dark clouds of misused substance. Clouds may be melted from the outside. Force of misused Power must move back and up through your own life—body, possessions or affairs.—Edna Lister, February 11, 1946.


You release great Power when you touch an inner mystery. If you force the work, without proper release of love and taking on full responsibility, you can see how terrible the reaction of misused Power must be. For it is misused unless you watch the petty details, and lift idle words. Keep enough praise, prayer and love going forth to make certain that the Power you release is uncolored by self.—Edna Lister, February 12, 1946.


Details to become soul habits: Instantly lift everything that comes to you into the Light, as a constant, steady habit to fulfill the law. Constantly express joy, love, praise, gratefulness, and thankfulness. Constantly be a living torch of unconquerable faith—walk with God always. Keep your desires at a white point of heat.

Constantly express tolerance of other beliefs, points of view, and ways of living, except those that are purely evil. Realize that each soul is learning his lessons where he stands now. Instantly accept law without question or deviation, no ‘why,’ ‘if’ or ‘can’t.’ Never pass judgment on another, for only God can judge. Watch critical and condemnatory attitudes. Make your body a fitting dwelling place for your soul. Build your body into God’s perfect temple, an age thirty-five body.—Edna Lister, February 14, 1946.


‘I am now become responsible for all my own earth life. The place I occupy now I have made for myself. The work I do now is as a servant of God. All that comes to me is my very own, either Light or dark. I have created it for myself by my own use or misuse of life, Light, Power, Mind and Substance. That which I do not like or enjoy, I have created.’

‘From this hour forth, I shall live life by love alone and let God do His perfect work as me.’ The whole Sermon on the Mount holds the laws to live by and become, including the twelve soul virtues—honor, love, joy, peace, harmony, agreeing and adjusting with the Light of God, gratitude, praise, beauty, obedience, compassion, faith.—Edna Lister, March 1, 1946.


To choose to make a very great sacrifice rather than to ask for orders to make it, gives the greatest credits of advance. To make a habit of asking for orders about your personal choices is how a six-year-old tries to avoid responsibility.

Sometimes new orders contradict previous orders, which is always an initiation for instant obedience. A great behind-the-scenes reason always exists for anything that savors in the least of contradiction.—Edna Lister, March 4, 1946.


Watch, lest like a thief in the night, self shall come and steal away your so hard won gains.—Edna Lister, March 11, 1946.


Be sure your love is great enough to stand firm on justice. Love shall bring you safely through the rough waters of self.—Edna Lister, March 18, 1946.


A heavy heart delays your needed miracles.—Edna Lister, March 22, 1946.


Strive mightily against all remaining darkness from your past. Do not think to win heaven’s glories easily, for overcoming is a mighty battle with the self until you have fully conquered it.—Edna Lister, March 25, 1946.


As healing works in your body and affairs, it may take time but it will come, because love draws forth what has been buried for ages in hidden places. Once you accept full responsibility in life, you start your upward climb.—Edna Lister, April 1, 1946.


No matter how surely you know something will come through, you always feel a nervous strain when standing, holding and waiting.

You are not worthy of your great destiny until you can let go of all self. Then the Master can build the right pictures before your mind’s eye to help you desire to conquer self.—Edna Lister, April 7, 1946.


Law is a formula and must be made into a formula for living. Each is right after his degree and place on the path. Yet, strict laws of responsibility are not for the world, which still resists taking full personal responsibility.—Edna Lister, April 8, 1946.


Be in the deeps of love, yet in the heights of overcoming all that remains of self. When facing an initiation, seeking advice as to how to pass is legal, but never ask to change the test. Do not seek to have the cup pass from you.—Edna Lister, April 14, 1946.


As you recreate your body vehicles, unfurl your soul wings by slow growth at first, yet quickly at the last. You awaken, suddenly ‘see the Light,’ and run up the Mountain of Desire.—Edna Lister, April 15, 1946.


God is love. Love is the end, as well as the beginning. The unity of love is a complete circle, which leads back home. All manifestation must be enfolded through love, according to God’s great Plan. Love is giving, not getting, and feeds upon itself. Seek no special interest in love. Self-pity is corrosive. Your love is either true love, or selfish. True love contains no self-pity. No effort is too great for love. All action is absolutely the result of choice, including the use of force, so never force your will. Watch and guard against idle words, self-pity, and arrogance.—Edna Lister, May 13, 1946.


To say, ‘I have more work to do on eliminating self and I shall keep on digging,’ is the right answer.—Edna Lister, May 16, 1946.


You will always find greater laws, which you shall always strive to become. You can never stand still in the climb toward heavenly places. Friedrich von Logau said, ‘Though the mills of God grind slowly, Yet they grind exceeding small; Though with patience He stands waiting, With exactness grinds He all.’ Those who can stand the waiting, the slowness of being ground fine, always win.

To be able to know, to stand, to withstand darkness, to always rejoice, to pray in love, to be alert in the love of God, to be alive in the full panoply of the faith of God—these are the expressions of law that will win over any darkness produced by earth, any obstacle or barrier made by man. These spell success in the outer, and add unfading fame and glory on earth, which has been bestowed by heaven, unfading because you have won it by seeking first the Kingdom of God and letting the Father add everything on the outer.—Edna Lister, May 31, 1946.


An opportunist may have a long-range vision for a high place to occupy, but he works for the self and uses force. A successful idealist or businessman, who has an altruistic vision and what it will do for the world and others, is automatically reaching the high place in consciousness. He must, of course, have sense enough to grasp an opportunity.

Every time you settle back to fret about a personal problem, you waste God’s time. The personal reaction to personal problems allows a black cloud to descend and block your way.—Edna Lister, June 28, 1946.


Love fulfills the law, opens all doors, and supplies you with an earning place now. Love gives you the key, and is the wide open door to success. Love is the way of life. Faith is all-conquering when backed by love of God. So love, love, love is your watch word, your sustenance and barrier-melter, where all opposition is melted, dissolved and Light reigns king. Go forward, upward.—Edna Lister, August 14, 1946.


Mental dullness comes from too much physical rest. Open yourself to the Light, life, and glory from above. Mental work opens your brain cells to full Light. Rest up at night. Lift up when you are in class or studying.—Edna Lister, September 4, 1946.


There is no lesser or greater, except in the ability to accept and to surrender all self. Time and time alone, spent in sacrifice of self, will place you in the vast heavenly realms, where chronological soul age is held supreme.—Edna Lister, October 7, 1946.


‘The Lord (law) has already worked all things together for my good. I accept. I receive now.’ Add this to daily words of praise, ‘This is His salvation for me and the whole world. He has already heard all my prayers and fulfilled them now! My faith is unconquerable now. My spoken words are now made fast in the outer.’—Edna Lister, November 1, 1946.


To some, the Light of soul is always strong and they always know when their Light grows dim. If you do not recognize dimming Light, how can you be fully responsible? The few who are truly strong are always responsible for the weak and ignorant ones, yet they receive much credit in heaven.—Edna Lister, November 7, 1946.


Attention to details is more necessary now than ever. Remember, ‘If it is not good for all people always, it is not good for me at any time.’ You were reprimanded over kitchen details again, when you have no time to slip on details. There is no small thing—you must be up in consciousness, always ready to be used. You must have honor, loyalty, and be dependable. You must be balanced—not careless or indifferent, for both create dry rot. Do not live under your skull—live from above, where you can see in all directions. Open the door and let God move through you.—Edna Lister, December 2, 1946.


Under law, when a soul leaves heaven to live on earth, his place is accounted as open to the first soul who is able to return in perfection. However, if the soul who has sacrificed his place is challenged, the challenger must then do double in service. Those who descend for service are thus protected and may win back their places.—Edna Lister, December 19, 1946.

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Conquering Self 1947

You can renew your body with Light if you keep your consciousness raised to God and call all people, things and conditions good. God can then melt all negative crystallization. You are no good to God in a poor physical body, which is the result of misusing soul substance. The body is the sum of your thoughts today.

Your word, to stand, must be based on God as principle. You speak as a creator and God is the principle of the Logos or Word, the third emanation. The Word is the ‘mind that was in Christ Jesus’ because you are speaking as the white Light of the Christ. The Logos concept in God’s Mind becomes the idea in your individual mind. Thought becomes logic, judgment and discrimination, which are aspects of the Father-God principle. Pondering, dreaming about and thinking about the idea is of the Mother God principle that sustains and nourishes.

Speaking the idea in words is the Son principle of the Word as potential energy. Substance without energy is useless; you supply the energy with your fervency in speaking the Word! The essence of the body is a spiritual substance. The personality of God is your only means of vitalizing substance. The Holy Ghost is neutral but contains all three principles because it descends as Love, Wisdom and Energy. You cannot compel it, but may only accept it.

You cannot voluntarily stop breathing, thus, law uses you as an outlet. You breathe a finer breath synchronized for the body you occupy on each level of consciousness. When you are consciously extending your soul vision (not merely out-of-body), for example, you use the fifth degree of breath. Four of the essences of breath enter the lungs and three enter the crown, feeding the desire, mental and spiritual fire bodies. So, the less deeply you breathe, the less vitality you have. Breathe deeply in the morning to cleanse the bloodstream of fatigue ‘ash,’ the residue of mental and emotional toxins.

You function the law through your desire, will and imagination. Desire reaches and presses forth. Will is determination. Imagination extends a line to establish contact with the Father. The first law is to desire ardently and imagine vividly. Will is acting as if you have it. When you let the law use you with ardent desire and vivid imagination, everything works out perfectly. Law is a modification of wisdom, which plans, love, which sustains, and principle, which controls and limits the transformation to meet your present capacity and ability.—Edna Lister, January 27, 1947.


You have been through great tests and trials of endurance of faith, almost too great to be borne at times. Yet these trials are part of your share in lifting world’s spiritual debt and aid in lightening the world’s burden of darkness. Remember, your living lifts, pushes down, or is so indifferent that it cools ardor wherever it touches. See to it that you are always lifting.

Each day, hold to one point of pure law. Live up to that high point of law and hold the day’s gains. Prepare for the kingdom’s glories released during Lent by taking a strict soul inventory now. Cleanse the self. Practice one virtue a day until you have increased your release of Power.—Edna Lister, February 7, 1947.


God is everywhere evenly present and available, and all are equal in His eyes through their origin in Him. Inequality rests in the soul’s present degree of development, which each dictates for himself.—Edna Lister, February 10, 1947.


Watch those many small daily details to develop full soul-seeing. You can awaken the vision faculty in its fullness in no other way. As your alertness grows, your ability to see shall increase.—Edna Lister, March 3, 1947.


Let Light sink deeply into your heart to search out all hidden places of the self. You are good, seeking strength to be a higher good. Let your heart’s desire be for greater service. Let your soul dictate the way and the steps forward to move higher in consciousness, slowly assuming the full responsibility of the higher degree. Desire is one thing, but performance, practice and holding are another. Are you ready to pay others’ debts? This means to carry the blame, the burdens, never seeking for self, never asking credit. It means complete silence about self, constantly quietly working to perfect the soul, letting go of everything else, possessing neither people or things.—Edna Lister, March 5, 1947.


Progress in heavenly realms requires the release of more Power, through a corresponding sacrifice of self, and full acceptance of the responsibility that goes with the promotion. You make vows in heaven and on earth to pay your family’s debts, to become responsible for everyone’s debts, wherever you may be, to ask no favors for self, or hold blame in your heart or thoughts for anyone about anything. Ponder these high vows. Do not make them hastily, or with any reservations to self. These vows mean exactly what they say—no blame for anyone for anything, to assume blame for all others’ debts, to be responsible for all the life about you, to lift it high. Do I blame another? Do I blame myself? (I must climb high above earth for soul-purification.) Am I willing to pay the debts of my family, my friends, of all other Stars? Am I ready to be responsible for all about me always? Am I asking credits for service, for doing my duty? Am I truly free of self? Do I live by soul?—Edna Lister, March 28, 1947.


A questionnaire for conquering self: Are you ready to assume full responsibility for all family, group and friends, to lift them constantly and let Light move forth through you to pay their debts? Are you ready to assume all blame for all disobedience about you, to ever silently lift the one who is disobeying? Are you seeking praise, desiring credit for service, inner or outer? Are you ready to serve in silence? Are you ever obedient to all laws? Is your faith unconquerable, your courage unshakable and unalterable?—Edna Lister, April 4, 1947.


When you stand under the Light, it results in a greater release of Power. Set your spiritual capacity to high, then reach up and attain the goal. First, zip yourself into a cloud of Light, then put a veil between yourself and your ‘worst favorites.’ When you see someone doing real harm to another, pull a heavy shutter down between them. Mentally pull a shade down on anyone who is delivering a tongue-lashing. Finally, put them on a cloud continent of Light for healing. God created substance, including soul substance, to become, so ‘let’ these people become. You may not force this. Your brilliance of Light shows them their cesspool of self, and they want to park the responsibility for it on someone else. Be kind and wonderful, but pull the blind on their negativity.—Edna Lister, April 5, 1947.


God calls his best beloved to stand in trying places because there are trying places where someone must stand, and the careless and indifferent souls are not great enough for such service.—Edna Lister, April 7, 1947.


Climb to the heart of Light to dress your creations in garments of Light. The more garments of Light you add to your creations, the faster they enter manifestation. This is the keynote to the forty days from Easter to Ascension Day.—Edna Lister, April 14, 1947.


Your keynote of life is selfless sacrificial service, offered in a sweetly firmly final manner. Use it every hour in the day. Be not weak or foolish. Give, yet not to give in to nagging or to tempt another into selfish expectancy. Be just to all. Honor God first, and be loyal to Him. Serve in love. Be understanding and compassionate, yet be firm.—Edna Lister, April 17, 1947.


You are always teaching others, so remember that to do the thing is the only way to learn how to do it. Be honest and faithful in your analysis and personal checking for confirmation, and analysis. When your work is good, seek to improve it. When off or wrong, change it. If someone takes offense at anything you say, find a better, smoother, more diplomatic approach and statement of the same offensive truth. You can always find a way to say it without being offensive. Never lose your pep or your dynamic ways. Shape them into smoothness and suaveness—curved lines instead of sharp angles. Remember that you are in God, of God, with God, God speaking as you.—Edna Lister, April 18, 1947.


You must lift the subconscious mind, and the appetitive soul wants it lifted. The rational soul’s past misuse of law created the subconscious mind’s dregs, and wants it cleansed of past memory impressions and mess. Live high in consciousness.—Edna Lister, April 22, 1947.


The law requires perfection in details. Be constant in self-correction on all details. Be constant in fully conquering your self.—Edna Lister, May 1, 1947.


Those who use darkness take it from the lukewarm ‘good’ souls who spew it forth, and reuse it repeatedly, until someone lifts it. The darkness you lift causes greater Light above you. Live by at least one law for the week. What you give, the Father adds to your soul. You must polish and repeat each initiation consciously. Eventually, you will act super-consciously, with the Christ Mind, a divine selfless consciousness. When you act super-consciously, you become. Look up for illumination and you will comprehend.

The Bible is the history of the creator gods who descended, and those creators who are returning. Thus, it is the history of the soul, of its coming forth and return. You can read the Bible stories as psychological, metaphysical, scientific, philosophical or mystical, since twenty-two different interpretations are possible under Kabbalistic mysticism.—Edna Lister, May 4, 1947.


Keep your consciousness high, lift resentments and negativity into the Light. Your surrender and sacrifice of the self will open high realms to you and bring illumination. What you then do with these added powers is your own choice, but if you fall into the slightest darkness of self-doubt, fear or self-satisfaction, they are withdrawn.—Edna Lister, May 15, 1947.


An oyster builds a pearl of its soul substance around an irritant. When you are hurt, surround the wound with the love of God and your guards will ascend your pearls of redeemed soul substance.—Edna Lister, May 18, 1947.


Everyone has twenty-four hours a day, and we all started naked. A naked soul refers to the time it takes from birth to enfold the appetitive soul within the rational soul within Oversoul to tie your earth to heaven.—Edna Lister, May 26, 1947.


Five steps to dwell in your Oversoul Star: First, recognize the need to become a servant of all Power. Second, surrender to be possessed of the full power of love. Third, become the living ensample of the full love of God. Fourth, know that you must conquer self, the little me, through long travail of darkness, and that no selfish demands on Power, no self-deceptions or delusions, no self-righteousness, self-exaltation, or self-pity can rule the soul for an instant without shutting off the Power lest it destroys the physical body. Finally, know that the Power is Power and in it no weakness of indecision.

All Power comes from above, or it is force. Power must find a way around instead of hurting another. Soul must stand in love as love, never plunging on over broken hearts, dead bodies, neglected duties or contrary personal ideas held by family or friends. You can and must find a way to let love prevail, to let love do the work. Yet you may permit no giving up, no faltering in vision, no allowing lukewarmness or indifference to enter your heart or mind. Thus stands a true servant of all Power, ever ready to be used by Power, ever alive and alert to your need to release Power, ever praising in joy as a means to becoming the law of the love of God, embodied and serving on earth.—Edna Lister, June 2, 1947.


Your aura goes before you and others smell it! Your auric colors drag in the grime of life when you slip. As you rise again, you lift them, but they remain tattered until you regain place and position. Stars are members of the Elect who have vowed to return to God by following Jesus the Christ all the way home. As a Star, you never allow anything in life to move you from your point of Power’s release, even for five minutes. Never indulge in personal grief, but give it to God. When you blunder, tell God, ‘I shall make adequate sacrifice,’ but hold the lines of Light and responsibility to release Power. You release the essence of Power. A Star who slips causes other Stars to cool. A Star can be and live only as a Star. A Star may not defend self ever. Unconscious blame carries resentment with it.

You are creating your own heaven right now. The kind, the constancy of that heaven’s Light depends on you. Strike a balance that can take account selflessly, and apply the lash when you achieve failure. Both an abyss of annihilation and a mud puddle of self exist. Success balances failure when you reach balance through travail. Best is to know is how not to do it. You can offer no valid excuse for a failure to hold. The only way to make amends is to release Power constantly, and always to ask forgiveness for failing. Increase the amount of Power you release. Gird your loins, dig in and march toward your goal mentally, emotionally and on the outer. Always remain at the point of white heat to release 1,000 percent of Power every moment. No interference produced in your daily life can dissuade you from your high point of Light.

Whatever darkness you find yourself in, lift by giving it to the Father and hold onto the Light as though holding the fort for Him. Mistakes, blunders, foolishness and idle words may come. Repent, but never lose your point. Eventually, you will not blunder. Stand in silence and act kindly with no blame. When you need a lesson, rub it in as salt into a wound. Your face is set according to the beauty of the garden you plant on the inner. The world never follows smugness. People follow the Light.—Edna Lister, June 3, 1947.


Ascension of consciousness is a struggle between self and soul. Learn to surrender to the Light, to know that you can do this. Become the ensample of Light.

God sends the Holy Spirit through you as Mind, Substance and Power. When you color it, the Power becomes force. When you pray and lift, you draw darkness to one place for Power to move through and shatter it. When you lift and call on Light for others, it returns as Light to surround you in a great protective aura. Use the brain cells of your soul. You are your own law and it is the highest law of the Crown. Much hard work remains to be done, a struggle between self and soul. Learn to surrender to the Light, to know that it can do this. Become the ensample of Light. You must hold on certain points, and release Power through them because it focuses the power of the magnetic currents to shatter the accumulated force into smaller, more manageable bits. The Legions bring force together over a place like the Tacoma Narrows, where magnetic currents roil close to the surface, There they break up the force, so you can release sufficient Light to overcome it. [See information on the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows bridge, "Galloping Gertie", November 7, 1940.]—Edna Lister, June 4, 1947.


You cannot let go anywhere on the path without sinking to the bottom. Do you desire to keep your ascension vows, or to enjoy earth life as earth born? There are no way stations for you, only the top or the bottom. Never make ill-considered statements of the self. Never excuse yourself. Look within and see where you can clean up and perfect self. When you reach high places, you will never find a time when you can excuse, explain or justify, above or below. Let the other fellow offer excuses. Do nothing before saying, ‘I accept.’ Bless the arrogant and prideful fellow and let him go, remembering that you follow the Master.

Now is the time for consideration. To maintain balance, rise into the Light and consider: Is it wise? Is it loving? Is it considerate? What is this doing for me? Does it pay soul dividends? When you live by soul consciousness, those on your lines of Light are happy and strong. When you live in intellect, you shed no Light. Move up and draw them after you.—Edna Lister, June 8, 1947.


Your summer keynote is ‘I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.’—John 12:32. You will feel hurt just as long as it takes you to give up all self to God. God cannot be hurt. He is all love, health, wealth, peace, joy, Power, Light, good, beauty, charity, all attributes and principles that you are striving to become. Your work is a challenge to become ingenious in giving gifts to the Father. Even cleaning out a closet uncovers the darkness within the appetitive soul and subconscious mind. Take joy in all you do, making it a gift to the Father.—Edna Lister, June 12, 1947.


Consciously exorcize your hidden devils and stop going to sleep after you evict one.—Edna Lister, June 20, 1947.


You must learn earth’s lessons to become again the creator god that you are. The first great law is ‘I accept everything that comes to me as my own to love, to lift, to make into Light, to conquer, to learn my needed earth lessons to last forever.’ The second great law is ‘I am responsible to God the Father to lift all that comes to me.’ The third great law is ‘I observe constantly that I may never miss an opportunity to lift any man’s darkness, cover the transgressions (sins) of another, be responsible for all that happens about me so that my place shall be Light now and forever.’

You are free to advance. Remain high in consciousness. Observe, hold, stay up and accept your responsibility to recall all details. It is shameful that any outer stimulus can cause you to descend. Law allows no excuse or justification, ever. Excusing or justifying your self is disgraceful for an ascending one.

The first of the great laws is, ‘I accept all that comes to me as mine own. I earned it in past lives, created it in this life, or it is something of darkness that only I may lift for my Father. Therefore, I do accept and lift all that comes to me.’

The second of the great laws is, ‘I now accept my great responsibility to lift all that come to me, which entails these three things: assuming all responsibility for all darkness around me, the responsibility to sacrifice self, and the responsibility of full surrender to be the servant of all Power.’

The third of the great laws is, ‘I now observe every detail of my life. I am alive and alert to observe above and below. As I use observation in my outer life, according to my practice of observation, exactly so shall I see and hear in heaven, the inner.’—Edna Lister, July 5, 1947.


Do not let the subconscious mind get away with a single thing. Pay attention to all things all the time. This you must do. Face it, self-discipline is the way.—Edna Lister, July 20, 1947.


Balanced observation comes from the soul filling the body lightly for control, but in fully consecrated Power, conquering in the higher creative center (the brain and glands of the head).—Edna Lister, July 30, 1947.


The best thing you can do is to face yourself and kick it upstairs. You can’t fool God! And everyone can see those points of self you pride yourself on hiding. Don’t make excuses, no matter where you go or what you do. Just stay up! As soon as you let down, you fall down.

Unless you kick your appetitive soul upstairs every day, you are not advancing. When given an order, do not take the time to reason or question. Just obey! As soon as you wonder why or think about it, you are licked, for the subconscious whines, ‘Why bother?’ Your subconscious is just like a child or a cat. It does exactly what you command it to do. There is no reason for not obeying law and controlling the subconscious; it stems from your soul. You do not want it or you would do it. Your subconscious obeys you!—Edna Lister, August 20, 1947.


The selfish one must justify self to live with himself.—Edna Lister, September 30, 1947.


When you stumble, go up. The curse of self is to forgive the self easily. You forgive yourself far too easily.—Edna Lister, October 12, 1947.


The rubble of self includes opinions, prejudices, blame, resentment and self-pity.—Edna Lister, October 16, 1947.


Does being great mean more to you than becoming great? Ascend into Light to become law. When you lack in consideration or courtesy for another, you are selfish and your ‘I’ is greater than God!

You can overcome anything your heart desires to conquer.—Edna Lister, October 20, 1947.


One by one you must batter down the strongholds of entrenched selfishness.—Edna Lister, November 10, 1947.


The creature is self-conscious and operates under instinctive desire, imagination and will. A creator is personally conscious of desire, imagination and will, and knows that when it leads to the self, it creates blackness.

Instant acceptance permits no excuse, no explanation and no justification. It is a complete surrender of all but the desire to go on, involving a complete sacrifice of self, place and position. Acceptance is complete Love for God and for the Master.—Edna Lister, November 13, 1947.


‘I will arise out of the darkness and the depths of self. I will enter my Father’s house, into my room of Light, prepared for me since the beginning. I will surrender to be possessed of the Light! I will surrender to be used by the Light! I am become Light! I arise and ascend into the heart of the fire! My eyes are perfect eyes in the image and likeness of my Father’s eyes, all-seeing, all-observing. I bless them, praise them and lift them to see all above, and all below. My hands are the perfect hands of God, used in His service, all-lifting, all-holding, all-blessing. My lips are the lips of the divine. My tongue is silver-tipped with the words of God, all-accepting, all-surrendering, all-merciful, all-loving, all-wise, all-discriminating. My feet rejoice in glad tidings and they spread understanding as flowers wherever I tread.’—Edna Lister, November 15, 1947.


A superfluity of weight is based in self-self-satisfaction, self-interest and self-pride. To lose weight, ‘Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.’—Romans 13:14—become your real Godlike self.—Edna Lister, November 20, 1947.


As long as you can cover up things, you cover up only from self. God sees all. If you live by deceit and treachery in this way, you have nothing. When you do not admonish self, you hide nothing. Everything will be brought into the open, into the Light. When you do not face your faults, they will be shouted from the housetops. From whom are you hiding, God? You think you are not treacherous, but you are. If you will call such actions by their right name, you will get somewhere.—Edna Lister, December 6, 1947.


Some people reach out to snatch and grab at happiness rather than earn it. Some excuse this by claiming that they do it for others, but that is not so. By such specious reasoning, they make their work that of the blind leading the blind.—Edna Lister, December 10, 1947.


Discipline the self every hour of every day for acceptance. Watch self-pity, for it is worse than aggressiveness; the trap door closes and no Light comes through. You have no right to feel sorry for the self. Do not waste time thinking, ‘I am not doing it right.’ This is an inverted self-exaltation and egotism. Stand up and say, ‘Move in, Father! I see and do this now!’ If you wallow in self-pity, you are a mess. All you need to say, all you must say is, ‘Father, take it!’ You do not dig yourself out of self-pity by wallowing in it. You do dig yourself out by knowing it does not mean a thing. Look at the Father and say, ‘For God’s sake, annihilate me but tear it out.’ It has no roots. You recreate it hour by hour.

You cover up self to hide it from the Light, which is why you do not want to face God. When you stop hiding from these selfish motives, you will face God and not hide. The only sink of iniquity is to hide from or excuse your real motives, which are selfish. It is worse than walking the streets and giving yourself to any who wants you. When you stop seeing the poor little self, so hurt, so sorry, then comes real ascension. You do not see yourself as making no mistakes today, but think about God. See only God. You do not become perfect by worshiping the self but through attention to details and observation. Worship of self leads to old age, old glands and muscles. Worship of God leads to Light, the glories of Light. This is how to achieve! Be Light!

Do not sit in self-condemnation. To say, ‘I am sorry,’ is not enough when you turn and think of self. The only way up is to go by soul. When you condemn self, you only push away your Oversoul. You cannot live that way. If you believe that God endowed you with a perfect Oversoul, why do you descend into your body? Light is released to you but is withdrawn when you are in self-condemnation. Do not be egotistical about self-sufficiency. Your ‘poor little me’ guff would fill this universe with ego if allowed to expand. If you do not think so, then never again think of self or make mistakes. If you explain, excuse or justify once, then you are right back in the mud. To become perfect, put self into the fire and consider seeing and hearing only the Light.

When you train a child, do you call him a bad boy and speak many negative things? It is of total darkness and scratches the soul. Train self by being positive.—Edna Lister, December 13, 1947.

Top ↑


Conquering Self 1948

You advance as high, as far, as gloriously as you can serve in the petty details. Nothing is too small to do well, as the world should do it.—Edna Lister, January 5, 1948.


Do not chase youth. You grow up in Christ consciousness, not old in selfish ways. It’s fun, so do not ruin it. Remember that youth is of the soul. Youth is the soul.—Edna Lister, February 10, 1948.


God is good, all-powerful and mightier than anything which earth can ever produce. Therefore, I now have all I need for every need. Legacies shall be released, salaries increased, positions shall be opened now. You are earning the greatest thing the world has ever known—ascension. Keep holding fast to that. It shall come to pass. I know.—Edna Lister, February 13, 1948.


You have gone marvelously high on the inner. Yet remember, this makes you ever more responsible. Above all else, responsible, above anything in the world, except our Lord and Master, of course. So, be quiet, be sure before speaking, speak little, and praise that it is here now. Enough praise, love, joy, ‘letting’ and everyone has all dreams and decrees made visible. Isn’t it worth anything you can sacrifice of self?—Edna Lister, February 17, 1948.


You have attained your degree of Ascension by your own step by step attention to mastering small and petty earth details. So shall you accomplish the full awakening and whirling of all lotus petals, by your own continued attention to details. Attention to praise releases the most Power. Praise increases your soul’s glory and creative powers. Praise causes creative substance to accelerate in its action. Thus, are miracles released.—Edna Lister, February 19, 1948.


You have made your own present hardships for yourself. You are foolish enough to make more now by many and diverse ways of thinking, feeling and imagining. Yet, you can win easily by becoming all diligence, all honor of God, by continued complete surrender of self. Continue to make each day’s complete surrender ever higher, greater and nobler. So shall you ascend. This, then, is your choice: How long will you take to completely release your share of the Power for lifting earth? Will you take the whole year by playing and pampering the ‘little self,’ or will you accomplish this by Ascension Day?

New Ascension Vow: By the noble effort of the love I bear my God, by the perfection of mine own release of the Power of love, by the faithfulness of my heart and my mind to the love of God, by the compassion of the Mother Love through me on my duties, my service and my lifting, by my fervor and my joy, so shall I aid in the fulfillment of all our so-great soul desires. I now vow, rededicate and reconsecrate my life anew to be used by my Father. So shall I look up for the strength to fulfill my vows. Amen.—Edna Lister, March 21, 1948.


Greater Power is released on a single word than ever before in all ages. Only by ever increasing diligence, and ever ascending desire can we finish winning against evil. We must lift the remaining darkness, and to lift, we must pray without ceasing. Prayer is how you lift. Light must move forth to overcome darkness. You have only to push a little harder, and rejoice more than enough.—Edna Lister, March 28, 1948.


When you make high vows of ascension, you cannot afford to allow imperfection, especially of personality. To feel superior in honor, loyalty, ability or in person when trusted is foolish and arrogant. When you have become law, you need no words.—Edna Lister, April 19, 1948.


‘I now arise and enter my Father’s House. I enter the room of Light that He created for me in the beginning. I now ascend from the depths of self to become the servant of All Power. I now ascend from the pit of self to become the servant of All Light. I am Light. This is my platform of consciousness, my state of being.’ First, praise. Second, lift all individuals and the world. Third, declare, ‘Let the Power go forth to fulfill, overcome or create.’ Close by praising the Father and thanking Him that all miracles have already come to pass.—Edna Lister, April 27, 1948.


You may not usurp another’s place, just as you cannot occupy any but your own place. Therefore, lay all ideas about place, position and powers on the altar daily, lest you hold yourself from a higher place in service to God. Follow the full way of sacrifice of personal pride of place and intellect. Of yourself, you are most surely nothing. Under sacrifice of self to God, you always exalt your soul.—Edna Lister, April 29, 1948.


You must see, hear, and know about darkness to speak the Word that enables the Legions of Light to lift it. It is part of our work, but no one can lift it alone, or dissolve it by hiding it in the world. If you think that silence about what happens in the leader’s absence is loyalty to the leader, then you are not an able, loyal, honorable assistant who is without pride. Someday you’ll still have to learn to handle people without forgetting where loyalty lies. Leaders must share knowledge of the darkness, and pay debts outer and inner. To keep your own skirts and nose clean is nothing special. The quantity of love you thus release does not lift earth.

Pride is so subtle. You are seeing on a joy vibration, but mostly your own earth-desires. Some will be good, but others will mislead you unless you seek advice every step of the way. Do not think, ‘I didn’t want to bother you or take your time,’ which is nothing more than noble martyr stuff. Every time you really ascend, you forget, because you are so fascinated and enthralled by your own spiritual seeing and hearing. Interpretation is your stumbling block.

I’ve always returned to the fundamentals of prayer and praise to make sure I wasn’t getting too pleased about it. You can’t lose by praying and loving God. Loyalty to God is the only loyalty worth considering. Do not pride yourself on holding your tongue in silence before men. Seek advice at all times. Better to seek too much than to wax in self-importance in your own eyes. Acceptance is not just prayer service and mighty vows, but depths of humility and ability to stand under blame and scorn, being responsible for everything about you. You must learn to conquer and drink self’s bitter cup. You can avoid the vale of illusion if you learn how to seek advice without dictating the answers to God beforehand.—Edna Lister, April 29, 1948.


Have you blamed another or used sharp reproofs by word, writing, or thinking it in your mind and heart? If so, you are the guilty one, fully responsible for the whole debt. For, if one sins, all are equally responsible for the debt. If one is blamed, all are blamed equally, and all pay the debt. Have you spoken in secret about another? If so, all are equally guilty of lack of compassion, understanding and love of God. If you have doubted another, you have doubted the Master. If you break one small law, you break them all. The Lord cannot depend on broken reeds, or leaking vessels. He may not build on a soul who does not assume full responsibility for all. Enough love is today’s hours well-filled, this moment and every moment burning with zeal and fervor to release full Power of love in which is no self. Have you loved enough? Have you full desire to ascend?—Edna Lister, May 3, 1948.


A student’s journal: The Law of Dalliance, or Putting off overcoming self. To give a full, complete and understandable picture of the law of dalliance, as you must apply it to overcome the self (appetitive soul) and ascend to the high place, I use as an example the application of the law as it was applied to my own disobedience of orders:

Five years ago it was given to me to stop using sugar in my coffee, and what the results would be from giving up and overcoming this or any habit that is injurious to the body, mind or soul. During that time I have been ‘going to give it up.’ In other words, I have been toying with the idea of giving it up, giving it up a little at a time, putting it off until tomorrow, but tomorrow never comes.

I have been dallying with the law of sacrificing the self. So, by not keeping faith with this one request to sacrifice something, which would be good for me to do, I am guilty of breaking the one law, which then breaks ‘all’ laws. I am guilty of holding back progress on lifting and overcoming the self (appetitive soul). Therefore, delays are created by individual or collective willfulness in dallying with orders on giving up self.

The time to sacrifice self is now. The way to sacrifice is by instant recognition, acceptance, surrender, and lifting into the Light, which opens the payment of debt and becoming selfless. The law of dalliance applies to all details in all things and in all ways, conscious or subconscious. The subconscious mind is the seat of treachery, which is the dilly-dallier.

Search your mind and soul on all details, orders, whether of thought, action or the spoken Word, and give up the self now for the full ascension of the self, the appetitive soul, unto the high place of complete surrender, to become the law. Only a greased pole separates the top and the bottom of the ladder.—Edna Lister, May 13, 1948.


In unity is strength. ‘United, we stand, divided, we fall.’ United in thought, united in action, united in love, united in all things in all ways. Then and only then will God fully express Himself through us to bring to pass His kingdom on earth.—Edna Lister, May 13, 1948.


The Law on Criticism: To criticize another is self-exaltation. When you criticize another, he receives promotion under law—double what you would have received had you lifted him. This is why the ‘enemy’ prospers. Every kick is a boost. The law compensates for your criticism. Continued criticism closes the Gates of Light to the one so indulging. Once the Gates are closed, you can open them only under law, a long and tedious way.—Edna Lister, May 20, 1948.


When you take an initiation and claim 60 percent success, 40 percent remains. This old idea of self return cyclically, bringing the remainder of the old debt for payment. It hounds you mentally and physically. This has nothing to do with your goodness. When it smells loudly enough, you know this is it. Every advance in ascension usually awakens some strata of pride to be conquered. Hold yourself free from the world so that your spoken Word shall stand.

When time passes quickly, Light is released so brightly that it melts and cleanses the self when you lift. Each day, in every way, lift the remnants of self into the Light to be dissolved. God gives you the Power to overcome daily. You may have surrendered the self you are conscious of having; however, the greater Power makes you pestiferously super-selfish, so lifting more greatly than before is necessary.—Edna Lister, June 3, 1948.


You feel your lowest point of self-pity during the period between Easter and Ascension Day. Yet when you love your enemies, eventually they become your footstools, and this applies to the self, too. One who is in sympathy with another’s bitterness will eventually sicken of the criticism. Then he can be trained in law. The socialist utopia does not work because it is based on sharing things, not love. All share the little they have but no one has enough.

Healing is based on understanding humanity. To serve in healing, you must pass the tests on responsibility. Nothing but your degree of lifting limits the portion of the Holy Spirit that can move through you. The more Power is released through you, the higher your destiny and conquering of self, and the worse the effect of a negative word you speak. The reprimand to you for misusing the Word is far greater than to another who speaks negatively all day. Play if you must, but remember the price. Your cost is absolute strict self-discipline. Reach out with your arms of Light and lift any negative slips. The rewards are greater than you can imagine.

Your exalted place awaits and shall be yours when you are ready to receive it without losing place on your path. Heavenly Councils do not give place too soon because this usually awakens some strata of pride to be conquered. At least one soul must always see complete perfection. Are you ready to do so? You have wavered and wobbled in lifting, which has gained you nothing. You have no past if you declare it is lifted. ‘The past is good, and very good.’ Hold yourself free from the world so that your spoken Word shall stand.—Edna Lister, June 3, 1948.


Make the other fellow feel big about giving a gift, and prepare the way for him to give. You must make a sacrifice for healing or a miracle for another. When one is out-of-body due to illness, he could lose his body on another’s point of resentment.

With all your reading and supposed study, you will make room for the Almighty when you finally see how little you know. You cannot pack your self between the covers of a book, yet fail to practice the law you have learned. Your mind is so crammed full that you forget the details. You choose how you will apply law, whether dictatorially or lovingly. You can destroy all you have built with but a single ‘I.’ It is your example of where you have gone, nowhere. All others think they are as good as you, and the lower they know they are on the scale, the more offense they take. Law demands this or that of us, but God gives us free choice. Choosing the right is wise. God watches in amazement to see where self can go. The greater the soul’s illumination, the less the nosiness, the slower the finger on the trigger.

Study only the Master’s work and the laws given now. If you go to another book, you may lower your vibration before you have established it unshakably. Read the Bible, the Prophets and the Writings. Most important are the laws given by Edna Lister. Use fiction for relaxation. Read mystic work that is thorough and good, such as Marie Corelli’s works: A Romance of Two Worlds. London: Bentley, 1886. Ardath: The story of a dead self. London: Bentley, 1889. The Soul of Lilith. London: Bentley, 1892. Barabbas, A dream of the world’s tragedy. London: Methuen, 1893. The Sorrows of Satan. London: Methuen, 1895. Ziska: The problem of a wicked soul. London: Simpkin, Marshall, 1897. The Master-Christian. London: Methuen, 1900. Temporal Power. London: Methuen, 1902. The Life Everlasting: A reality of romance. London: Methuen, 1911. The Young Diana: An experiment of the future. London: Hutchinson, 1918. The Secret Power. London: Methuen, 1921.

Also good are A Dweller on Two Planets, by Phylos the Thibetan (Frederick S. Oliver), 1894, and The Brother of the Third Degree, Will L. Garver, 1894.

When you bring in an extraneous vibration, it leads to too much reading and no study. The Christ laws are more important. For balance, study Dr. Thomas Parker Boyd’s lessons in healing in the Christ Science. His book, The Mental Highway, is abstract logic and reason. As you strive, you get results and the little self no longer drags you back so much. It becomes a joy to conquer because you release self-pity and resentment under the surface. Keep lifting it. Hold. There is no excuse for sinking in consciousness.—Edna Lister, June 5, 1948.


Each day, choose one Bible verse to pray about and apply. By this procedure, you align yourself with the Almighty Power that used the prophets. Do not begin prayer to see how fast you can end.

If you remain on a cloud of Light and keep your fingers out of earth’s pies, eventually people will be healed when you walk through a room. This cannot grow overnight. Healing does not involve becoming smug or virtuous. You must honor your position in dignity while giving joy and comprehension for the whole world. It is either great enough to work for, or it isn’t.

Your vow does not determine your place, but your ability to hold to that vow does. You are chosen because you desire and strive to be perfect in expression, to hold this point, and to live in perfection in the world. In this age, you must be in the world while working. In the past, priests did this alone, while apart. You may feel that others push you around, but it does not matter if you achieve the great result.—Edna Lister, June 10, 1948.


You hold a position of honor, so honor your position. No leader wants to be called a dictator, but you must accept being so called, for some people need a dictator to take the lead and dictate to them. [This is a key to dealing with passive-aggressive behavior.] When you know, you speak with authority, and when you do not know, do not speak.—Edna Lister, June 14, 1948.


Pray and circle yourself with fire before working on the laws. Keep your eyes on the Light. Nothing can drag you down except earth desires. You must know instantly if a line sags. Permit no slack anywhere. The world is constantly getting ensnared in petty lessons. Sometimes you must modify your definition of honor to fit the other fellow’s capacity. You live up to your standard of honor and let him live up to his. Do not point a finger. You are a corporation of Work Unlimited. Service is your key word. Lifting is the only payment you can make for world debts, and this is your sacrifice. You can make it so easily.

Move around the clock, lifting as you go. Begin with hands east and west, and stand on the meridian line [9:00 to 3:00]. Two hours later, move down into the next sign [10:00 to 4:00]. Lift all spiritual debt in that sign, and all those incarnated in that sign. Never descend on the challenges the signs bring. This is universal work. Pray before doing this. Afterward say, ‘Fill me with Thy Holy Spirit. Send me forth cleansed and purified, lifted and lifting, crowned, armored and shod with glory. So let it be with all who pray. Thank You, Father. It is finished. Amen.’ As you accept truth and do not fight anything, the Oversoul awakens and consciously kneels before the thrones. Any slightest ‘I’ of earth can put it to sleep again. The greatest o’ershadowing is when your Oversoul touches you for an instant as you serve on earth.—Edna Lister, June 15, 1948.


Stand in your room of Light and stay there. Do not look into the past. Asking advice is one thing, but interpreting that advice is another. To apply it wisely is still another thing. If you do not yet understand, ask, call or write. The law is, Ask in my name, believing. Delay comes because we must hold earth in balance before the needed Power can be released. Is the law you apply for this year great enough for next year? Are today’s changes in consciousness great enough for tomorrow?—Edna Lister, June 17, 1948.


Many truth-seekers start searching to disprove truth by using ‘science,’ which makes acceptance difficult for them. The basis of relativity is that no matter how straight a line appears, it always ends as a circle. When you use every principle of science, those principles will balance you. As you look up and breathe, you inhale the substance of the Holy Breath and stamp it with your name and number. If you send it forth as clouds of black, separated from one Light into three (Mind, Substance and Power), it collects everything like itself and returns as a debt load. When you injure yourself, even slightly, you are taking back the force of the Power you have misused.

The world will never have universal equality, but all have the equal right to advance. The mysteries of heaven are open to all who ask, seek and knock. The postern gate is always open to an individual, but the great Gates of Light may be closed to a life wave. It is your privilege to make a sacrifice of self to hold open the Gates for someone to enter. [A postern is a secondary door or gate.]—Edna Lister, July 1, 1948.


You are endowed with Power from on high. Yet you may not use it, for it must use you. Your relationship with Power is as an instrument for Power’s release into the world.—Edna Lister, July 4, 1948.


‘I put you on an altar’ is a mystical expression of the declaration, ‘I give you to God.’ Use this declaration for illness of any kind. Hold your hands out, and palms up. Four guards are there to lift the desire body three feet above the physical. Light pours into it from on high; then the desire body is healed.

Lift your hands with your fingers apart to close the navel center. Lift your arms high, forming a half-circle, palms facing yourself, to be a chalice. To release Power, turn your palms forward.

Cross your hands at the wrists, over your breast, to invoke the Master and to open the mystic eye of soul. Enfold yourself in a pink cloud and zip yourself up at night to hold in all good vitality and a high point mentally.

Walk in the Light as a servant of Light and no darkness can exist where you step. When you use the word ‘love,’ you must mean it. Love fulfills the law and takes you through everything. For example, another may challenge your right to pass an initiation, one you previously may have failed here on earth. If challenged, you must take the initiation again. You take initiations repeatedly until you have met every challenge, then no one can challenge you on that point again. This can cause delays. Once you have met the challenges, nothing similar can hold you back on earth. You will always have to prove your point of defenseless invulnerability to win back your place at the Crown. Jesus had to suffer Crucifixion because the Father of Lies challenged him to ascend his body.—Edna Lister, July 5, 1948.


You have not yet gone high enough, yet you must do so to release more substance of love. You are unwilling to vow not to look back, but are looking back all day, worshiping the past. Letting self dominate soul is stupid. You have done well, but must do better. Not many are able or willing to stand selflessly. Stand in the highest place. Do not delve into any darkness. Your release of Power determines what you must reap. You are using the Mind of God when you are up in consciousness and standing in the Light. When you are down, you are of the creature mind of men, wandering in the vales of illusion.—Edna Lister, July 15, 1948.


When you are high in consciousness, the Light stirs all nearby vibrations and highlights any darkness as you enter a room. Right down the center, like a lightning rod, the white Light fans out and destroys the darkness. The world will never be aligned with the Source until the Elect consciously release that high expression of Light. Such information releases more Power than you can handle, so watch your step. The Power in these spoken words can destroy, like an atom bomb.

Hold your high point, gained through sacrifice of self against all comers, against all darkness, against self most of all. Beware, for one act of selfishness would tear down what you have built to date. Hold, at any price or cost to self. You have delayed your ascension by bondage in self-pity under duress. This time you can conquer self, and win. You may not resign from your position of responsibility, but must hold it in utter loyalty and crucifixion of self to the last dying gasp.

You are well able to hold this point. The time for seeing darkness is past. You no longer need to consider darkness except where you need to lift it. Never color the Power you release with criticism. Do not allow your own prejudice to interfere with the Light. Carry on with applying law to your daily living. You have no time to play with lesser forces or with anything less than the greatest. Stand and know that all is well. Light can use you only when you completely sacrifice self. Work remains to be done that has never been done in the past. Go forward now, and hold the faith. Do your best.

You have no right to entertain personal grief. The law is to bear and to forbear, which means to stand in love multiplied to an earthly degree, while bearing each other’s burdens. Bearing means to lift the burden of the world. Forbearing means to bear for another. Pure Light uncovers all darkness and treachery. Do you believe that God is powerful enough to let the greed of materialism destroy itself? Will you stop taking time from God’s work for your petty self, and get on course to ride to glory? Permit no consideration of darkness. You can well achieve this glory for the Father. Do you want to give Him this gift? Act as if you have it. To be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect is to lift as your only response. Move up in consciousness.—Edna Lister, July 28, 1948.


Lifting the creative fire gradually burns away the silver cord, which coils back into the neuron soul records. Figure-eight treatment: Pray first—your prayers should always be a love message to your Father. The figure-eight is a combination of the magnetic currents of earth arising through the feet, and the etheric currents flowing down from above to meet at the solar plexus center. These currents form two spheres of Light, an energy circuit that flows throughout the body and appears as a figure-eight. Think this figure-eight treatment before zipping yourself in Light. Afterward say,

‘In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, let my body be a living oblation and sacrifice before the altar. I declare that every force in my body that I have misused is completely sublimated by lifting the creative fire. I declare a sublimation in which there is no darkness. I declare that my body will be completely renewed and all centers revitalized. I am the high priest/priestess of my temple. Depart from me all ye forces which seek to disturb the harmony of my life. I drop a curtain of Light between me and thee. In the name of love, it is finished.’

You have one incarnation in which to scoff, an incarnation to sit and think about it, an incarnation to hear about it, to talk about it and force everyone else to become it. Then your path opens to become a seeker after law with full illumination. Finally, you ask, ‘What am I doing wrong?’ After you have gained even slight illumination, denying it is impossible.—Edna Lister, July 30, 1948.


Some people say that they have nothing to forgive another for, since they never held anything against them in the first place. Yet often they have not given up the lingering resentment underneath. It’s still there, just awaiting the opportunity to pounce and destroy. Pray that they see what they have covered up but must sacrifice. They consciously believe they are good. Therefore, they reason that nothing remains for them to lift. Some people never lift their little-me-self, they just cover it up again. Lift them.—Edna Lister, September 6, 1948.


God never lets go, never lets down, always lifts up. Become like Him.—Edna Lister, September 23, 1948.


Those who cover up the self often blame others for the same things that they do, and stir up hidden evils in others’ hearts. All this is good, for it must be lifted, and you cannot lift until it comes out into the open. Then you can lift the lines of Light and responsibility to God.

The next time someone complains about how long another’s prayers last, mention ‘rationing’ God. He releases Power through every word spoken. If your mind is on the Light, you do not notice outer time. Each is supposed to be looking for an altar, to see and hear, not listening to someone’s outer words. Excess words are still spoken words and are His way to release Power to save earth.

You must burn out the dross of idle words. Not just a mouthed sacrifice, but a scalding, burning repentance for unwise speech and actions.—Edna Lister, September 26, 1948.


When you ask why about another, or feel self-righteous for being stronger, you immediately place yourself below the one who is guilty of missing the white point of heat. You are losing sight of the Light when you make critical remarks about another. Be critical of yourself only. Lift the other, and hold him blameless before God, lest in judging, you pay his debt.—Edna Lister, September 30, 1948.


When the Elect release enough Light, prophesied catastrophes do not come to pass. God releases Power in such quantities that time is shortened. Look up, praise the Father, and serve Him through every duty. Accept your responsibilities. Do not give up, no matter how tired you are. That is a ‘temptation in the wilderness’—to sleep because self wants few or no responsibilities. You may choose to be a creator god or a toadstool. Do not be a toadstool. Do it—or regress to the creature level.

You cannot give up your divine heritage or resign from being an ascending creator god. Some use up their soul substance through gossip, etc., and have just enough energy for half the day. God releases more Power through your Oversoul star than you use. Releasing Power day by day will make you stronger and more beautiful, not weaker. You can imagine you are weak—flirt and philander with weakness—but you are still growing stronger.

You cannot resign from heaven. You can deliberately let go, regress, lose your body and soul identity, but you cannot resign from God’s kingdom. As an ascending creator god, you cannot lose your soul except through deliberate regression. So, stop flirting with the idea. You will never be thoroughly happy until you ascend physically to the point of glory. Look up and love God enough to withstand the Power of your own Oversoul as it moves in and possesses the vehicle. You bring immortality to earth by living it, tying your earth to heaven.—Edna Lister, December 1, 1948.


A letter to a student who resented being unjustly blamed: Someone must begin to see everything and everyone as being perfect. Who will that be? At present, so many people tear down the Master’s love with doubts, suspicions, and vain repetitions of others’ darkness. When will we have perfection in this instead? Who will do it? How will God ever win, once and for all, if you and others pick the pin feathers off repeatedly, leaving everyone raw and bleeding? They are wicked, doing evil, and wrong! So what?

Decide whose side you want to be on, then stick to it. You cannot speak of others as devils and be perfect yourself. You become what you think, vision, and feel about others. This is law. Stop feeling righteous and get to work on becoming all your vows. Why discuss evil when so much about God is left unsaid? I’ve had to spend two days lifting the confusion. It is lifted. You are, too.

Stay up in consciousness. You cannot stay up and still hold blame against anyone. Only by seeing them all perfect can you be perfect yourself. You have been mistreated. You have been misused. So what? What do you want to be famous for being and doing? You shall receive all you have coming ten thousandfold. God never takes from. He adds. And so He shall. But you have to give up wanting, or even caring about anyone giving you understanding.

This is your initiation and you will make it or lose the rest of your pin feathers, and I’ll do the plucking. Get up and for God’s dear sake, stay up long enough for God to bring the others out of this evil. Be a Christed One now. Declare these soul-impoverished ones are perfect. They cannot hold you from your own, now or ever. You are free!

Sacrifice again everything that you think you have sacrificed. Give up all thoughts of darkness. Be as impersonal as God is impersonal, but with no thought of being perfect. Be un-self-conscious. Do it for God, not to explain, justify, excuse or exalt self. You have done your best. Say so. Plan to do better next time. You are not perfect yet. You shall pick up all dropped stitches, tie in all loose ends that now keep you from passing your high initiations. You shall become all your desires.

Lift this devilish critical attitude that you’ve allowed to take possession of you. As long as you keep going over darkness you’ll be delayed with me! I have to keep darkness from my Groups. Every time you think of any, I have to pick it up! They crucified Jesus. Yet you whine, complain and feel noble when you are crucified. Make a ladder of their acts to reach the Supreme. They treat me no differently. Again I say, so what? Who can stop the Power when you and I are totally surrendered to God and declare it good? Who? What if others hate you? They are also busy hating me!

Must everyone give you credits? Where do you want your credits? Let go. Lift up. Stay up. You are only as great as your number of hours of seeing the Light. Check on yourself. You are free. I love you with an almighty love now and forever. Stand with me and declare perfection in all, through all. Does this all include evil ones? Yes. You are beloved. You can be all love to everyone else.—Edna Lister, December 5, 1948.


I cannot lose anything that is mine. God can send me new people to serve. Far be it from me to hold onto my past. I’m earning our future now. And, I’ve never been so happy before. We are in the Light, of the Light, for the Light, so how can we be both Light and dark? You must leave off Light to become critical, suspicious. Just know that everyone else is into lifting his own evil or he isn’t. What can be done when another doesn’t want to lift his? Only Light can aid him.—Edna Lister, December 5, 1948.


Each has made sacrifice according to his own ability and desire. Each serves on that altar to which his sacrifice of self allows him to reach. All have the right to advance. Some are serving at altars of darkness on earth. Some are ascending to heights above all glory. See to your sacrifices of self to be certain that you do not serve before any altar of darkness.

Are you suspicious or critical of anyone? Are you in doubt? Have you forsaken your first love for any darkness of the little self? Have you kept high vows made to sacrifice the little self? Are you in pure joy? Are you pure Light? Are you pure love? Where there is darkness, there is no Light. Where there is suspicion and doubt, there is no Light. One must be Light, or one is dark. Choose now. One choice is not enough. It does not last long. ‘Choose this day whom thou wilt serve’—Joshua 24:15, Light or dark.—Edna Lister, December 9, 1948.


Seek in your heart deeply, lest some forgotten, buried negative thing might limit your spiritual gifts. Of what use is it to know law, unless you cleanse the self. There is but one law, the law of Light. No one is ignorant of the law of Light. Light covers darkness always. Light covers the transgressions of all others. Do you think a part-time love of Light will be adequate in your day of tribulation? Do you think to escape the law of Light? No one who has learned that Light is the only law can cover any thought, word or deed for long. For the just and the unjust, it is now the same.

Keep the Light moving forth. Speak no word anytime that you do not desire the world to know. No one, high or low on earth, can hide a whisper. Eventually everyone will know it, for no one can keep it secret when the power of love from above opens it. Light is Light forever.

This is my creed: Light uncovers my good. Light gives me legacies beyond my dreams. Light enables me to do double, beyond last year’s effort. God is still there, greater than ten million man-made ideas of darkness. God still works everything together for good. I’m still on God’s side. (Where are you?) Love still fulfills all law. Faith still moves mountains for me! (What about you?) God has never failed me. I shall never fail Him. He has delayed things to allow the dead leaves to fall off, to be able to prune away those who would cause trouble in my kingdom. Therefore, the sooner I love enough, the sooner all shall be released.—Edna Lister, December 13, 1948.


Perfect love casts out not only fear, but all doubts as well, from the minds and hearts of everyone.—Edna Lister, December 18, 1948.


There is no easy way to lift such a heavy share of earth’s darkness as we do it. We walk this Via Dolorosa in truth, gallantly, gloriously and gladly. The hurts, the meanness, the darkness is always there. I’ve just had two events in widely spaced groups that could have torn asunder everything I’ve built for years. I’m on the knees of my heart because the others have held strongly as one.—Edna Lister, December 25, 1948.

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Conquering Self 1949

Use all time possible to your advantage spiritually. What you have gained, you can hold. Hold the little self up where it should be for soul to absorbed it. To hold there is true ascension.—Edna Lister, January 1, 1949.


Examine your past and dig up all old hates and resentments. All past and hidden thoughts, words or deeds shall be unveiled before the whole world. Fully complete the cleansing, for you can conceal nothing. Only what you have erased to make the page of life white can remain covered from prying eyes. Cover and lift the other fellow’s transgressions with Light and love, also.—Edna Lister, January 10, 1949.


With those who have behaved deceitfully, act as if nothing has happened. Ignore all darkness; otherwise, you believe in darkness and want someone else punished. You either surrender to be possessed of the Light or you do not. When the Light possesses you, where can darkness hide? Pay no attention to them. Act as if nothing has happened, because that is the truth. Nothing has happened. Darkness buried in the other fellow’s heart has simply come to the surface for lifting. Once lifted, it is gone forever. Pray that no one can do anything destructive, no matter how they try, act, think or hate! Hold them up in the hollow of your hands and they cannot get away from God or His truth—and God is doing all this.—Edna Lister, January 25, 1949.


You earn the kingdom of success on earth in God’s ways and in His time by your own surrender to be possessed of love. You work not to curry favor with those who doubt or might further your rise, not to prove God’s Power, but to lift all above.—Edna Lister, January 31, 1949.


Your letter shows much real growth. I’ve always known that your work place was a very hard one to advance through! However, to advance under such material conditions is to build as solidly as a rock. This growth is yours forever. You cannot lose, when you bank with and on God.—Edna Lister, February 2, 1949.


It is a promotion when God sends tests or temptations. ‘For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.’—Hebrews 12:6. He tries you for ‘temper,’ the ability to bear strain and burden, for you face both. You must lift the earth now. God needs those upon whom He can always depend, to lift, to love, to release, and to praise.—Edna Lister, February 3, 1949.


Climb to the 100 percent level for 100 percent miracles. You get only 10 percent on the 10 percent level. Look up to God. When you get to the boiling point about a miracle, the Power moves through and does something. The source of life is in the Mother Love ray. Light is the original substance from which everything descended. When Light moves in and possesses you, you must be perfect. If you leave any part out, Light doesn’t occupy it. Stand under the Light when approaching a patient. Light heals. He will either get well or pass from the body to be healed. ‘If it’s God’s will’ implies no personal responsibility. The only responsibility is to get under the Light. There is darkness of man’s creations in the world. When you lift it as you walk through it, no darkness remains.—Edna Lister, February 4, 1949.


Regression is so easy—all you need to do is to take the first step.—Edna Lister, February 9, 1949.


Everything is coming to pass. Just love enough. The sourpusses need love the most. They are starving for love. Please keep praying for love enough to cure everyone.—Edna Lister, February 23, 1949.


Some day you will look back and know how greatly you have conquered by standing as you have, cloaked in the full faith of God, in the full love of God, in His full glory. Right now, it may seem at times that darkness is rampant and that our prayers are puny. It is not so. Our prayers have added enough on the right side of the balance to lift earth. Without the struggle we have made as a group of love, the Light of love would not have been sufficient to do what it has done. From the weakest to the greatest in Power, all prayers of the righteous are added to do the work of God. It has taken the heat in our love of God, for God and for each other to lift earth, and I am assured that our love for each other has made our released substance enough. Isn’t this glorious?

Love enough. Let us determine to make our love for each other more than enough to blow the darkness sky-high. It will take more love than we have ever achieved in the past, great as that love has been. If only I could enfold you in enough love. If only I could ever achieve that height of love I vision and have it open wide the windows and doors of heaven to you all. As high as I see, as I know for you. Such a small part of your soul comes to earth to o’ershadow you as a creator because it can descend on you only as you forget earth.

Pure law is always hard. Yet you can ascend only as you become that law. It is tragic when you let law make you overly critical, or intolerant of those who cannot yet become law. When you balance becoming law with more than enough of the love of God, then your own Oversoul can move closer to earth to o’ershadow you. Our Lord cried, ‘My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?’ when his Oversoul had to withdraw from him, or he could not have died on the Cross. This descent of the Oversoul is the goal of your sacrifice and surrender even to begin to touch your own high estate. Enough love will allow this descent for everyone. Only this great love poured out on each other can bring it to us here.—Edna Lister, February 26, 1949.


Utter, rotten selfishness is personified in the desire to ‘do everything my way, in my place and in my time.’—Edna Lister, April 4, 1949.


You have earned your ascension credits, now keep them. So many earn during Lent and lose by Ascension Day. Do not look back. Please, oh please, win the rest of the way this time. It’s such a splash to the bottom from here. Do you dare feel for an instant that your sacrifice was not perfect? Do you dare think that turning your back on worldly gain was wrong? No, no, no, no, no! It was perfect, glorious.

Law is law. You may see no evil, no darkness in anyone. Be as big as your gains. Declare that everyone is of the Light and do not even see their ugly looks. No looking back, no seeing the dirty stuff their subconscious spews. No one stands and looks at spew. Why stand in Light, then wallow in appetitive soul spew? Rather, thank God they are being cleansed and mop it up. You must see them as the Christ would. No one can go wrong; all they can do is to spill out their own evil. Let them. You are free. You are God’s strong one, and shall reap your full reward.—Edna Lister, April 5, 1949.


To be possessed by the Light, you must surrender self until self is no more. Uproot pride, arrogance and self.—Edna Lister, June 1949.


When the student is ready, the Master appears, for he recognizes the Light which shines from the forehead. This is the key to the realms, called a key because it opens the Gates of Light. The key is a mark of the soul’s window, the all-seeing eye. Sometimes a brilliant soul comes to a poor family to learn his lesson, but complains constantly. He came to lift this habit. If he learns his lesson, he lifts the whole family. No power can resist full love, which fulfills all law. Faithfulness in love is the backbone of truth. Prejudices hold you back from the Gates of Light. Sometimes sacrificing a minor facet of self takes you through them. Each soul is his own key.—Edna Lister, June 9, 1949.


God is principle and substance. God as principle is Mind, Substance and Power. God as personality is the Father, Mother and Son, the Christ. Yet to worship the Christ within cuts your vitality, which flows from above, not from within. Love moves more than mountains—it moves wicked men. Few will listen to a teacher who requests them to be perfect. You are great, as great as your surrender. The right answer will come from the right source, the right way, as easily as possible. If what you offer in sacrifice is meant to be yours, no power can take it from the altar. If it is removed, it was not yours, but was a test.—Edna Lister, June 12, 1949.


Force: High pressure selling drives force into a person, and the sales agent creates a debt. If you let the Power do the work, you build up a burning desire in the prospect and create no debt. In praying, or if a curse is spoken, force goes to the left, substance to the right. You can recall the substance, but the force you spent forms debts that you must pay.—Edna Lister, June 17, 1949.


Making a ledger sheet for your life is good. Include debits like your faults and negative acts, and credits like your love and compassion. Balance it nightly. When you make a sacrifice to redeem another soul, your affairs are delayed. However, asking why is usually an illegal question.

God is all space, all energy and matter in the seven universes. No one knows when it began but God is endless. Great teachers have given principles and laws, but no one yet has revealed the creative mysteries of the Father and Mother completely. I came to prove that ascension to God is commonplace and every day. It seems easy, but is not.—Edna Lister, June 27, 1949.


Too many people want to argue about being right, so care nothing at all about being right. Your love of God demands that you do anything necessary to make your place beautiful and peaceful. A gentle woman lives gently by the laws of God. Declare, ‘This is my day of joyous fulfillment. Everyone who touches my vibration shall be joyous.’ The Father will send what you want according to the price you are willing to pay. Declare, ‘Father, I reach up with arms of Light and gather up all scattered soul substance of thoughts, words, deed and actions, resentments, criticisms, etc. I put them all up on a cloud altar, and cover them with a pillar of fire. Let it all be consumed and as it is consumed, let it draw all the taints in to be purified, refashioned, made into Light and new creative soul substance for Thy son/daughter.’

How much do you love? Love is the money with which you pay. Love your body into beauty, strength and power. Love your hair into being. Declare, ‘I see my hair full, curly, glorious.’—Edna Lister, July 2, 1949.


Declare, ‘Father, I reach up with arms of Light and gather all scattered soul substance of thoughts, words, deed and actions, resentments, criticisms, etc. I put them all up on a cloud altar, within a pillar of fire. Let it all be consumed. As it is consumed, let it draw all the taints in to be purified, refashioned, made into Light and new creative soul substance for Thy son/daughter.’

The Father will send what you want according to the price you are willing to pay. How much do you love? Love is the coin of the realm with which you pay. Draw on the bank of joy and love, and take time to live as love and joy to produce miracles. When you cannot do anything about a problem, ask and God steps in and opens the way. The petty things of earth will grow petty, as they should. Look right through them to the Christ. The problem’s kick sends you up. It is the only way God has of moving you up, prodding you up.—Edna Lister, July 7, 1949.


You dare not get off the beam and cause others to stumble. Every time you criticize, you are out of line. Keep a line of Light up to God, a lightning rod. Look up, and lift up in a higher consciousness. When you ‘Agree with thine adversary,’ he will follow the Light you shed. Use what you have. Take time to do the next thing next. Ignore the world.

The Buddhist says, ‘If a man foolishly does me wrong, I will return to him the protection of my ungrudging love.’ The secret in this is when you do for another you simultaneously do for yourself. Nothing good will be withheld from him who lives in harmony with the higher laws. Sacrifice means to give it up to God, to make it holy. Make yourself good, and the other fellow happy. If I worry, nothing good happens, but I use my own soul substance. If I stand in the Light and love God, I will come to my own destiny.

Dig out old things, every negative action of the past, and leave them out. Do not think of them anymore, or you recreate them again. Forget the past. You have lifted the past onto a cloud altar, covered with a pillar of fire, and fire has consumed it. It has indrawn and lifted all misused soul substance, which has been purified, made into Light and returned to you.

You are the best agent God has to express His glory for things that have not happened yet. When desire begins to become love, the I AM consciousness makes you see that you must give up self and what that must include. Second, if desire and will are in conflict, you cannot agree and adjust. Third, give up conflict. Desire and will must mate. Give up blaming others.

The world must have someone who understands it and preaches divine law. The inventory period on law lasts from Pentecost to August 10. Take stock. Be fair in your evaluation of your understanding. Take everything into consideration. For example, you can start a negative vibration that knocks someone down, and it could take several incarnations to straighten out the repercussions. You, who understand, are fully responsible and should correct all negative vibrations.—Edna Lister, July 7, 1949.


When you ask, ‘I have come for advice, please, Which path do I take?’ then say what you think the answer should be, or what you want, their answer will be, ‘Thou hast said.’ Initiations in heaven are accompanied by all sorts of trials, limitations, and tests on earth.—Edna Lister, July 8, 1949.


Substance is divided into seven degrees, and one-seventh, from the third dimension atomic substance, is used in each Day of Creation to form cells, molecules, atoms, and so on. You form pictures, good or bad, to create prayer molds. You may not use a brush, but imagination paints the form in atomic substance just as definitely as if it were paint applied to canvas. So you, with your creative faculties, paint pictures according to your desires.—Edna Lister, July 11, 1949.


How much can you pray? How much can you stand? Do you know that all is well? You are ready to know that love fulfills the law, and that when you obey orders to have all come out right? Don’t you think it is time to sacrifice all and obey? Are you satisfied that things mature, expand, progress and flower?

The law is to use the principle of omnipotence as authority in speech only under the highest law and consecration, until you have lost the ability to speak words of retaliation or reprimand. Speak calmly, firmly and finally. ‘That’s enough, young man. We don’t do that here.’ When spoken from a point of law, your speech holds authority. To be perfectly conscious of the subconscious, you must be conscious always. Do not start something you cannot finish. Finish what you begin, and take care of all details.

‘It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!’—Luke 17:1 means everyone minds his own business and covers the transgressions of others. No task is too great and no effort too hard or too long. ‘What is that to thee? Follow thou me.’—John 21:22. Keep your nose out of the other fellow’s business, and live honestly by the articles of our Declaration of Unquenchable of Love. To help the other fellow, love him and love for him until you do not see any need. The more you see that needs lifting in another, the more compassionate you must become.

Climb on a point of loving, understanding, compassionate, all-embracing and yearning love. After working for a reasonable time, you can lift with absolute love and compassion in your heart and declare that the other fellow is perfect as the Christ is perfect. This is how selfless love, the love of God works. He never closes the door on you, yet you use sharp words. Take advantage of God’s promises. When you lift a person seventy times seven, and declare, ‘You are a Christed one,’ you will probably never see anything out of place again. The pure love of God heals. Speak the Word to accomplish this.—Edna Lister, July 13, 1949.


The Gates of Light are open and no time remains for self-pity, feeling guilty or low, which is a waste of time. There is no time to waste. The Elect have reached the critical point of wiping out evil. Earth can take the Power moving through only by the prayers of the Elect. Let anyone who dares ignore this beware. A place above is always waiting for you to arise and accept truth. You may permit no grief in letting go, no point of resentment in being told you’ve hung on too long. You must have the uprightness of joy, of delight in law and obedience to know the love of your Father.

Please, never credit yourself low or high. Why worry about credits? Rise up in joy, being joyful just for being alive. Your desire for comprehension of love and to give love to God has brought you this far. Give. You are just beginning to give love. Why do you waste love by dropping to credit self? You can climb only by loving God, then everything else will take care of itself. Many grave things will happen in the world, but the Light of God takes over completely as you. When you release enough love, everything opens. Solutions come for the price of returning home, unafraid of the great Power moving through you.—Edna Lister, August 1, 1949.


Blindness can result from three factors: Not seeing something because of some hidden fear, denying someone else the right to express, or from putting oneself or another in bondage. A fear of completing an initiation to reach illumination, and refusal to assume responsibility to become law causes inner blindness. On the outer, you may have desired to possess things or people at some point. If you reach out to possess another, you will definitely experience blindness.

If you hide your light under a bushel, you may wear glasses. Libraries are full of information on every subject under the sun, so you have no excuse for not doing what your heart desires. If you were born with a certain fire of desire but let another put it out, chances are you will be wearing glasses.

Wear a black bandage or sleep mask over your eyes when you lie down or sleep because the optic nerve is sensitive to the slightest Light. Most tiredness of old age is due to eye strain. God has not stopped making perfect eyes, and belief in perfect sight is the oil of spirit that lubricates your eye muscles.

A time comes in life when you must conquer the limitations of self alone, and the only way out is to just do it. Say, ‘This is the finish of weakness.’ Write a line a day about what you want to do and came to do. Parents can put a snuffer on the candle of a child’s desire. Yet, from age sixteen, it is your responsibility, not your parents’, if you fail to develop your particular talents or open a door of desire.—Edna Lister, August 4, 1949.


Tone is a vibration that originates in God’s divine emanations. God’s Voice is deathless, ageless and abiding. Tone is the vibration from the Heart of God. Vocal cords are the instrument strings on which tone vibrates. Physiologically, you must build up your body to sing. God is only thirty-five. Experts say it takes twenty years to build your body to play piano, violin, any instrument, or to master the art of music and singing. However, God does not care which twenty years you use to do it.

If you have a burning soul-desire to do something, no person or circumstance will stop you. If you really have a desire, you will do it. ‘I shall prepare myself and the time will come,’ said Lincoln. Soul-centered desire is deathless. You may have to spend years picking up the dropped line to it, but you will do it. If you believe you can rise above the stars, pour the white Light of the Christ on your debts and pay them, it will be so. It takes an absolute conviction that you can do it and you do. God’s will for you is 100 percent perfection. Ascend to where the Power can use you and hangover debt will not knock you down. The law is perfect. The wanters, wishers and hopers wait for a good time to do it, but this just procrastination. You must motivate yourself.—Edna Lister, August 4, 1949.


Defend principle only by standing in love. You never need to defend personality. To completely heal a mind of a martyr complex gives emotional and mental freedom. Love fulfills the law, and time justifies or proves it. Affinity, which the law of attraction governs, exists among cells. If you are sufficient in sacrificial service and true love in your progress on earth, you may ascend to the stature where the Father Himself sends forth your soul mate.—Edna Lister, August 10, 1949.


As you make a vow on the altar at night, instantaneously you set up your choice to agree and adjust with an adversary. ‘I love You, God’ takes you directly to the Source. Never criticize a friend or a teacher because you have outgrown him. He has taken you as far as he could, so credit him without blame. You may not kill desire. You can expand and ascend only on love.

If it is not good for the whole world to do always, it is not good for me to do once. If you disobey the least of these laws, you disobey them all. The first law is I accept. The second is I observe. ‘I am. I can. I do.’ Reorganize the verbs in your vocabulary. ‘I arise. I ascend and stand in the heart of the fire. I wait upon the Lord in the Light while I work out my salvation here below.’ To ascend is to accept. ‘Lift me. Fill me. Use me. I surrender. Let the Light move through me.’ ‘I will’ and ‘I won’t’ are the sign of a closed mind and of using force.

The graciousness and the loveliness of the Lord Jesus Christ now possesses you to overflowing in your affairs and in your families. Some things you do not do. One who walks in the graciousness and loveliness of Christ never has a sense of unworthiness because she walks in beauty, gentleness, tenderness and compassion and they clothe her in Light. When you descend from this attitude, you walk in self-made slums. Hold this thought in mind: ‘I walk in beauty before the Lord all the days of my life.’ When you ascend to God, leave behind the what, the why, and the wherefore. Build a fire to consume them, then be innocent. Some initiations are harder than others. Some shake you from top to bottom. Wearing a hair shirt of doubt or fear makes initiations harder. Initiations are easier if you take them in joy.—Edna Lister, August 15, 1949.


All souls are all equal in their birthright. If it were not so, then the wealthy ones could not know poverty and vice versa. What you do with your twenty-four hours a day, how you color it, is your choice. We are equal in no other way. All have an equal right to use the love, wisdom, faith, and Light of God, and all have the equal right to advance. This is true for all. Assume the responsibility for all others around you, for everything, and never become satisfied. Be the ‘least of all.’ You can stand still for only ‘three days,’ then if you did not make the grade, they give you the initiation as some kind of ‘scrubbing’ on earth.

Never let go of the foundation principles of Jesus Christ. God never stands for a 50 percent, 60 percent, or 90 percent miracle. March up to where the 100 percent miracles take place. Ascend to where love rules, where principles abide in the burning, flaming desire where Light and love are. Get red hot in fervency and to the white point of heat for a miracle. The best of all comes from the molten principle of love. Light is the original substance of which God has made all things, according to Genesis 1 and John 1.

Hold an executive session with yourself. How can you have darkness when principle and Light move in and possesses you? You must be perfect. When imperfect in any part, that part is held out and walled off by fiery Light. Believe this. Put up your hands, look up and think of this Light and say, ‘Release the Light through me and do Your works.’ For others, say, ‘Here they are, Father. Move in and move forth through them.’ The Master said, ‘You shall in no wise enter the kingdom of heaven without unselfish consciousness.’ This is entering the kingdom like a child. No darkness exists except that which man creates. When there is no darkness for you, then wherever you go, Light absorbs all darkness. The Light in you is out when you lose your God consciousness. If you set yourself apart from God, your Light fades. You cool off and go gray.—Edna Lister, September 3, 1949.


Do not cry for toys you have outgrown. Do not carry the bridges you have crossed. Leave them for others to use. You have no need to carry your bridge the rest of your days! Put it back. No one of earth can keep you from receiving the things that are coming for you.—Edna Lister, November 9, 1949.


Do you want to remain where you are, or to ascend to the pearl of great price? What would you sell to ascend on the Power that goes through you, to be stronger, more vital and more successful? To release more substance, you must send forth more unconquerable faith hourly, with no doubt, not a tinge of fear or demand for self.

Use only definite praise statements for what you need, ‘Thank You Father, I have it. Thank You that this is done in Mind and coming forth.’ Make your praise statements precise and definite. If you know that a selfish demand would hold back the world, would you make it? Make no demands. Do not hold onto the past because your Father makes the future as great as you can imagine. You need imagination, not false imagery.—Edna Lister, November 18, 1949.


Everything hinges on the law of responsibility. The one who has a higher sense of responsibility for his actions vibrates at a higher rate. At night, say, ‘What a glorious day I’ve had. Thank You for all the debt I’ve lifted for the world and the wonderful gifts of this day. Tomorrow I shall do’—the words used and Power released are the same, higher or lower. Plan your life hour by hour. You walk through the same River of Life throughout the day and will forever. Yet you stand now with your head where your feet were yesterday. The same atmosphere you breathe now the Chinese breathed yesterday.

To whine, complain, or blame is lawless; do not become lawless. Blame no one, even yourself. Stand in the Light as power. God must have those who are immovable wisdom, invincible joy, and unconquerable love. You must fulfill every law. Stand under the lights and know. Each prayer brings a new release, a new descent of Power, unexpected monies, positions, and glories. Remember and live high in the Light. How can you fail? How dare you fail? Surrender. Remember to stand in the Light. Use the love of God in praise.

Being less than an ambassador of the Light is unbecoming. Stand in purity of Light, full purposed to be servants of the greatness of Power, and God above will pour out upon you greater Power than the world has ever seen. You can speak words of life only in purity of heart, soul, and will. These are the keys that open all doors to all Power. You are not a creator god in the making. You are a creator god ascending and giving. Angelic hands will uphold you. Always remember that you are under the Light and what that means. Pray without ceasing, with the faith of God. Love without ceasing, with the love of God.—Edna Lister, November 20, 1949.


Be very careful not to be self-satisfied.

Read the first chapter of John before starting any research work. Light is the basis of all form. A mediator raises the vibration of people and lowers the vibration of spiritual substance until they are on the same level.—Edna Lister, November 25, 1949.


When you dream of another, consider what that person represents to you in your life. Your subconscious is projecting into your conscious mind something that you are doing or failing to do in your life.

Those who suffer from inflicted sadism have lost part of their soul substance. After they pass on, ask the Father to use Light and lift and return their substance to the altars to be purified and restored. Use your hands to scoop and lift it. Do the same for those in hospitals, mental wards, all mental cases, and fill them with Light while they sleep.—Edna Lister, December 12, 1949.


Mary and Martha were Lazarus’ sisters and Jesus’ followers. Martha lived a life of active service and duty. Mary spent her time in worship and devotion. Neither woman lived a balanced life. Martha would have to pay her debt in greater worship and contemplation, and she must learn the mysteries. Mary, who knew the mysteries must teach them without being judgmental.

Humility is that sense of being filled with joy because God is God, the River of Life that flows through all. Light is all the life there is. It is free for the effort of looking up in consciousness. Look upward and consider the truth of reality, the reality of God, the infallible and immovable One. Imagination turned upward opens the faculty of comprehension.—Edna Lister, December 13, 1949.

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Edna Miriam Lister
1884 – 1971
The original Christian Pioneering Mystic,
Platonist philosopher, American Idealist, Founder, Society of the Universal Living Christ, minister, teacher, author, wife, and mother.


Edna Lister


Edna Lister at Paradise, Mount Rainier
National Park, Washington, August 10, 1944.


References

The Compact Edition of The Oxford English Dictionary: 2 volumes. Oxford University Press, 1971.

The Holy Bible. King James Version (KJV).