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Lesson 185: ”I want the peace of God*.”

Reframe: I welcome inner peace and alignment with clarity.

Suggested Practice:

From the Introduction to Lessons 181-200:

”Our next few lessons make a special point of firming up your willingness to make your weak commitment strong; your scattered goals blend into one intent. ²You are not asked for total dedication all the time as yet. ³But you are asked to practice now in order to attain the sense of peace such unified commitment will bestow, if only intermittently. … And so we start our journey beyond words by concentrating first on what impedes your progress still. …⁴So we now attempt to go past all defenses for a little while each day. ⁵No more than this is asked, because no more than this is needed. ⁶It will be enough to guarantee the rest will come.”

Do two 15-minutes practices today.

From the Lesson:

“Let us today devote our practicing to recognizing that we really mean the words we say. ²We want the peace of God. ³This is no idle wish. … To mean these words acknowledges illusions are in vain, requesting the eternal in the place of shifting dreams which seem to change in what they offer, but are one in nothingness.”

“Today devote your practice periods to careful searching of your mind, to find the dreams you cherish still. ²What do you ask for in your heart? ³Forget the words you use in making your requests. ⁴Consider but what you believe will comfort you, and bring you happiness. ⁵But be you not dismayed by lingering illusions, for their form is not what matters now. ⁶Let not some dreams be more acceptable, reserving shame and secrecy for others. ⁷They are one. ⁸And being one, one question should be asked of all of them, “Is this what I would have, in place of Heaven and the peace of God?””

“This is the choice you make. … ⁴You choose God’s peace, or you have asked for dreams.” (ACIM, W-185.7:1–9:7)

*God: an impersonal, formless, and infinite principle of pure Love. Substitute whatever term that resonates best and allows you to receive the message. The Will of God, as ACIM ascribes it, is our happiness.

View timelapse of the coloring of today’s mandala
on My YouTube Channel:

https://youtu.be/TMdOPp2A35U?is=w8X4nybUOAX4BrEG

Message

From the Lesson:

”I want the peace of God.”

“To say these words is nothing. ²But to mean these words is everything. ³If you could but mean them for just an instant, there would be no further sorrow possible for you in any form; in any place or time. ⁴Heaven would be completely given back to full awareness, memory of God entirely restored, the resurrection of all creation fully recognized.” (ACIM, W-185.1:1-4)

For years, when people asked what I wanted, I’d list things I wanted to have and do. Lately, my answer has changed: I want peace. To go about my day in a state of peace regardless of what’s happening around me? That would be such a relief. That would be heaven. I’m not saying I want to be in denial. I’m saying I want to be at peace no matter what.

I realize now that the things I used to want were things I thought would make me happy and at peace if I got them. I’ll be happy when I reach my goal weight. I’ll be at peace when the house is decluttered. I’ll be at peace when I can love and accept myself as I am.

Whoa. That last one surprised me. I almost didn’t write it. Then it occurred to me: the whole point of this lesson is that peace is not conditional. I want—and can have—the peace of God regardless of whether I love and accept myself. My conditional statement is just a starting point for healing that thought through today’s practice. Can I know the peace of God regardless of this ego-mind thought?

During today’s painting session, I realized I’m not usually at peace when I paint or color my mandalas. When I started over 25 years ago, I did them for myself or friends. I didn’t worry about people liking them or selling them. As soon as I started taking my art seriously—joining a guild, doing shows, putting images online—my ego mind took over with fears and limiting beliefs. “Nobody is going to buy these.” “These aren’t good enough.” And my dad’s favorite: “You can’t make a living as an artist.”

Since Covid, I’ve stopped putting myself out there as much. Now I find it even harder. Blog posts, timelapse videos, social media—that’s easy from the comfort of home. Yet even there, the ego mind creates worrisome thoughts, tense body, shallow breathing.

I applied the practice during my painting session. As I noticed an ego thought or tension, I recited the lesson’s title. Even as I sit here writing this, my stomach is tight. I’ll say it again. “I want the peace of God.” Each time, I feel my stomach relax, my breath deepen, and my thoughts mellow out.

Ironically, based on the Lesson, the peace of God is already mine. So I keep reminding myself. Maybe the mantra could be “I want what’s already mine.”

From the Lesson:

“For you was peace created, given you by its Creator, and established as His Own eternal gift. ²How can you fail, when you but ask for what He wills for you?” (ACIM, W-185.12:1-2)

It’s simple. To receive the peace of God, we need only stop denying ourselves what is already ours. It’s not conditioned on anything. Nothing to earn. We only need to accept it.

“When making decisions (even small things), I first consult my inner dashboard. I use the following six-word indicator light: ‘How does it make me feel?’.”
— “The Course in Miracles Experiment” by Pam Grout

Blessings & Peace,

Maureen,
The Mandala Lady

transforming soul whispers
into mandalas & channeled messages
for clarity, peace, and joy

 About the 2026 Mandalas of the Day — ▶️ A Note About A Course in Miracles