Hello Beth,
You voice realities that I believe have no doubt crossed the minds of others, but remained largely unexpressed for various reasons.
Anyway, I'll paste here, with some edits and additions, what I have written down in doing the last mediumship class homework, because some it relates.
1.
Other than praying for the Divine Love (which is important), we also need to do the right things morally and ethically -- the path is both prayer and working on ourselves and overcoming bad habits and avoiding wrong actions.
In this message,
https://new-birth.net/padgetts-messages ... ol-1-pg12/, it says this: “Now, the way to each of these kingdoms is not the same, although in pursuing the way to one, and that the Celestial Kingdom, the way to the others, must necessarily be followed, or in other words, he who follows the way to the Celestial Kingdom pursues that course which in its pursuit, will cause him to do those things and obey those laws of God that are necessary to establish the Kingdoms on earth and in the spirit world; but he who pursues only the way that leads to the establishment of the kingdom on earth and in the spirit world, cannot possibly become an inhabitant of the Celestial Kingdom.”
This confirms that thoughts, words and actions of those on the Divine Love path should largely parallel those on the natural love path and be kind and loving. The difference is not in how we live, but how the soul is affected – transformed into divine substance by the Divine Love or simply purified.
That same message also says that we may reach the Celestial Kingdom while still on earth and some in Padgett's time were known to have done so.
Based on the above, I believe that following the two paths to the outside appearances can be pretty well indistinguishable. Both paths should reflect the person’s love and care for others. The difference is in how the loving and kind actions are powered – through our own efforts and will on the natural love path or through God’s nature residing in our souls on the Divine Love path.
On both paths, we have to make conscious choices over and over again in responding to situations we find ourselves in. For example, how do we respond to the unkind comment someone made to or about us – do we reciprocate, retaliate, let it go, or even say something nice, giving the person the benefit of the doubt? As our souls are more and more transformed by the Divine Love, kind actions will become more and more second-nature, though with conscious practice over time, the same can happen on the natural love path.
So the two paths are complementary, but progress can be made faster on the Divine Love path by actively seeking and receiving Divine help. Those who claim to be on the Divine Love path, but are lax about praying for and/or practicing the Love may not act any better than those who don’t even walk the natural love path because their souls are in stagnation and they are not growing in Love/love.
False beliefs can be a hindrance to receiving Divine Love. However, both the Messages and personal experience show that they do not preclude receiving this precious gift. Many have received the Divine Love even though they were steeped in traditional orthodox Christian beliefs or even non-Christian beliefs. After all, Divine Love transcends all religions. And even for those who have been on the Divine Love path for decades, who can honestly say that they have all the truth and have shed all of their false beliefs?
2.
Mind vs Soul
Newcomers might be confused by the frequent references to "being in the soul" vs "being in the mind" and made to feel less than if they are "in the mind". My experience is that as long as our mind is on spiritual thoughts, we are doing fine. That is one of the things that Padgett was told over and over -- to get his mind on spiritual things. The soul may not be any more spiritual than the mind, unless cultivated to be that -- it can be stagnant or even "dead."
We really cannot tell or judge who is on the Divine Love path and who is on the Natural Love path, or worse still, judge who is “in their mind” or “in their soul”, or yet worse, disparage those who are more in their mind than their soul – because that’s the way they were made. Only the angels can tell what a person's soul state is. A person on the natural love path is also developing in their soul if they are becoming kinder, less reactive, and are striving to act morally and ethically. (One that is purely on an intellectual path may not be.)
There is soul development on the natural love path as the following two Padgett messages show:
TGRABJ, Vol. 2, page 363 (Jesus)
Well, as I was saying, the only way in which a mortal may obtain the development of his soul condition, without the help of the Divine Love, is by attempting to exercise his will in the way that will cause the thoughts of evil and error to leave him, and to be replaced by thoughts that will bring his heart and soul into harmony with the laws of his creation as mere man. This can be done by his seeking for those higher things of morality, and the subordinating of the purely animal desires and appetites of the mortal to the aspirations and desires of the higher and nobler part of his nature.
TGRABJ, Vol. 2, pg. 367 (Luke) -- The development of the soul in its natural love
“I come tonight to say a few words concerning the great truth of the development of the soul in its natural love, wherein the New Birth is never experienced.
“I know that men think that this natural love has in it a part of the Divinity of the Father’s nature, and that as they develop in the way of purifying it and ridding it of those things which tend to impair its harmony, they will realize that there exists in their souls this Divinity of which we have written. But this is not true, for this natural love partakes only of those elements which the Father implanted in it at the time of man’s creation, and in none of these elements is any of the qualities of the Divine nature.
“It is difficult to explain just the distinction between the Divine Love coming from the Father, and the natural love also coming from Him, and yet, not having any of the Divine nature or qualities; but it is a fact. The natural love may become so purified that it may come into perfect harmony with the laws governing its condition and composition, and yet, fall far short of having in it any of the Divine Love.”
3. Make it OK not to experience physical sensations
Not everyone has burning in the heart area or other sensations. The important proof of the Divine Love changing our souls is the "fruit of the Holy Spirit" that the Bible lists in Galatians 5:22-24: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 5:23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Gal 5:24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Another proof is keeping the "Eleventh Commandment" that Jesus gave -- loving others as he did, with the Divine Love, unconditionally.
4.
The journey is a process and not everyone proceeds at the same pace.
The key is not comparing ourselves with others, but only with ourselves -- to look back and see how far we have come.
5.
Seek God for Himself, not for gifts, physical sensations, blessings, etc.
Our greatest desire should be a relationship with God -- seeking at-onement with Him. All else is secondary.
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So Beth, these are some things I would encourage a newcomer to understand.