"Water ... represents material cleansing, and fire represents spiritual cleansing. When John the Baptist baptized with water, he washed away the sins of an external character. He did not enter into the subconsciousness. It takes something more powerful than water to purify the error conditions accumulated by the soul in its many incarnations. The presence of God through Christ is necessary to purify this part of man" (MBD/Water).
"The regeneration of the subconscious is not the work of the conscious, but of the superconscious mind acting in harmony with the conscious" (Keep a True Lent 91).
"The superconscious mind lifts up, or regenerates, both the subconscious and the conscious, transforming them into the true image and likeness of God. The conscious mind must be faithful during this transformation. It must look ever to the superconscious for all direction and instruction. It can of itself do nothing with assurance, because the Spirit of wisdom rests in the superconscious" (Keep a True Lent 89).
"A quickening from on high must precede man's realization of his innate control of thought and feeling. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a quickening of the spiritual nature" (The Twelve Powers of Man 61).
"The forces of Spirit at the center of man's body are so intense that the outer consciousness cannot stand the current and hold itself together; absolutely pure in essence, this inner fire must be approached by the pure spiritual thought" (The Twelve Powers of Man 124).
"In its true essence it is the fire of Spirit, or the divine energy, which never ceases [grace] its life-giving, purifying glow; when its cleansing work is completed in man's mind and body there is no more error to be consumed, and it then manifests in purified man as his eternal life" (MBD/Fire).
Jesus said, "If I do not wash you, you have no part in me" (John 13:8). Once the conscious phase of mind begins to cooperate with the superconscious phase of mind by holding thoughts that are true to the nature of Being, this prepares the way for the spiritual baptism of the Christ. This baptism is experienced as a healing or regenerating of the subconscious level of mind which has absorbed error thoughts. Jesus reminded us, it is "the Father who dwells in me" (John 14:10) who does this healing work. We of ourselves cannot do it. All permanent healing takes place from the level of Christ mind. This does not usually happen overnight, but is the result of the continuous activity of Spirit. Have faith that one day there will be no more error to be consumed, and you will be expressing, at all levels of mind, the consciousness of grace, or Christ consciousness.
"And God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away. And he who sat upon the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.'" (Rev. 21:3-5)
NOTE: The following is a healing prayer that will help the conscious mind prepare the way for Christ baptism.
Steps in the Christ Prayer
I. "C" for CHRIST
- Come forth, O Christ, and manifest Thyself in me
- Christ control ... to Thee I surrender ... Thy will is my will
- Christ, clear my mind
- Christ presence of love, peace, and healing power moves through my mind, body, and affairs
II. "H" for HEALS
- Heal me at depth
- Hold me in Thy will
- Have Thine own way, Lord
- Holy is Thy name
III. "R" for REVEALS
- Reveal that which needs to be revealed
- Receptive is my soul
- Revelation rents the veil
- Reality fills the vision
IV. "I" for I AM
- Inspired with divine ideas
- Infilled with divine love
- In tune with the Infinite
- Informed of my divine plan
V. "S" for SILENTLY
- Sweet, sweet Spirit
- Softly sweep my soul
- Speak, Thy servant heareth
- Silently I wait on Thee
VI. "T" for TRUSTING
- Truth is revealed
- Thy will is done
- Thank You, God!
- Trusting, I am
