ACIM Lesson 328 Prayer

"I choose the second place to gain the first."
This lesson encourages us to surrender our ego's desire to be first and instead choose to follow God's Will, recognizing that true leadership and fulfillment come from aligning with His guidance. The ego often seeks autonomy and independence, believing that being first is the path to success and happiness, but this leads to separation and suffering. By choosing the "second place," we actually gain the first in terms of spiritual fulfillment, as we align with God's plan and recognize that our true strength lies in unity and cooperation.
All quotes are from A Course in Miracles, copyright ©2007, Third Edition used with permission from the publisher and copyright holder, the Foundation for Inner Peace, 448 Ignacio Blvd., #306, Novato, CA 94949.

Transcript

A Course in Miracles Lesson 328 I choose the second place to gain the first.

What seems to be the second place is first,

For all things we perceive are upside down until we listen to the voice for God.

It seems that we will gain autonomy,

But by our striving to be separate,

It seems that our independence from the rest of God's creation is the way in which salvation is obtained.

Yet,

All we find is sickness,

Suffering,

All we find is loss and death.

This is not what our Father wills for us.

There is no second to our Father's will.

To join with our Father's will is to find our own will,

And since our will is our Father's,

It is to him that we must go to recognize our will.

Father,

There is no will but yours.

I am glad that nothing I imagine contradicts what you would have me be.

Father,

It is your will that I be wholly safe and eternally at peace.

I happily share your will,

Which you,

My Father,

Gave as part of me.

I choose the second place to gain the first.

Nothing real can be threatened.

Nothing unreal exists.

Herein lies the peace of God.