A Course
In Miracles

Authorized Online Edition
Workbook For Students

 
 

REVIEW III

Introduction

1. 1Our next review begins today. 2We will review two recent lessons every day for ten successive days of practicing. 3We will observe a special format for these practice periods, that you are urged to follow just as closely as you can.

2. 1We understand, of course, that it may be impossible for you to undertake what is suggested here as optimal each day and every hour of the day. 2Learning will not be hampered when you miss a practice period because it is impossible at the appointed time. 3Nor is it necessary that you make excessive efforts to be sure that you catch up in terms of numbers. 4Rituals are not our aim, and would defeat our goal.

3. 1But learning will be hampered when you skip a practice period because you are unwilling to devote the time to it that you are asked to give. 2Do not deceive yourself in this. 3Unwillingness can be most carefully concealed behind a cloak of situations you cannot control. 4Learn to distinguish situations that are poorly suited to your practicing from those that you establish to uphold a camouflage for your unwillingness.

4. 1Those practice periods that you have lost because you did not want to do them, for whatever reason, should be done as soon as you have changed your mind about your goal. 2You are unwilling to cooperate in practicing salvation only if it interferes with goals you hold more dear. 3When you withdraw the value given them, allow your practice periods to be replacements for your litanies to them. 4They gave you nothing. 5But your practicing can offer everything to you. 6And so accept their offering and be at peace.

5. 1The format you should use for these reviews is this: Devote five minutes twice a day, or longer if you would prefer it, to con­sidering the thoughts that are assigned. 2Read over the ideas and comments that are written down for each day’s exercise. 3And then begin to think about them, while letting your mind relate them to your needs, your seeming problems and all your concerns.

6. 1Place the ideas within your mind, and let it use them as it chooses. 2Give it faith that it will use them wisely, being helped in its decisions by the One Who gave the thoughts to you. 3What can you trust but what is in your mind? 4Have faith, in these reviews, the means the Holy Spirit uses will not fail. 5The wisdom of your mind will come to your assistance. 6Give direction at the outset; then lean back in quiet faith, and let the mind employ the thoughts you gave as they were given you for it to use.

7. 1You have been given them in perfect trust; in perfect confidence that you would use them well; in perfect faith that you would see their messages and use them for yourself. 2Offer them to your mind in that same trust and confidence and faith. 3It will not fail. 4It is the Holy Spirit’s chosen means for your salvation. 5Since it has His trust, His means must surely merit yours as well.

8. 1We emphasize the benefits to you if you devote the first five minutes of the day to your reviews, and also give the last five minutes of your waking day to them. 2If this cannot be done, at least try to divide them so you undertake one in the morning, and the other in the hour just before you go to sleep.

9. 1The exercises to be done throughout the day are equally important, and perhaps of even greater value. 2You have been inclined to practice only at appointed times, and then go on your way to other things, without applying what you learned to them. 3As a result, you have gained little reinforcement, and have not given your learning a fair chance to prove how great are its potential gifts to you. 4Here is another chance to use it well.

10. 1In these reviews, we stress the need to let your learning not lie idly by between your longer practice periods. 2Attempt to give your daily two ideas a brief but serious review each hour. 3Use one on the hour, and the other one a half an hour later. 4You need not give more than just a moment to each one. 5Repeat it, and allow your mind to rest a little time in silence and in peace. 6Then turn to other things, but try to keep the thought with you, and let it serve to help you keep your peace throughout the day as well.

11. 1If you are shaken, think of it again. 2These practice periods are planned to help you form the habit of applying what you learn each day to everything you do. 3Do not repeat the thought and lay it down. 4Its usefulness is limitless to you. 5And it is meant to serve you in all ways, all times and places, and whenever you need help of any kind. 6Try, then, to take it with you in the business of the day and make it holy, worthy of God’s Son, acceptable to God and to your Self.

12. 1Each day’s review assignments will conclude with a restatement of the thought to use each hour, and the one to be applied on each half hour as well. 2Forget them not. 3This second chance with each of these ideas will bring such large advances that we come from these reviews with learning gains so great we will continue on more solid ground, with firmer footsteps and with stronger faith.

13. 1Do not forget how little you have learned.
2Do not forget how much you can learn now.
3Do not forget your Father’s need of you,
As you review these thoughts He gave to you.