Miracles bear witness to truth. They are convincing because they arise from conviction. Without conviction they deteriorate into magic, which is mindless and therefore destructive; or rather, the uncreative use of mind (T-1.I.14:1-3).
The miracle represent a shift in perception, away from fear and towards Love. The miracle is a result of allowing the Holy Spirit to interpret the world for us. Because the Holy Spirit knows the Mind of God, its “interpretations” are the equivalent of Knowledge.
When we know, there is no doubt or confusion. Miracles effectively remove the need to guess.
According to ACIM, miracles are a natural expression of love and truth. They convince us of their efficacy because they arise from the Holy Spirit’s confidence in the power of love and compassion, which together point to our unity with our brothers and sisters in Creation. When we share the Holy Spirit’s conviction, miracles occur naturally and extend this conviction.
However, if we do not share the Holy Spirit’s conviction, and instead rely on the unstable foundation offered by ego, then miracles as such are degraded. They devolve into “magic,” the Course’s word for the use of thought to try and achieve results in the world without first establishing its reality in and with God.
Magic is fundamentally the uncreative use of the mind because it relies on the ego’s ideas about separation and sacrifice, rather than love. Because it does not recognize our underlying equality, this kind of thinking can and often does lead to destruction.
Indeed, this principle is basically a cautionary note about the importance of staying close to the Holy Spirit before attempting to work miracles. Humility is essential, because it teaches us not to overly rely on our own thinking, which cannot help but bring forth confusion about and distortions of reality.
It is a fundamental principle of A Course in Miracles that our thoughts, beliefs and convictions have the power to shape our perception of reality. When we deliberately study with the Teacher who taeches Love, Forgiveness and unity, we naturally experience – we naturally create – miracles. This miracle-minded thinking manifests a world in which our interconnectedness is obvious and desirable, thus inspiring yet more willingness.
In this way, miracles serve to strengthen our faith and remind us of the power of love and compassion in our lives. Inner peace and happiness are not accidents. They are effects of a decision to become responsible for salvation, by accepting the Atonement for our own selves.
