The Divine Plan
“The germ of this plan was planted as a seed one spring, and has been growing and unfolding ever since…”
– Glenn Clark
One of the most popular pieces of writing by Glenn Clark is The Divine Plan. Glenn wrote it some time in the mid-nineteen twenties, his richly creative, spiritual exploratory period, when the fresh, cool, bubbling life-spring of his utter faith in God’s trust in creation and humanity, was coupled with a new awakening of Glenn’s never-silent, overwhelming cataract of imagination. In the booklet The Thought Farthest Out, he incorporated The Divine Plan and many other essays and experiences in faith. In it Glenn found the metaphor which would not only express his belief in the spontaneity and vitality of God’s word but would let it become flesh. Notably, The Camps Farthest Out were born in those meaningful days. One can feel Glenn’s exuberance in his brief introduction to The Divine Plan
-paraphrased from Miles Clark
The Divine Plan
The germ of this plan was planted as a seed one spring, and has been growing and unfolding ever since… Transplant it into the garden of your heart by daily reading and meditation and it will grow and bear fruit, and great will be the fruit thereof. – Glenn Clark
I Believe that God has a Divine Plan for me. I believe that this Plan is wrapped in the folds of my Being, even as the oak is wrapped in the acorn and the rose is wrapped in the bud. I believe that this Plan is permanent, indestructible and perfect, free from all that is essentially bad. Whatever comes into my life that is negative is not a part of this God-created Plan, but is a distortion caused by my failure to harmonize myself with the Plan as God has made it. I believe that this Plan is Divine, and when I relax myself completely to it, it will manifest completely and perfectly through me. I can always tell when I am completely relaxed to the Divine Plan by the inner peace that comes to me. This inner peace brings a joyous, creative urge that leads me into activities that unfold the Plan, or it brings a patience and a stillness that allow others to unfold the Plan to me.
I Believe that this beautiful Divine Plan for me is a perfect part of the larger Pattern for the good of all, not something separate unto me alone. I believe that it has ramifications and interweavings that reach out through all the persons I meet and all the events that come to me, and that the best way to put myself in harmony with the Divine plan that is within myself is to accept with radiant acquiescence all the individuals and events that are drawn to me, seeing in them perfect instruments for the perfect unfoldment of my perfect Plan. In other words, I believe that to see harmony in that which is without brings harmony in that which is within, even as to see harmony in that which is within brings harmony in that which is without.
I Believe that God has selected those persons who are to belong to my plan, and that through proximity, mutual attraction or need, they and I are continually finding each other out. I believe in praying for ever-increasing capacity to love and serve them and for greater worthiness to be loved and served by them in return. I believe in sending out a prayer to the Father to draw to me those who are meant to help me and to be helped by me, in order to express my life together with them.
I Believe in asking my Heavenly Father for only that which is mine to have, knowing that when the right time has come it will be made manifest. This enables me to look forward to receiving only those things which are mine according to the Providential Plan. It releases my mind from all anxiety and uncertainty. It eliminates fear, jealousy, and anger. It gives me courage and faith to do the things that are mine to do. When my mind is attuned to the things that are mine, I become free from greed, passion, impure thoughts and deeds; but when I look without or watch others to see what they are or are not receiving, I cut myself off from my own source of supply and minimize my power to receive.
I Believe that the gifts of God are many thousands of times greater than I am now capable of receiving, and that I should therefore pray to increase my capacity both to receive and to give, for my power to receive is as great as my power to give, and my power to give as to receive. Gifts of God always bring peace, contentment and joy, and therefore anything in which I find a natural harmony and peace and which does not interfere with anyone else’s natural expression of life belong to me, and any work for which I feel a natural call, by gift or inclination, is mine to do. When I am attuned to that which is mine I find no barrier in God’s Kingdom, hence I accept none.
I Believe that God’s Plan for life is a healthy, happy expression for the good of all, and that everything that makes me feel happy to do will bring happiness to others. Therefore, when I am hindered from doing the thing that I want to do, I believe that God has closed the door only to open another, and that upon every closed door there is a sign pointing to a better and larger door just ahead. My disappointments, therefore, become His appointments. If I do not readily see the door just ahead, I believe that it is because there is some blindness, deafness or disobedience within my life that walls me off from God, and that God is using the resulting trouble or failure to help me find the inspiration and the guidance and the power to help me overcome it so that I may see the right door.
I Believe that the chief essential of life is to keep in touch with the Father, and let the Divinity that is in me manifest through me. I believe that the whole world about me is full of beauty, joy and power, even as it is full of God, and that I can share it and enjoy it if I attune myself to my Divine Plan and am inwardly open toward God and outwardly helpful toward men. I shall ask my heavenly Father and Friend, who dwells within me and who has given me this vision of life, to give me His help in its realization and to help me share it with others that it may bring peace and happiness to many.
God's Plan
This shorter, more concise, meditative version of The Divine Plan was written by Glenn Clark sometime in the last ten years of his life and has been used at many a Morning Meditation at CFO Camps around the world.
To use this plan most effectively, read the words slowly, letting them sink deep into your subconscious mind. Repeat favorite passages as prayers. Remind yourself that through God there is a solution to every problem, personal, national, or international.
God has a plan. It is hidden within me, just as the oak is hidden within the acorn, or the rose within the bud. As I yield myself more fully to God, His plan expresses itself more perfectly through me. I can tell when I am in tune with it, for then my mind and heart are filled with a deep inner peace. This peace fills me with a sense of security, with joy, and a desire to take steps that are a part of the plan.
God’s plan for me is a perfect part of a larger plan. It is designed for the good of all and not for me alone. It is a many- sided plan and reaches out through all the people I meet. All the events and people who come into my life are instruments for the unfolding of this plan.
God has chosen those people he wants me to know, to love, and to serve. We are continually being drawn to one another in ways that are not coincidental. I pray that I may become a better instrument to love and to serve and that I may become more worthy to receive the love and service of others.
I ask the Father within me for only those things which he wants me to have. I know that these benefits will come to me at the right time and in the right way. This inner knowing frees my mind and heart from all fear, greed, jealousy, anger, and resentment. It gives me courage and faith to do those things which I feel are mine to do. I no longer look in envy at what others are receiving, nor do I compare myself with them. Therefore, I do not cut myself off from God, the giver of all good things.
God’s gifts to me can be many times greater than I am now receiving. I pray that I may increase my capacity to give only as I receive, and receive only as I give.
I believe that when I cannot do those things I desire to do, it is because God has closed one door only to leave ajar a better and larger door. If I do not see that door just ahead, it is because I have not seen, heard, or obeyed God’s guidance. It is then that God uses the trouble or seeming failure which may result to help me face myself, and see the new opportunity before me.
The real purpose of my life is to find God within my own mind and heart, and to help my fellowmen. I thank my Father for each experience which helps me to surrender myself to His will. For only as I lose myself in the consciousness of His Great Presence can His Plan for my life be fulfilled.