A Course in Miracles - Teacher's Guide - 4. What are the characteristics of God's teachers?

M-4.1. The superficial traits of God's teachers are nothing alike. 2 In the eyes of the flesh, they are not the same, they come from completely different backgrounds, their experiences of the world are very different, and their surface "personalities" are completely different. 3 Even in the initial stages of their activity as teachers of God, they have not yet acquired the deeper qualities that will confirm them in what they are.

4 God gives special gifts to his teachers because they have a special role in his plan of reconciliation. 5 His peculiarity is, of course, acim app only temporary; established in time as a means of leading beyond time. 6 These special gifts, born in the holy relationship to which the situation of teaching and learning is directed, become characteristic of all teachers of God who have advanced in their learning. 7 In this they are all equal.

M-4.2. All differences between the Children of God are temporary. 2 Over time, however, God's advanced teachers can be said to have the following qualities:

I believe

M-4.I.1. This is the foundation on which their ability to perform their role rests. 2 Perception is the result of learning. 3 Perception is actually learning because cause and effect are never separated. 4 God's teachers trust the world because they have learned that they do not follow the laws that the world has created. 5 It is governed by the power that is in them, but it is not theirs. 6 It is this power that keeps all things safe. 7 Thanks to this power, God's teachers look to the world that has been forgiven.

M-4.I.2. Once you experience this power, it is impossible to trust your little power again. 2 Who would try to fly with the small wings of a sparrow when given the great power of an eagle? 3 And who would believe in the miserable sacrifices of the ego, when presented with the gifts of God? 4 What will make them change?

A. Building trust

M-4.I.A.3. First, they have to go through what might be called a "breakdown period." 2 It may not be painful, but it is usually experienced that way. 3 It seems as if things were taken away, and at first it is rarely understood that only their lack of value is recognized. 4 How can a lack of value be perceived if the perceiver is not in a position to see things in a different light? 5 He has not yet reached the point where he can make the change completely internal. 6 And so the plan will sometimes require changes in apparently external circumstances. 7 These changes are always useful. 8 When the teacher of God has learned this, he goes on to the second stage.