Baba says, “the Father is the Bestower. You children have no need to ask for anything from the Father. He continues to give everything by Himself.”

God is my Father, practically. As His child, I already have all rights to Him and everything He has…as my birthright. I wasn’t aware of this in bhakti. Sure, I sang the songs: You are the Mother and Father, I am Your child…but they were just words. I didn’t actually relate to God as my Mother and Father, I related to Him as God and considered myself a sinner, a devotee. When that is my mindset, then all I am able to receive is mercy and that’s what I received from God. I asked for help with this circumstance, that situation, this illness, that exam…He showed me mercy. But then when the next situation or circumstance or illness came, there I was asking for mercy again. Mercy helps temporarily, love is forever. A bhagat stays a bhagat until God comes and opens the lock on the intellect and tells me who I am- His most beloved child with all rights.

When I become the child and look back on my bhakti days, I do find it silly that I was begging for something that was already mine. Peace, happiness, contentment, salvation – is all mine; I have a right to all of this and yet, there I was asking for, hoping for even just a little. I can’t believe that I was asking my own Father for mercy! I shake my head during my heart-to-heart with Him about it- thank You Baba for opening my lock. Having known You, I now know everything. Having attained You, I have attained everything.

Or have I?

If as a child with rights, I am still asking my Father for a little help, a little mercy, then that’s a problem. If I am asked to give a lecture or teach the course, I have no problem doing it; I know all the points. But that’s not what this journey is about. “The knowledge is very easy. You have to recognize the Father.“, He explains. Unless I have actually recognized the Father and made myself belong to Him, I cannot receive the inheritance despite the fact that I am an heir. And that’s unfortunate.

When that situation or circumstance or illness comes, to ask the Father for help saying: “Baba, have mercy! Please make this situation go away, please change this circumstance, please cure my illness…” is to demonstrate that I haven’t really recognized the Father. If I am truly the child, then I won’t need to ask for anything, I know that the Father is already with me and helping me. God didn’t tell me that storms wouldn’t come now that I belong to Him; in fact, to the contrary, He told me that they’d definitely come with even more force because I belong to Him. But He did promise me that He will walk through the storm with me and ensure I remain safe. Not only will be remain safe but He will bring me out the other side, stronger, with my character built up, with my faith increased, more confident than ever. He didn’t bring the situation but He will use it to grow me up spiritually. This is His help, His inheritance.

Maybe the boss at work seems like my biggest adversary. As a bhagat, I’d pray to God to make the boss go someplace else; in other words, my prayer is to change my circumstance. But now as a child, I realize that if the person is there, then God is using him to teach me something- maybe He’s building my character, teaching me to be helpful to even those with whom I might disagree. This is His help. “Don’t ask the Father for mercy. He will not do anything. The Father has come to show you the path.”, He explains, “it is My part in the drama to purify everyone.” God isn’t nearly as interested in changing my circumstances as He is in changing me. This is His help, His blessing. If I try to run away by changing teams or jobs, then all I will do is delay my learning. How so? because the situation will simply come back in another form. God, as a true Father, doesn’t sit back until He has taught me what He knows I need. This is His help, His tireless service as the Purifier.

Those strongholds, those fears, that wrong belief that I won’t be able to get through something- He makes those fears, strongholds and beliefs go away…not the situation. Yes, the situation too will change, nothing stays forever, but while it’s here, the Father uses it to teach me. He tells me what to do, what steps to take and in doing so, He teaches me to only rely on Him. I no longer need to worry or panic and run from pillar to post asking for help. The Father gives me strength, support and courage through His constant companionship. His love alone is the alchemy that breaks away bondages, sets me free. This is His immense….love for His child; not mercy. Children don’t need mercy, they have a right to the Father’s love.

It helps to trust God and allow myself to go through a couple of storms with Him by holding His hand, that is, by following His directions. That builds up my faith, my trust. And a sign of faith is that no matter what comes in front of me- how high the mountain is, how big the fire is, how harsh the storm is, I don’t worry, I maintain a good attitude. And what’s more, I do the unthinkable by continuing to enjoy my life because….my Father is with me! He is in charge of my life! That’s the beauty of being a child with rights! The Father is responsible as long as I do my part as the child by following His directions. “You do not need to ask the Father for anything. You need to have faith in this. Now, stop asking and I will continue to give you everything Myself. You receive the inheritance by belonging to the Father.“