Neville Goddard on Joel 3:10

Executive Summary

Neville Goddard explains the scripture, "Let the weak say, I am strong," as a fundamental instruction on the power of assumption. It is a command to actively and voluntarily use imagination to define one's concept of self, regardless of external circumstances. By disregarding the evidence of the senses and declaring oneself to be what one desires to be, a person rearranges their own consciousness, or 'I AM', which is the cause-substance of reality. This inner rearrangement must then be expressed in the outer world.

Key Concepts

• Disregard Appearances: One must ignore the external reality of weakness, poverty, or mourning and instead focus on the desired state.
• Active Imagination: This principle requires an active, voluntary exercise of imagination, not passive hope.
• Define Your Concept of Self: Your answer to the question "Who am I?" determines your experience, and this answer need not conform to your current reality.
• Rearrange Consciousness: By assuming a new state, the cause-substance of reality—identified as 'I AM'—is rearranged to reflect that assumption.
• Universal Principle: This law governs all aspects of life, whether social, financial, intellectual, or spiritual.

Detailed Explanation

Neville Goddard interprets the biblical phrase, "Let the weak say, I am strong," as a profound psychological truth about creating reality. It is a directive to define your concept of self based on your desire, not on your present circumstances. The teaching insists that your inner self-concept does not need to conform to the external world. Instead of accepting a state of weakness, one should assume the reality of being strong, experiencing in imagination what it would feel like if it were already a physical fact.

The mechanism behind this principle is the power of 'I AM', or consciousness, which is described as the basic cause-substance of all things. A condition like illness is merely a particular arrangement of this substance, produced by the concept "I am unwell." When a person follows the instruction to say, "I am strong," they are making a new assumption. This assumption acts directly upon the cause-substance, rearranging it to affirm the new state. Because consciousness is the only reality, it must manifest that which its new arrangement affirms.

This is not a passive act but an active and voluntary use of imagination. Consciousness, or The Lord, delights in this deliberate exercise of imagination on behalf of oneself and others. One is instructed to imagine beauty where the senses see ashes, joy where they testify to mourning, and riches where they bear witness to poverty. It is only through this conscious, disciplined use of imagination that a person can be lifted up and change their world.

Important Quotes

This great truth is revealed in the statement, "Let the weak say, I am strong." —Joel 3:10

— Out Of This World

This is why you are told "Let the weak man say , 'I am strong' " (joel 3:10) , for .by his assumption, the cause-substance - I AM -IS. re~r­ ranged and must , therefore, manifest that which ItS rearrangement affirms.

— The Power Of Awareness

Let man disregard appearances and declare himself to be the man he wants to be.

— Seedtime And Harvest

Related Concepts

• I AM / Consciousness: The teaching is a direct instruction on how to define and impress your 'I AM'. The assumption "I am strong" rearranges consciousness itself, which is the cause of all phenomena.
• Law of Assumption: To declare you are strong while appearing weak is the very essence of assuming the feeling of the wish fulfilled. You assume a state as true until it hardens into fact.
• Imagination: The verse calls for an "active, voluntary" use of imagination to create a new self-concept, rather than passively accepting the world as it appears.
• States: By declaring "I am strong," you are consciously choosing to move from the state of weakness into the state of strength.

Common Misunderstandings

• This is not passive wishing. The teaching is an instruction for the "active, voluntary, loving exercise of the imagination." Consciousness has "no respect" for the passive use of imagination that simply accepts undesirable circumstances without challenge.

Practical Applications

• To change any aspect of your life—be it social, financial, or physical—you must first change your concept of self.
• If you feel unwell, disregard the feeling and the evidence. Instead, assume the state of health by declaring, "I am strong."
• When faced with lack, actively imagine riches. When experiencing sadness, imagine joy. Persist in this imaginative act.
• Practice experiencing in imagination what you would experience in the flesh if you were already the person you want to be.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Neville mean by 'Let the weak say, I am strong'?

He means you should disregard your current circumstances and use your imagination to actively declare and assume yourself to be the person you want to be.

How does saying 'I am strong' actually work?

According to the teaching, this assumption rearranges the fundamental cause-substance of reality—your own consciousness or 'I AM'—which must then manifest the new state of strength.

Does this principle apply to things other than physical strength?

Yes, the source material states this principle governs every aspect of your life, including social, financial, intellectual, and spiritual matters. You can imagine riches where there is poverty or joy where there is mourning.