Neville Goddard on Psalms 4:4

Executive Summary

Neville Goddard interprets the scriptural instruction to “Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be silent” (Psalm 4:4) as a call for a purely internal conversation with one's own Self. He equates this Self with God, teaching that there is no other deity. This inner communion is an act of imagination, where one assumes the reality of a desired state. He clarifies that the biblical term “heart” is synonymous with the mind, making this a practice of directing one's own consciousness with faith.

Key Concepts

• Communion with Self is Communion with God: The act of communing with your own heart or Self is a direct communion with God, as there is only one God, and that God is your Self.
• Imagination is God: Your own wonderful human imagination is the God you commune with during this inner practice.
• 'Heart' is Synonymous with 'Mind': When the scripture says to commune with your heart, it means to commune with your own mind.
• The Act is Internal and Silent: This communion is a silent, peaceful practice done within yourself, often while on your bed or seated.
• Trust is Essential: You must trust implicitly in your own mind and in the reality of your imaginal acts for them to become objective facts.

Detailed Explanation

Neville Goddard explains that the directive in Psalms 4:4 to “Commune with your own heart” is a fundamental instruction on the nature of prayer and creation. He interprets this not as a plea to an external deity, but as a command to turn inward for a silent conversation with your own Self. This is the ultimate communion because, in his teaching, your Self is God. There is no other God to appeal to; all creation and inspiration flow from within your own consciousness.

He further clarifies that the terms “heart” and “mind” are synonymous in this context. Therefore, to commune with your heart is to engage with your own mind. This act is a recognition that your own imagination is the one and only God. When you sit silently and engage in an imaginal act, you are having a conversation with God because you are using your own divine imagination. This understanding removes any doubt about whether your prayer is heard, as you are both the supplicant and the one who hears.

The purpose of this inner communion is to consciously use your divine power. It is in this silent, internal space that you assume you are the person you desire to be, or that others are as you wish them to be. By believing in the absolute reality of these imaginal acts and trusting your own mind implicitly, you cause these inner states to objectify themselves as concrete experiences in your world. You are the sole operant power, and this scripture provides the method for directing that power.

Important Quotes

So, you sit, and you are communing with Self, as told you in the Psalms: “Commune with your own Self.” (Psalm 4:4) Well, you can sit on a chair or on your bed and commune with your own Self and be at peace.

— Persistent Assumption

“Commune with your own hearts upon your beds, and be silent.” (Psalm 4:4) He hears you if you commune with Self, because you believe that communion with Self was communion with God.

— Secret Of Imagination

Are we not told in the 4th Psalm, “Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be silent.” (Psalm 4:4) Not with someone else’s heart – commune with your own heart. The words “heart” and “mind” are synonymous in meaning.

— Imagination Plus Faith

Related Concepts

• Imagination: This teaching is centered on the principle that your imagination is God. The act of communing with your heart is the act of using your imagination.
• I AM / God: The source material explicitly states that the Self you commune with is the one and only God. There is no other.
• Law of Assumption: The practical application of this communion is to “assume that you are the one that you would like to be,” which is the core of the Law of Assumption.
• States: Assuming you are the person you want to be is the act of entering a new state of consciousness, which, when persisted in, becomes your reality.

Common Misunderstandings

• Communing with an External God: A misunderstanding would be to interpret this verse as praying to a God outside of yourself. The source material emphasizes that the communion is with “your own Self” and “your own heart,” not with another being, because your own consciousness is God.

Practical Applications

To apply this teaching, you are to find a quiet place, such as on your bed or a chair, and become silent. In this state, you turn your attention inward to commune with your own mind. Believing that your imagination is God, you then assume the feeling of being the person you desire to be. You must trust implicitly in the reality of this inner, imaginal act, knowing that it has been heard and accepted because you are communing with your own Self. This faithful assumption, when persisted in, will harden into fact.

Frequently Asked Questions

According to Neville, who are we communing with when we follow Psalms 4:4?

You are communing with your own Self. Neville teaches that your Self, specifically your own human imagination, is God.

What does the word 'heart' mean in Neville's interpretation of this verse?

Neville states that the words 'heart' and 'mind' are synonymous. To commune with your heart is to commune with your own mind.

What is the purpose of this inner communion?

The purpose is to assume you are the person you want to be. By believing in the reality of your imaginal acts, you cause them to objectify in your world.