Sermon Notes: Spiritual Reset as Forward Awakening
Sunday Sermon Notes: January 11, 2026 Rev. Sheryl Padgett
Beginning anew does not signify regression; rather, it represents an inward awakening to a deeper, truer dimension of the self. This process transcends superficial quick fixes, fostering genuine transformation of consciousness from within, grounded in divine truth and oriented toward lasting renewal.
Faith as active creative perception As articulated by Charles Fillmore, faith constitutes the perceiving power of the mind, intrinsically connected to the capacity to shape spiritual substance. When consciously directed, faith becomes the mechanism through which one aligns with and manifests desired good.
Deconstruction as intentional liberation Deconstruction entails a deliberate and courageous examination of inherited beliefs from family, religious institutions, or culture; the honest acknowledgment of doubts; the release of fear-based or toxic doctrines; and the subsequent reconstruction of a spirituality rooted in honesty, compassion, and alignment with one's deepest inner knowing.
Redirecting faith from confusion to Presence Eric Butterworth emphasizes that existing life conditions often reflect faith previously centered on confusion or negative appearances. A positive act of faith—turning attention away from limiting perceptions and toward the indwelling presence of God’s substance—opens the pathway to the good one seeks.
Structured path and affirmative commitment The journey toward a spiritual reset comprises four sequential steps: (1) examining the prior direction of one's faith, (2) permitting deconstruction without fear or resistance, (3) consciously resetting attention on divine Presence, and (4) reconstructing positively around affirmations and values rather than opposition. This process culminates in the daily affirmation: a deliberate choice to release confusion and fear, realign with inner divine substance, and welcome the resulting good.
Affirmation
Today I chose a lasting reset. I release confusion and fear, and I reset my attention on the presence of God’s substance within me. My faith opens the way to the good I desire, and I welcome that good now.
— And so it is, Amen
