Today, we’re diving into a topic that’s at the core of spiritual growth—learning to truly surrender to the Holy Spirit.
Matthew H. sent in this question, and it’s something we all wrestle with at times.
QUESTION:
“How do I turn things over to the Holy Spirit?”
I’m so grateful that you asked this question today, Matthew.
In A Course in Miracles, Jesus gives us a clear three-step protocol for turning things over to the Holy Spirit.
These steps are found in the early lessons of the Course:
- Identify the cause.
- Let it go—or, in other words, render it useless.
- Receive correction.
Let’s break this down to make it even simpler to understand and apply.
(Prefer audio to reading? Click here)
How Do Turn Things Over To The Holy Spirit?
MY ANSWER:
Step 1: Identify the Cause (Recognizing Responsibility)
The first step is to recognize that I am responsible.
We actually just went through Chapter 21 in our A Course in Miracles Textbook Study Group, and there’s a powerful quote from the Course that says:
“I am responsible for what I see. I choose the feelings I experience and I decide upon the goal that I would achieve. And everything that seems to happen to me, I ask for and receive as I have asked.”
This can feel like a lot.
What do you mean I’m responsible for:
- my thoughts
- my feelings
- what happens to me
It can seem overwhelming, especially in a world where it often feels like external forces are taking away our peace.
But if we really want to hand things over to the Holy Spirit, we must start by identifying the true cause of our upset.
And that cause is always in our mind.
If we believe that someone else or something external is responsible for our upset, we won’t be able to fully surrender it.
But when we recognize that we are responsible for our perceptions, thoughts, and experiences, we reclaim our power to choose again.
Even if you don’t fully understand what thoughts or beliefs are behind your suffering at first, just acknowledging that the cause is within your mind is enough to begin the process of turning it over to the Holy Spirit.
(Prefer audio to reading? Click here)
Step 2: Letting Go (Rendering It Useless)
This is where a lot of people get stuck.
We hear all the time that we should just let it go—that we should surrender it to God.
But if we still believe we need something from the situation—whether it’s control, validation, approval, love, or comfort—then we won’t truly release it.
Subconsciously, we think we still need it.
And what we think is useful, we won’t let go of.
So here’s where we need to ask ourselves some important questions:
- What am I using this problem for?
- What am I getting out of holding on to it?
- How is my ego using this to keep me stuck?
When we can clearly see the hidden payoff we get from holding on to our suffering—and when we realize that payoff is useless—then healing can happen instantly.
In the Teacher’s Manual of A Course in Miracles, Jesus says that when we render something useless, there is nothing that cannot be healed at once.
Here’s a personal example…
For years, I suffered from terrible acne.
It left scars, and it was impossible to hide.
But when I started practicing A Course in Miracles mind training, I realized something:
I was using my acne as proof that I wasn’t good enough.
It gave me something to fix.
A reason to stay hidden.
An excuse to believe I was unworthy of love.
When I saw what I was using my acne for, I also saw that I had the power to let that belief go.
And when I let go of that idea, the healing came—not from some perfect skincare routine, but from within.
The moment I stopped defending my belief in unworthiness and accepted the truth of my worth as God created me, my acne cleared up completely.
My scars healed. And I have never had even the slightest breakout since.
Letting go means recognizing that you no longer have a use for your suffering.
It means saying, I don’t want this anymore—for any reason.
And when you genuinely no longer want it, the Holy Spirit can take it from you.
Step 3: Receiving (Opening to Guidance)
There’s a thought in the Course that says:
“Resign now as your own teacher. This resignation will not leave you without instruction. It simply leaves you open to a better teacher so that He can show you what you do not know.”
How beautiful is that?
Once we let go, we must receive correction.
And this correction doesn’t come from us—it comes from allowing the Holy Spirit to work through us and in us.
So receiving is about not interfering.
It’s about trusting.
It’s about listening.
We must stay open in prayer and quietness.
Sometimes, the guidance comes in meditation, but sometimes it comes when we’re taking a shower, making lunch, or driving in the car.
You don’t need to fight the darkness or figure out how to make the light appear.
You just need to stop resisting—and allow the Holy Spirit to turn on the light for you.
Another Example from the Early Students of A Course in Miracles
Many of you know that Judy Skutch was the first publisher of A Course in Miracles.
On February 14, 1976, she and her team sat in quiet meditation, asking the Holy Spirit how they were supposed to publish the Course without funding.
And in stillness, Judy received a clear answer:
“Make the decision first.”
They didn’t fully understand it, but they realized that they needed to fully commit to A Course in Miracles before the money would come.
So they did.
They made the total commitment.
And soon after, a man named Reed reached out—completely unexpectedly—and funded the entire print run of 5,000 books.
This is the same process we all can use.
Ask. Listen. Receive.
Whether it’s guidance for a big decision or healing your mind and body, turning things over to the Holy Spirit is a skill.
The more you practice, the better you get.
I’m so excited for you!
Guess What? I Have Something Really Special To Share With You Today
Starting on Feb.27th, I’ll be doing ASK ME ANYTHING LIVE every other Thursday on my YouTube channel, Miracles of Mind.
We’ll come together in sacred space, explore A Course in Miracles, and dive deep into it’s teachings in real time.
But that’s not all—I’m also thrilled to announce my new book,
The Birth of a Miracle: The Complete and Definitive History of A Course in Miracles
This book uncovers the incredible journey of how the Course came into the world, revealing little-known stories about the early students and the divine guidance they received along the way.
And at the end of each live session, I’ll be sharing exclusive insights from my book—secrets about the Course’s history that most people have never heard before.
So mark your calendar, 📌subscribe to Miracles of Mind on YouTube, and join me every other Thursday.
I can’t wait to connect with you, answer your questions, and walk this miraculous journey together!
Closing Thoughts
Matthew, thank you so much for your question.
It’s such an important one because learning to turn things over to the Holy Spirit is truly life-changing.
The more we practice, the more we realize that we are never alone—we always have divine help available to us.
So as you go about your day, I invite you to practice these three steps:
1️⃣ Identify the cause.
2️⃣ Let it go.
3️⃣ Be open to receive.
It doesn’t have to be perfect—just start where you are and trust that the Holy Spirit will meet you there.
If this resonated with you, I encourage you to try it out in your own life and see what shifts for you.
And if you have a moment, I’d love to hear your thoughts—feel free to reply and share any insights or experiences.
Thank you for being here, for asking the deep questions, and for walking this path with me.
Have a beautiful and blessed weekend—and I can’t wait to see you in the next email.
May peace and love guide you on your journey. 💖
If this message resonated with you, feel free to share it with others.
Much love to you, Beautiful Soul. ✌️
Britney
>>> If you find this topic interesting, click here, to watch a YouTube Video I launched last Wednesday.
P.S. ASK ME ANYTHING: If you have any questions or need clarity about A Course In Miracles, I’m here to help! Simply submit your question through this form.