Acting with Divine Intention
Power of Understanding
Last month, we explored the Power of Understanding. Our capacity to integrate knowledge and insight. Charles Fillmore, co-founder of Unity, emphasized how deeply connected this faculty is with the Power of Will:
“The will is undoubtedly the focal point around which all action centers, when there is harmony of mind; but the rule has been accepted by schools of philosophy from most ancient times down to the present that the will and the understanding are very closely related—the understanding comprehending all our speculative, the will all our active, powers.” ~ Charles Fillmore, The Twelve Powers of Man
Will is also closely connected to the Power of Imagination, which we explored in June. For creatives especially, aligning intention through the powers of imagination, understanding, and will can open new doors. As Fillmore writes:
“When the imagination is subjective and spiritual and the will and the understanding are objective and alert, we have the creative artist.” ~Charles Fillmore, The Twelve Powers of Man
Defining Will-POWER
The Power of Will is our spiritual ability to “choose, decide, command, lead, and determine based on senses, thoughts, feelings, and beliefs” (Power Up: The Twelve Powers Revisited as Accelerated Abilities by Paul Hasselbeck and Cher Holton). It’s the executive faculty of the mind. When aligned with the Christ, or Higher Self, it allows us to make decisions rooted in divine guidance rather than ego, fear, or conditioning.
As with all the Twelve Powers, Will has symbolic associations. It’s connected to the front brain. The field of operation for will, understanding, and imagination. Its representative color is silver, a precious metal often paired with understanding’s gold. Together, they remind us of the immense spiritual value these faculties hold.
Will in Scripture: Archetypes and Stories
In Unity’s metaphysical interpretation, the apostle Matthew represents the masculine expression of will. As a tax collector, Matthew gave up more than most to follow Jesus, symbolizing the decisive surrender of ego to the spiritual path. His story mirrors our own moments of choice; when we release the familiar and choose to follow divine guidance.
For a more nuanced view, Leddy Hammock, in The Twelve Women of the Chalice: Bible Keys to the Divine Feminine, offers a feminine archetypes of will: Martha of Bethany.
Martha represents both the strength and the shadow side of will. In one well-known story, she works tirelessly to prepare for Jesus’ visit, becoming frustrated that her sister Mary sits and listens rather than helping. She even tries to enlist Jesus to take her side. An example of ego-driven will. This kind of will attempts to control outcomes and others, often driven by anxiety or resentment. In this story, Martha’s will even tries to direct Jesus (symbolizing the Christ presence within) symbolizing how our egoic will can try to manipulate divine guidance to serve its own agenda.
Yet we also witness a powerful transformation in Martha later in the story of Lazarus. Even in the face of her brother’s death, she boldly declares her faith in Jesus as the Christ. This is refined will. No longer striving or controlling, but surrendered and aligned with divine knowing. It reveals the shift from reactive doing to conscious choosing, grounded in spiritual understanding.
Nonbinary Sacredness: The Will to Belong
Sacred symbols are not limited to binary expressions of masculine or feminine archetypes. One of the clearest illustrations of spiritual will and understanding working together comes from Acts 8:26–40. The story of the Ethiopian eunuch.
As this spiritual seeker returned from Jerusalem, he read the prophet Isaiah aloud. One of Jesus’ disciples approached and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” After a rich dialogue, the eunuch, moved by understanding, asked to be baptized. An act of spiritual commitment.
This moment represents the Power of Understanding (a realization of truth) leading directly into the Power of Will (the decision to act on it). Despite the religious exclusion often placed on eunuchs, this individual boldly claimed their place in the spiritual narrative.
It’s worth noting that Isaiah, the prophet the eunuch was reading, offered a vision that transcended binary and exclusion. In Isaiah 56, the prophet affirms God’s embrace of all people, including people whose identities exist outside of a rigid binary system:
“I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off… a name better than sons or daughters.”
This is the heart of divine will. Not exclusion, but expansive welcome. A reminder that our true spiritual identity is not limited by gender, status, or societal expectations.
Inner Alignment and Spiritual Maturity
These powers are not traits we must go searching for, they are already present within us. Our spiritual work is about removing the barriers to their full expression. Hasselbeck and Holton describe underdeveloped will as indecision or wishy-washiness. Overdeveloped will, on the other hand, may manifest as control or rigidity. Like Martha in her anxious drive to get everything just right.
The aim is balance. We align will not to egoic preference or cultural conditioning, but to the Christ within. As Linda Martella-Whitsett writes:
“Our brains favor survival and safety, which means we tend to exert our will in the direction of self-preservation.” ~ Linda Martella-Whitsett, Divine Audacity
Yet our spiritual nature calls us beyond survival. When we act from our Higher Self, will becomes a tool of transformation. A means by which divine love expresses uniquely through our choices.
A Centering Practice: Aligning with Divine Will
One way that we can align ourselves with these powers is to take time each day to center ourselves in the awareness of God’s presence within and around us. Get into a comfortable place and spend a few minutes relaxing your body.
If you are a visual person, bring your awareness to the front of your brain. Just behind your forehead. Which is the energetic center associated with imagination, understanding, and will. As you breathe, imagine this space gently glowing with a soft silver light.
You could bring an affirmative statement into this practice such as:
“My will is aligned with divine wisdom. I choose with clarity, and I act with love.”
After the affirmation, allow yourself to sit quietly allowing this power of will rise up within you. You do not need to do anything here, because this power of will is already active within you. This is simply giving yourself space to calibrate with this truth.
You may want to close this time with a statement such as amen, let it be so, or an expression of gratitude for the empowerment you received by more fully aligning with the Power of Will. You could also close with a short prayer like this one:
“May I bring into the microcosm the good inherent in the macrocosm. May I envision and live out the unifying power of divine love at the heart of all that is.” ~ Linda Martella-Whitsett, Divine Audacity
About Folx with Faith
At Folx with Faith, we honor the divine power within each of us, including the power to choose, to transform, and to live in alignment with our highest truth. Wherever you are on your journey, may you remember you are an expression of divine love, capable of conscious, empowered choice.
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You can help us fulfill our mission by donating to Folx with Faith or starting a local group. It is our mission to create safe spaces to explore and experience spiritual wholeness. Folx with Faith supports the queer community, fostering a celebration of our authentic beings and empowering us to make a difference in the world. If you would like to contribute to this mission or would like to start a local chapter, please let us know. You can contact us or use the links below.
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References & Additional Resources for The Power of Understanding
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James Masters (they/them) is a member of Unity Church of Overland Park, where they actively teach classes and participate in community events. They are in the final stages of becoming a Licensed Unity Teacher (LUT) and have been deeply engaged in spiritual study since 1999, joining the New Thought movement in 2005.
James is a contributing author for the bestselling anthologies The Courageous Heart, Enduring Wisdom, and The Grateful Soul. They are a personal coach specializing in spiritual and relational development, guiding others toward deeper self-awareness and empowerment.
Beyond their work in spiritual education, James has a strong commitment to social justice and community service. They helped establish an all-genders shelter and regularly volunteer to support those experiencing housing and food insecurity. Their knowledge of technology and unwavering compassion for others make them a valuable force for positive change in their community.
