How can I be sure that I am taking the right path?

Often I hear of an adult still hearing the voice of a parent, or some other significant figure constantly invading his mental household. Although I cannot say I have "that problem," I have no doubt the voices are there at some level.

How do I know I am hypnotized?

1. When I seem to have lost a sense of the presence of God.

The false prophet is that which presents itself as good, and assumes the role of God in guiding others. Underneath it’s facade, it despises individual freedom as an interference to its goals. It is the most dangerous form of evil because it appears good. Only spiritual sense perceives its wickedness.

There are far more false prophets recorded in the Bible than legitimate ones and, we understand, they were always on someone’s payroll, whereas legitimate prophets were independent and more often than not, unpopular. Nothing much has changed, although today’s false prophets speak in the name of science instead of God.

“Call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven." (Jesus Christ) This is not a call for fatherless homes! The welfare system which has encouraged such has had a devastating effect! But why then would Jesus say “Call no man your father upon the earth:”?

Going around holding someone in thought as wrong, mentally working to correct their wrongness, is itself wrong practice, or mental malpractice. It manifests itself as hatred, and does the most profound damage to the one who is indulging in the malpractice. The one who "is wrong" may feel the hatred, but the hater is rotting his own soul, so to speak and will pay the price of spiritual emptiness, until he stops malpracticing. This is amplified when a group works "in unity" along these lines. 

It could be a parent, a friend, a fellow-church member, a false practitioner, a minister, etc.:

Dear Lord, Help so-and-so who is on a wrong path, to see the light.

I don't know about you, but it seems every time I look at the news, there is an underlying tone of hatred and fear. It is mesmeric, and draws me into a very unholy state - disturbing, and in no way constructive. Aha! Another case where I need Truth! If not, I am going to go around with a cloud over my head, perhaps become bitter, demoralized. That can't be right!

Mentally working to make things happen is using human will-power, and whether you are using Bible statements, or statements from the Christian Science textbook, or sports psychology, or voodoo dolls it is the same stuff. If your motive is to do good, that is better than a motive to do evil, but when it leaves the divine will out of the picture, it is pagan, and ultimately dangerous!

"Whoever is mentally manipulating human mind, and is not gaining a higher sense of Truth by it, is losing in the scale of moral and spiritual being, and may be carried to the depths of perdition by his own consent."

Thought control has an ominous sound to it, especially if it pertains to someone controlling another's thought! Thought control goes hand in hand with will-power.  

"The hypnotist dispossesses the patient of his individuality in order to control him."  (S&H)