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.

I remember flying across the US on a perfectly clear day, looking down at the cities, the towns, the hamlets, the farms - the vast variety of life-styles, geography, etc. and marveling. Who dare think they would know what was best for all these people? Only incredible arrogance!

A while ago, I was encouraged to write down a list of things that I really wanted from the depths of my heart and to earnestly pray to God for them. I was promised that when I returned to the list later, I would be amazed at the results. Apparently, I did not do it right, because it was not my experience.

The Bible story of Gideon illustrates beautifully that God is not looking for yes-men. Gideon was called to lead the Israelites against their oppressors, the Midianites, after seven years of tyranny. Gideon's response was, "Who? Me? You've got to be kidding! I'm not qualified." The angel messenger, who appeared as a stranger passing through, then gave Gideon a sign: when an elaborate dinner was place before the visitor on a rock, it exploded into fire and the angel disappeared. This convinced Gideon that the messenger was legit, and he followed instructions to break down some of the pagan altars among his own people.

In our final recorded section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus declares that, to everyone who thinks they are doing good in the name of his Father, but who are not doing the will of his Father, he will give thumbs down! "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." YIKES!

Who wants to be a hypocrite? Can't imagine anybody wanting to be! How does it happen?

Professing stuff is a good start. This usually comes with joining a group, which by its very existence requires a profession of some sort. The one who downplays his profession and upplays his doing has a good chance of avoiding hypocrisy. This one might participate in the group thing, but only as a means to an end.

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!

Too often I hear something like "I am trying to know the truth." Is it possible "to try" to know? Would that not be like "trying" to be conscious, or "trying" to exist? 

Here's my take: when one knows something, right on the heels of knowing comes a voice, as one's own but not! "I am trying." Where does the voice come from? Considering the "trying" thing undermines the "knowing" thing and leaves the subject helpless, we can be sure that it is not from a loving God!

"Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the throne of God... though thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God..." (Ez. 28) - Ezekiel's message to the prince of Tyrus continues with a prophecy of the destruction of Tyrus, an enormously rich and successful city. 

This means not much if we read this as ancient history! So how might it apply today?

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!

Divine Love is universal. God does not know Jew, Christian, Muslim, etc.

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)

Vague realities... take the past, present, and future. Can we define the boundary points between each? If we could, we may find the present is the very instant at which the future becomes the past, in which case the present is gone before you know it! If something so widely accepted as the past, present, and future is actually so undefinable, what other vague realities are we accepting?

"The heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." (Bible)

Has anything changed in the thousands of years since this was first stated? What is it that is required for receptivity? Considering the tenacity of the dullness in the human condition, don't expect a worldly reasonable answer!