SEEK FIRST TO KNOW GOD'S WILL

Every misstep we make, God is already there correcting us, making it right. That's a hard lesson to learn. We can or will not believe that unto reliance. We either rely on our reasoning mind, guided by our ego, to bolster our misstep (i.e., justifying it), or, guided by self-will, try to make amends without ever seeking to know God's will in the matter.

There is where our hurtin' begins. I'm convinced that those of us seeking still more spiritual growth cause our own pain by seeking to do God's will before ever seeking to know God's will. We assume it has to be that which we don't want to do, so we do that which we don't want to do and create more mental havoc...meaning, usually we wind up simply embarrassing ourselves. Oh, the pain!

It was a great comfort to me when the thought occurred to me, and then I came to believe, that God has my back. Literally. I have come to rely on that. So I try to do the best I can everyday and every way, and when I fail, and fail I do, I know God has already corrected that. Therefore, my job cannot be to correct it but to quick acknowledge my error, if only to myself, and then open my mind to the direction I need to go to show forth the correction.

Most of my missteps are in the area of personal relations so in staying quiet in order to get my directions, I have these simple guides:

1. Try not to respond in kind.
2. Try not to be as nasty as I want to be.
3. Silently thank God for this situation just exactly as it is (simply because it is).
4. Tell God and another trusted friend. (We need the friend's ears and feedback. This is essential in order to turn from my ego anger, always directed outward, to seeking to know my part in it, always directed inward.)
5. Give it time...possibly the hardest part.

We shall find peace. We shall hear angels. We shall see the sky sparkling with diamonds! -- Chekhov

Thank you.