UNITY WAY

June 20, 2004

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The Art of Prayer: Guidance

by Andrei Yashurin

Let us consider the following line from the Lord's Prayer: 
"And lead us not in temptation, but deliver us from the evil" 
(Matthew 6:13). 

This particular phrase is one of the largest stumbling blocks 
for many people. "How God could lead us in temptation, or 
into something evil?" And they are right: it is impossible, 
for it would be inconsistent with the nature of God. 

Let me suggest you to read this verse from the Bible in the 
following way: "Lead us, so that we would be delivered from 
temptation and evil". Essentially, Jesus encourages His 
listeners to pray for divine guidance. 

Ask, and you will be shown the best way - the way of peace, 
plenty, and wholeness. Ask, and you will acquire confidence 
and strength to move along this way. 

I am trying to be careful in speaking about divine guidance, 
knowing that some people overemphasise this subject. Somehow 
they've got an idea that the Spirit is going to manipulate 
them as puppets, delivering them from responsibility to grow 
and to become mature, self-reliant individuals. Their compulsive 
search for guidance indicates that they do not believe in 
themselves and in the power of their choices. 

First things should always come first. Before you begin to ask 
for guidance, become established in your spiritual identity 
in God. Know yourself: your fundamental values, your beliefs, 
your priorities, your dreams, and your aspirations. Know what 
you want, and what price you are willing to pay for achievement 
of your goals. For if you would not know, chances are, you 
will miss the guidance. 

Guidance helps us to find balance between determination 
and flexibility, because we need both. Being too determined 
to follow our course, we may fail to adjust ourselves to 
changing life and its demands, and therefore, suffer 
painful consequences. On the other hand, being too flexible, 
we may be easy carried away by every wind. The Spirit within 
us knows that there is a time for every thing under the sun. 
There is a time to change direction in order to survive and 
thrive, but there is also a time to stay persistent in 
the light of opposing circumstances. Besides God, who else 
has enough wisdom to tell us what to do? 

Guidance often comes to us just for this present moment - 
and it is enough. We don't need to know exactly what will 
happen to us or where we will be in the next ten years. 
Of course, it would be good to have all of our life planned, 
but Abraham did not have this clarity when he first heard 
the voice of God, and even many years after. Let us forget 
about tomorrow and live in the Eternal Now. We are like 
Abraham, like Moses, like David, and like Jesus. God is 
speaking to us, waiting for our immediate response. 

Thinking on guidance, we should always remember that the Spirit 
lives in all people and sends its messages and impulses to all. 
Those who may be called "divinely guided" are not special in 
any way. They just turned their attention to the right direction. 
They take time to look within themselves. They have ears to 
hear "the still, small voice". 

It is not enough to pray for guidance - we need to become 
receptive enough to it when it comes. Therefore, the best 
prayer for guidance is a meditation. As we sit quietly in 
the Presence, certain ideas and desires may come to us. 
Let us not fight with them, but watch and listen. If our 
desire becomes stronger and more clear, is more details 
are added to our first vision, if we feel excitement every 
time it comes to our mind, chances are, we experience guidance 
of the Spirit.

God may guide us, but never manipulate and never dictate 
anything. Guidance doesn't take away our freedom. We still 
may say "no" and to choose our own way - but what for? Sooner 
or later, we will prove it to ourselves that God's path is 
the best we can dream of.

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Andrei Yashurin: pczine@yandex.ru

http://pcjournal.ru/talks Talks on Truth

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All messages (c) 2004 by Andrei Yashurin