ACIM Workbook Lesson 329 – for Friday, November 25, 2011
Affirmation: “I have already chosen what You will.”
“Father, my will is Yours. And I am safe, untroubled and serene, in endless joy, because it is Your Will that it be so. (WB466)”
Reflections:
1 – God’s Will = Already Chosen
This prayer carries the question of God’s Will a step closer to what we really experience. The lesson for today says that we have already chosen what God wills for us. This is akin to an earlier lesson that directly stated that we are in control of our destiny. And when we have walked far enough along the pathway home, we have already made the choice that we would have the blessings that God’s Will would bestow on us. We have chosen, ahead of time, that we would accept His Will–not fall into miscreations again, not choose with the egoic self.
2 – Our Blessings
When we have made the choice, ahead of time, that God’s Will is ours, then we walk smoothly. We do not run into unsafe territory; we do not take side pathways, pathways that divert us from where we would really, in our heart of hearts, prefer that we go. We are safe, untroubled and serene, with endless joy (see prayer above). And we are all of these things, because God has willed these blessings for us.
3 – Reassurances from the Workbook
How often in the Workbook, especially Part II, do we encounter reassurances that we are actually intended to be at peace, to be serene and joyful. So often, in our earlier lives, we have not chosen wisely, and we have only known these blessings in a fleeting way. Sometimes the joys that we have encountered have been egoic, and therefore especially fleeting, turning to ashes in our mouths, and leading us to weep bitter tears. But such unfortunate outcomes are not God’s Will for us.
4 – Callings
We can rest assured that what God wills for us will be ultimately recognized by ourselves as good. All to often, in our egoic past, we have believed that we would not will what He would will for us. We may have heard stories of a “call” that would be the opposite of what we think that we want. But, if we are brave enough to follow that call, we find at the conclusion of the pathway a serene and peaceful conclusion. We will be glad beyond measure that we stayed true to the calling. God knows us best, and the one thing that He knows above all else if what we really want in our depths–for He is in those depths. Do not fear, therefore, to rest in God’s Will as the very best pathway out there. At this point in the Workbook, may we indeed know that we have already chosen the Will that is His to be our own.
Prayer:
Dear Father/Mother,
I would walk the safe and sure pathway to joy today. Jesus says in this day’s workbook lesson that we have already chosen Your will. Of course! We but walk a pathway that we have trod before, but this time we are choosing with guidance of the Holy Spirit. We can still stray into side pathways, egoic ones, but I would not choose to do so. I would especially not choose to follow egoic ways today. Keep me safe in Your arms.
May we share our good news with our brothers and sisters who are ready to hear what we have to say. May we not run ahead of them, trying to get them to accept a pathway which they may not yet choose. And maybe a pathway different from A Course in Miracles is right for many. We do not make decisions for other people. But we do know that ultimately all of us will find our way home. May I do my part, unobtrusively, to make that day come sooner.
Be with us today. Help us, as always, to avoid anger and attack, irritation and impatience. We need to know that You are there for us, and that You will pick us up when we have fallen. We but try again, and again. And finally we will succeed in being flexible enough to follow the Holy Spirit, and to know You as You intend for us.
Amen.
MIRACLES EACH DAY 