Divine Plan

Daily Thoughts from Daily Guideposts Devotional January 4, 2010
A Time to Think
Let us move into the New Year with a great sense of the thrill of living. - Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

To Act
Trust that there is a divine plan.

To Pray
Lord, help me see through eyes that glimpse visions of Your plan for me. Then give me the courage to act.

I believe in the concept of a divine plan and I know I have a life purpose but haven’t been clear about it. Due to this unknowing and other reasons, I’ve not been all that thrilled with life here on planet Earth. With the divine spark within fanned, I feel an enthusiasm for life that hasn’t been with me for quite some time. And, I feel that my life purpose will be made quite clear to me this year.

I trust that there is a divine plan and I pray with confidence that it be revealed to me in the near future. I eagerly look forward to acting on that plan, and if it turns out to be something pretty far out and perhaps a bit scary, I pray to follow God’s guidance and have the courage to act.

Beginning Anew

It’s the beginning of the new year and of course talk about releasing, resolutions, and new beginnings is in the air. I know that I can begin anew any day, any time. Still, there is something about starting a year – and in this case a decade (!) – with intentions anew, dreams anew, etc.

Today’s Daily Word was right on for me. It spoke of releasing that which no longer serves me. Hmm – I can certainly think of baggage that I carried with me not just from this last year to the new one, but from year to year to year. I’m ready to release, the old thought patterns, emotions, behaviors, people, physical ‘stuff’, and situations that are not for my highest good.

The Daily Word also spoke of resolving to focus my attention on “being” rather than on “doing.” I am so there. I particularly do, do, do in the attempt to have the result of money flowing in. This excessive doing takes time and energy away from being focused on God and expanding my spirit, while simultaneously moves me towards ego, fear, and thoughts of lack. God is my source, and the more time I spend on being, the closer I feel to Source and things flow with ease and grace.

There is one big fact which I think you ought to have in mind as you approach the new year, and it is that life will give back to you just exactly what you give to life. - Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

Dear Spirit –
With Your help, may I release all that needs releasing, and move from a human doing to a human being. I set my intention on participating more richly in Life through nourishing my soul and my relationship with You. And as I give unto Life, so shall Life return to me an abundance of blessings.

Guidance

I came upon the following steps regarding how to receive God’s guidance and thought them quite sound. My prayer is to remember and practice them!

How to Receive God's Guidance
by Norman Vincent Peale

Often we're in situations where we need guidance on a particular problem, or maybe we just need help getting through our everyday struggles. These simple steps will help.

1. Say, "Be still, and know that I am God," aloud three times.
This will make you aware of God’s presence.

2. Be humble.
Humility is necessary for spiritual wisdom. It is God's wisdom you want, not your own. Only with the spirit of the child, teachable and willing to learn, does guidance come. So, put everything in His hands.

3. Open your mind.
Let go your desires, your preconceived notions, your obsessions, your fixed opinions. These represent your wisdom, or lack of it, and what you want is God's wisdom. Your mind must be emptied of error before it can be filled with truth.

4. Ask God to fill your mind with the understanding and ideas you need.
Close your eyes and listen, really listen.

5. If you have a specific problem, write it on paper.
Then, actually holding it up, as though offering it to God, say, "Lord, I want only to do Your will. Here is my problem. Show me what to do and I will do exactly as I am shown."

6. Pray this prayer.
Dear Lord,
I rest my mind in Your mind. Let it be full of Your great thoughts. I want to live and think and act only as You would have me do. Fill my mind to overflowing with spiritual insights, with true wisdom. May I think as You think. Your guidance is now coming to me in this problem and will ultimately come in all problems. Help me to know that I can never go wrong doing right. Amen.

7. Commit this verse to memory:
"Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory." (Psalm 73:24)

8. Remain humble, practice and believe.

Converting Energy

I was surprised to read Dr. Norman Vincent Peale talking about energy. He writes:

“You can actually make worry work for you. If worry attacks you, you may as well make use of it. Instead of letting worry be destructive turn it into a constructive use. Worry is an energy, a form of energy. When you worry you are using energy destructively. When you are practicing faith you are using energy constructively. So make worry work for you. Make it work for you by letting it make you think straight.”
- Set Worry Straight, with Faith


Dr. Peale says that when we worry our mind is thrown off balance. It is hot and it needs to be cool so we can use the power that God gave us.

I know that worry and faith cannot coexist and I opt to be in faith and not in fear.

Dear Spirit –
When I fall into fear and worry, please give me the comfort of Your presence and the confidence to trust You. May I convert negative energy into positive energy to help me live in this world of illusion, knowing that Your goodness, love, and abundance are always with me regardless of appearances. Please calm my mind, bring peace to my heart, and strengthen my spirit so that I may live in joy. Show me Your way and help me to follow it. So it is. Thank You.