The second delusion - I'm in control
ON GOD
"God is the light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is that of a niche wherein there is a lamp. The lamp is inside a glass. The glass is like a brilliant star that is lit from a blessed olive tree that is neither eastern, nor western. Its oil almost lights up even though no fire has touched it. Light upon light. God guides to His light whoever He wills. God thus cites the examples for the people. God is knowledgeable of all things" Quran 24:35
ON PRAYER
Mark 11:23-24 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Quran 2-186. And when My servants ask you about Me, I Am near; I answer the call of the caller when he calls on Me. So let them answer Me, and have faith in Me, that they may be rightly guided.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
ON CONTROL from the Bible and the Quran
[57:29] This is so that the People of the Book may know that
they have no control
over any of God's favour, and that all favour lies in the hand of God. He bestows
it upon whom He wills. God is the Possessor of great favour.
[3.189] And God's is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth,
and God has power over all things.
Isaiah 45:6-7
That people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west,
that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form
light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the
Lord, who does all these things.
Daniel 2:21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives
wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;
[6:17] If God touches you with some adversity, none can lift it except Him.
And if He touches you with a blessing, He is Capable of all things.
[3:26] Say, "O God, Possessor of sovereignty, You give sovereignty to
whom You will and You take sovereignty from whom You will. You grant dignity
to whom You will and You humiliate whom You will. In Your hand are all good things.
You are Capable of all things.
Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of
the Lord that will stand.
The Bible and the Quran say that God is control of all things. That means that every event, person, and thing in the entire universe is overseen by God. The theological term for this is “sovereignty”. When we say that God is sovereign, we mean that not a single thing happens without him allowing it to happen. but since we have free will we can pray, choose to believe, and submit to get God's help
THE THREE DELUSIONS
Tonight's meditation deals with the second delusion - that we are in control.
THE PRACTICE
As we sit in silence, we notice what arises (thoughts, feelings, noises, body sensations), and remind ourselves that God is in control (about everything we notice), Then we ask for guidance: "You are soverign, guide us, thank You"
With total dependence on God comes the experience of no-self.
Our brains are plastic. Neurons that fire together wire together.
We become what we think. Practice is the key! I recommend at least forty minutes each day
for the next week
"They are the ones who believe and whose hearts are assured through the remembrance of God. Absolutely, through the remembrance of God do the hearts find rest." [Quran]
May the Lord shower you with His mercy and bless your affairs with His guidance.