Infinite Way Letter
May 1956
By Joel Goldsmith
Part 2 of 6
A BEHOLDER
Part One – continued

Our entire experience of frustration and mistakes comes from our reluctance to wait long enough for the Christ to take over. Most of us are unwilling to wait until the moment in which a decision is necessary, but insist on knowing the answer in advance. We want to know what is around the corner, what is in store for tomorrow, or even what decisions should be made for next year, instead of waiting until the actual moment has arrived and then letting God put the words into our mouth and reveal what action should be taken. Day by day the manna falls; day by day the wisdom, guidance and direction necessary for that day are given. God does not often advise us a week in advance; we receive the direction as we need it. We have acquired the habit of impatience, and instead of waiting for God’s decision to be made manifest we let fear creep in and, then, afraid of the possibly unfortunate effects of indecision, rush in and act on the basis of our own best human judgment.

Each day we are faced with responsibilities and the need for decisions in regard to our households, business, communities, and nations, and each day we must learn to wait on the Lord, to become a beholder, in order that the decision may be God’s. We must learn not to place reliance on human judgment or opinion, and always be alert to avoid being swayed by outside influences. Let us learn to make all decisions in the light of the disciple’s prayer: “Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen.” This should be our attitude, not merely when choosing or electing a leader, but in handling every detail of our lives. It applies when making a purchase, when deciding whether or not to make a change or move of any kind. Humanly, we have been taught to rely on our best judgment, to consider all sides of a situation, and to decide on the basis of the evidence what we think is the best course of action to pursue; whereas, in spiritual living we do not depend upon our correct evaluation of human situations. No matter how good our judgment may seem, we turn from it to the Father: “Father, show me the way; show me the next step, and when and how to take it.”

With patience and practice we develop the consciousness of a beholder, of waiting on the Lord, and this leads us to a miraculous discovery in which we know not only that there is a God, but that It has become the governing factor in our life; It has taken over our experience. How often we have prevented the activity and operation of God in our affairs by not waiting, by not being a beholder, by not standing, as it were, a little to one side of ourselves until we feel the Father taking over. As we develop our spiritual consciousness we find that there is a Presence that goes before us to make the crooked places straight. When we make a human decision, very often we find insurmountable obstacles in the way; but when God makes the decision, His presence goes before us and every obstacle is removed, everything necessary to facilitate the undertaking is provided.

Let us make a daily practice of being a beholder: “Father, this the Thy day, the day Thou hast made. I will be glad and rejoice in it. Reveal the work of this day; show me Thy decisions; show me what Thou has chosen; let Thy will alone be the motivating and activating principle of my life.” Let us be very patient and wait—wait upon the Lord, and even if the answer seems to come a minute later than necessary the right decision will be made, and in this experience we will have witnessed the miracle of watching God operating in our affairs. When this has become an actual experience, never again shall we know what it is to be without an awareness of God’s government, because we shall have discovered that God does respond and that God does take over.

The Psalmist’s deep understanding of God’s wisdom, God’s government, Gods’ direction caused him to sing: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” Once we have come into the awareness of being led, directed, impelled, and motivated by God, we shall never again be satisfied to make any decision without recourse to spiritual guidance.

End Part 2