What or who guides me in doing the things that I do? By what authority do I do these things?
In my moments of prayer and solitude, I would say it is my faith in God and his son Jesus that guide me in my daily life. I pray each day that I become more aware of God’s will for me and try to do this in my life. I ask for strength and courage to fulfill it even as my habits prompt me to do otherwise.
Indeed, as the day unfolds and I get swept from one activity to another, I often forget what I promised to do in my prayer and often just go with the flow of what I have been accustomed to – my habits. And even when I pause to think, it is my reason and rationality that takes over. ‘What is the reasonable thing to do’ becomes my guide in doing things. At other times, also often, I rely on my feelings and emotions. If it feels good, do it. If it makes me glad, I do it. Sometimes, when I am too tired to think or to even feel, I fall back on what is permissible by society or allowed by rules or not punishable by the law.
I make an effort to be with God first thing in the morning because more often than not, I soon forget about him as I get caught up in the business of daily living. I wonder how holy people managed to be constantly aware of God’s presence in every moment of their life. Oh, there are moments during the day, I think of God and what he wants me to be doing. But sooner than I am aware, my flighty self is off to another thought, another emotion or another activity. Life goes on and another day is over.
Again they came to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them?’
Mark 11:27-33