Distinguishing God

How easy,

how convenient it is

to pray

within the confines of my mind,

to a God I create and control

with my imagination;

A God to whom

I project my own

subjective image

of who and what

I perceive God to be.

How easy it is to pray

to this God who always

agrees with me.

How do I distinguish between

the God of my own making,

of my own vain delusion,

and the one true God

who is the Word,

the Alpha and the Omega

the author and giver of Life

the Creator of all that is?

How do I escape the

sophisticated, intellectual

labyrinth

within which I am trapped,

to come to know,

in spirit and truth,

my Father?

I must first realize that

I do this

by allowing this

by my ego,

my flesh,

that I,

who am steeped

in self-delusion,

having created God after my image

supplant my will for his,

the whole time thinking

I am doing his will, not mine.

How easy it is

to pray to this idol

I project with my mind

and miss communication with

the ever living God

who has the power to

communicate to me

in response to my prayers.

Father help me, lead me

teach me,

to distinguish you,

from my vanity

my imaginings

about you.