Below is the text of *Lesson 362 from A Course in Miracles* (the final review lesson):

*“This holy instant would I give to You.

Be You in charge. For I would follow You,

Certain that Your direction gives me peace.”*

I. The Core Teaching

This lesson is a simple, gentle surrender:

• I give this instant to God.
• I let the Holy Spirit be in charge.
• I trust that following His guidance will bring me peace.

On the surface, it looks like a small prayer. Metaphysically, it is a complete reversal of the ego’s entire thought system.

What the Ego Is Trying to Hide

The ego’s central claim is:

“You are on your own, separate, vulnerable, and you must control everything to survive.”

From this come all its strategies:

• Control: “If I don’t manage it, it will go wrong.”
• Judgment: “I must decide who’s right, who’s wrong, who’s safe, who’s dangerous.”
• Planning from fear: “I must anticipate every problem and protect myself.”
• Guilt and blame: “Someone is at fault. Maybe me, maybe you, but someone.”

The ego is trying to hide one simple truth:

*You are not separate from God, and therefore you are not in danger.*

If you really knew that:

• You would not fear the future.
• You would not feel guilty about the past.
• You would not feel alone in any decision.
• You would not believe your worth depends on performance, approval, or outcomes.

The ego must keep you believing that you are the one in charge, because the moment you sincerely say, “Be You in charge,” the ego’s authority dissolves. It cannot survive your willingness to trust a Love beyond its tiny, frightened world.

What the Holy Spirit Is Revealing

The Holy Spirit gently reveals:

1. *You are carried, not abandoned.*

You are never making decisions alone. There is a loving Presence in your mind that knows the way to peace in every situation.

2. *Peace is your natural state.*

Peace is not something you earn by solving all your problems. It is what you uncover when you stop trying to run the universe by yourself.

3. *The present instant is holy.*

This instant—right now—is your doorway to God. Not tomorrow, not after you “fix” your life. This instant, given to Him, becomes a portal to remembrance.

4. *Guidance is always available.*

The Holy Spirit is not abstract. He is a living, inner Teacher who speaks through intuition, quiet knowing, gentle correction, and a sense of deep rightness.

So the lesson is really saying:

“I am tired of being my own fearful guide.

I give this moment back to the One who knows.

I will follow, not lead. And in that following, I will find peace.”

II. Applied to Daily Life

Let’s bring this into very concrete situations.

1. Relationships

Suppose you’re in conflict with a partner, friend, or family member. The ego says:

• “I must protect myself.”
• “I must prove I’m right.”
• “I must make them see what they did.”

You feel tight, defensive, and on edge.

Applying the lesson:

• Pause and silently say:

“This holy instant would I give to You. Be You in charge.”

• Instead of rehearsing arguments, you ask inwardly:

“What would You have me say? Or would You have me be silent?”

“What is the loving thing here?”

• You may feel guided to:
• Speak more gently.
• Listen instead of defend.
• Postpone the conversation.
• Admit your own fear or hurt without attack.

Peace comes not because the other person changes, but because *you are no longer following the ego’s script of attack and defense.*

2. Work and Career

At work, the ego says:

• “Your worth is your productivity.”
• “You must impress them.”
• “You are competing for survival.”

You feel pressure, anxiety, and constant comparison.

Applying the lesson:

• Before a meeting or task, you pause:

“This holy instant would I give to You. Be You in charge.”

• You ask:

“How would You have me see this?

How would You have me show up?”

• Guidance might lead you to:
• Focus on being truly helpful instead of looking good.
• Speak honestly instead of trying to manipulate outcomes.
• Accept that your value is not at stake in this situation.

Your outer work may look the same, but the inner teacher has changed. You are no longer working for the ego’s approval system, but as a channel for peace and usefulness.

3. Illness and the Body

When the body is sick or in pain, the ego says:

• “You are your body.”
• “This proves you are weak and vulnerable.”
• “You are at the mercy of the world.”

Applying the lesson:

• You acknowledge the symptoms with kindness, not denial.
• You say inwardly:

“This holy instant would I give to You. Be You in charge.”

• You ask:

“How would You have me see this?

How would You have me care for this body today?”

• You may be guided to:
• Seek medical help.
• Rest.
• Change a habit.
• Or simply soften into trust instead of panic.

The miracle is not always the disappearance of symptoms, but the *disappearance of fear and isolation*. You remember: “I am not a body. I am still as God created me.” The body becomes a classroom for trust, not a prison.

4. Anxiety and Daily Stress

When anxiety rises, the ego insists:

• “Something is wrong and you must fix it now.”
• “You are unsafe.”
• “You must think your way out of this.”

Applying the lesson:

• Instead of spiraling into worry, you pause:

“This holy instant would I give to You. Be You in charge.”

• You breathe and say:

“I don’t know what anything, including this, is for.

Show me how to see this differently.”

• You may feel guided to:
• Do something simple and grounding.
• Reach out to someone.
• Or simply sit quietly and let the storm pass, trusting you are held.

The shift is from *self-reliance in fear to God-reliance in trust*.

III. Overcoming Resistance

This lesson can feel threatening to the ego. Here are some common resistances:

1. “If I’m not in charge, I’ll be unsafe.”

The ego equates control with safety. But look honestly:

Has your ego’s control ever given you lasting peace?

Letting the Holy Spirit be in charge does not mean you become passive or irresponsible. It means:

• You still act, but from guidance, not panic.
• You still plan, but with inner listening, not fear.
• You still speak, but with love, not attack.

You are not giving your life to a stranger. You are returning it to the Love that created you.

2. “What if God asks me to sacrifice what I love?”

The ego projects its own cruelty onto God. It imagines a God who demands sacrifice, loss, or suffering.

The Course is clear:

God’s Will for you is perfect happiness.

The Holy Spirit never asks for sacrifice, only for the release of what hurts you.

If something truly brings you joy and peace, it is not a threat to God’s Will. If something brings you guilt, fear, or conflict, the Holy Spirit may gently loosen your attachment to it—not to punish you, but to free you.

3. “I don’t know how to hear guidance.”

You may fear that you’ll “do it wrong.” But willingness is enough.

• Guidance often feels like a quiet sense of rightness, a soft nudge, a gentle clarity.
• It is rarely loud or dramatic.
• If you are sincerely willing, you cannot fail. Even apparent “mistakes” become part of the learning and are used for your good.

The Holy Spirit is not grading you. He is walking with you.

IV. Today’s Practice

Here is a simple way to practice Lesson 362 throughout the day.

1. Morning

Upon waking, sit quietly for a few minutes:

1. Close your eyes and breathe gently.

2. Say slowly, with as much sincerity as you can:

“This holy instant would I give to You.

Be You in charge. For I would follow You,

Certain that Your direction gives me peace.”

3. Add in your own words:

“I give You this day. Guide my thoughts, my words, my actions.

Let me not lead, but follow.”

Rest in silence for a minute or two, simply being willing.

2. During the Day

Use the lesson as a *bridge* whenever you feel:

• Tension
• Conflict
• Confusion
• Fear
• Pressure to decide

Pause, even for a few seconds, and say inwardly:

• “This holy instant would I give to You.”
• “Be You in charge.”
• “I am willing to follow.”

Then ask:

• “What would You have me do?”
• “What would You have me say, and to whom?”
• “How would You have me see this?”

You do not need a booming voice in response. Just notice:

• A softening in your body.
• A thought that feels kinder.
• A sense of “Wait” or “Go ahead.”
• A reminder to be honest, or to be gentle.

3. Evening

Before sleep:

1. Review your day briefly.

2. Where you forgot and followed the ego, simply say:

“I give these moments to You now. Correct my perception.”

3. Where you remembered and felt peace, give thanks:

“Thank You for guiding me. Help me trust You more.”

Repeat the lesson once more before sleep, letting it be your last thought of the day.

V. Comparable ACIM Lessons

Several lessons echo the same theme of surrender and guidance:

• **Lesson 155: “I will step back and let Him lead the way.”**

Very close in spirit. Both invite us to stop leading from the ego and let the Holy Spirit guide.

• **Lesson 135: “If I defend myself I am attacked.”**

Shows how our attempts to control and defend are actually attacks on our peace. Lesson 362 offers the alternative: letting the Holy Spirit be in charge.

• **Lesson 275: “God’s healing Voice protects all things today.”**

Emphasizes that listening to the Holy Spirit is our true protection, not our own plans.

• **Lesson 324: “I merely follow, for I would not lead.”**

A direct statement of the same idea: peace comes from following, not leading.

• **Lesson 365: “This holy instant would I give to You.”**

The final lesson of the year, repeating the same prayer, showing how central this surrender is to the entire Course.

All these lessons train the mind to move from self-direction in fear to God-direction in trust.

VI. Closing Thought

You do not have to know how to fix your life.

You do not have to solve every problem alone.

You are not asked to be strong, only to be willing.

Today, in each small moment, you can quietly say:

“This holy instant would I give to You.

Be You in charge.”

And in that simple offering, you will begin to discover that you have never been without Help, and you have never walked alone.