The real mainspring of all perfection you will find contained in the precept given of old by God to Abraham: -Walk before me, and be blameless” (Gen. 17:1). The presence of God will calm your spirit–it will give you peaceful nights, and tranquilize your mind even amid the hardest day’s work; but then for this you must give yourself up unreservedly to God. When once you have found God, you will realize that you need not seek anything more among men. You must be ready to sacrifice even your dearest friendships, for the best of friends is the indweller of hearts. He is as a Jealous bridegroom, who will tolerate no rival near him.
You do not need much time to love God, to renew the thought of his presence frequently, to lift up your heart to him and worship him in its depths, to offer him all you do and all you suffer. This is the real “kingdom of God within you (Luke 17:21), which nothing can disturb.
If outward distractions and your own lively imagination hinder your soul from conscious recollection, in any case you must practice it in your will. In doing this the desire for recollectedness will become in itself kind of recollection a which will avail, especially if you turn resolutely towards God and to whatever he requires of you with a steadfast intention.
Try at intervals to kindle within yourself a hearty desire to give yourself to God to the fullest extent of all your powers: Your mind to know and think upon him, and your will to love him. Endeavor to consecrate all your outward actions to him. Be on your guard not to let yourself be engrossed too entirely, or for any length of time, with anything external or interior which so distracts your heart and mind as to make it difficult for you to turn fully towards God.
The moment you feel that any outside object causes you too much pleasure or delight, sever your heart from it, and lest you should stop short in the world, turn yourself at once to your only true end and sovereign good, God himself. If you are steadfast in breaking off all creature-worship, and in reserving to God alone the love and reverence which he requires, you will soon experience that true happiness which he never fails to give to the soul which sits loosely to all earthly affections. When you are conscious that you are longing very earnestly for anything whatsoever, or that you are too keenly excited about anything in which you are engaged, be it great or small, try to pause and remember that God himself tells us his Holy Spirit is not to be found in the storm or the whirlwind Be watchful not to throw yourself too actively into all that is going on nor let yourself become too engrossed by it, for this is one great source of distractions. As soon as you have ascertained what the Lord would have you to do in each matter as it arises, stop there, and give no heed to all the rest. So doing you will be able to keep your mind calm and composed, and you can shake off an infinity of useless matters which hamper the soul and hinder it from turning fully to God.
One excellent method of maintaining inward calmness and freedom is to keep putting aside all useless reflections on the past, whether of regret or self-satisfaction. When one duty is accomplished, go steadily on with the next, confining your attention entirely to the one thing God gives you to do, and not putting off difficulties for the future any more than dwelling on regrets for the past. Again, accustom yourself to make frequent brief acts of God’s presence through the day amid all your activities. Whenever you are conscious that anxiety or disturbance are springing up within, calm yourself in this way: Cut yourself off from all that is not of God; cut short useless thoughts and broodings; avoid unprofitable talk. If you seek for God within your heart, you will find him without fail, and with him you will find peace and happiness.
As to your activities, try even in those to let God have the largest share. If you would fulfill your commonest duties well, you must do them as in his presence and for his sake. The sight of his majesty and love will calm and strengthen you. A word from the Lord stilled the raging of the sea (Mark 6), and a glance from us to him, and from him to us, will do the same in our daily life.
Lift up your heart continually to God. He will purify, enlighten, and direct it. Try to be able to say with the holy King David, “I have set the Lord always before me,” (Ps. 16:8) and again, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you … God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever’ (Ps. 73:25, 26). Do not wait till you can be alone to seek a recollected mind. The moment you become conscious of having lost recollection, strive to renew it.
Turn to God simply, familiarly, trustfully. This can be done even amid the greatest interruptions, even when you are wearied and pestered with uncongenial society. In all things, to be sure, “God works for the good of those who love him” (Rom. 8:28).
You must be regular with such spiritual reading as is suited to your needs, making frequent pauses to hearken to the Voice which will help to call your inner self to recollection. A very few words thus studied are a true manna to the soul. You may forget the actual words, but they are taking root all the time secretly, and your soul will feed upon them and be strengthened.
by Fenelon
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