The Fruits of Unceasing Prayer Prepare the Soul for the Future Vision of God

God has no image or form; therefore those who love truth strive in every way to raise themselves to the state of beholding the Lord before them without image, with simple, pure thought. This is the height of perfection in walking before God. The fruits of this walking are countless; but—the chief one—from it naturally flows into our life the purity and blamelessness of words, thoughts, desires, deeds…

Another fruit from this is a certain warmth of spirit. The vision of God cannot be cold, if it is true. To the degree of progress in the vision of God, the warmth increases. Then they merge, and both the vision and the warmth transform into one continuous action of the spirit. Such a disposition of the spirit is the best preparation for the future all-blessed vision of God. Whoever has established himself in it stands already in the vestibule of paradise, has matured for it. And any person who does not know how to behold God, or, having thought of him, turns away from him, feeling that it is unpleasant and frightening and obligates to much, let him take care of himself; for from this one can conclude something about the future. (3, 343–344)