Chapter 31

Do Not Measure Yourself

You rightly do not give much weight to what you experience. Beginnings... how far still from the deed! And besides, you should not occupy yourself with yourself too much. The holy Fathers say: “Do not measure yourself.” The best measure for yourself is: “There is nothing. Lord, grant that I might make a good beginning! Lord, by whatever judgments you know, save me!” And drive away every thought of measuring yourself, but, forgetting what lies behind,—as if it never was—reach forward to what lies ahead (Compare: Phil. 3:13). The enemy prompts you to measure yourself so as to arouse self-conceit and spoil the whole work. Always say to yourself: “There is nothing, nothing to measure.”

(Letter 256. Vol. 2, p. 93)