Chapter 118

Never Bind Yourself to the Rule

God bless you and continue to pray according to your rule. But never bind yourself to the rule and do not think that there is anything precious in the fact that you have such a rule or always fulfill it. All the value is in heartfelt prostration before God. See, the saints write that if someone does not leave prayer as one condemned and worthy of every punishment from the Lord, then such a person leaves it as a Pharisee. Another said: “Standing in prayer, stand as before the Last Judgment, when it is ready for a decisive determination of God about you: ”Depart!“ or ”Come!“”

(Letter 249. Vol. 2, p. 77)