Chapter 95

You Must Always Maintain Prayer

Question: “In the midst of many worldly relationships, should I maintain prayer, or should I use it only during my cell rule and in church, and at other times, if not stifle it, then not maintain it?” You must always maintain prayer. God is everywhere and sees all things, and His eyes are brighter than the sun. This remembrance must be planted in your heart, or merged with your consciousness. When the soul maintains the consciousness of this, it cannot but have fear of God and reverence before Him, with concern to please Him in all things—in word, thought, motion and deed. With this disposition greet and bid farewell to others and do every task, whether you are alone or among people.

Convince yourself that God tests you through every circumstance, and having fixed His eye upon you, awaits: how will you act? And act as a student answers at an examination, both outwardly and inwardly. Such a disposition is prayerful, and is achieved only through prayer. Prayer is the turning of mind and heart to God. When this exists—behold, prayer exists. Labor on. God will give you the strength to receive all, and your mind will not turn away from Him. In this labor there is no division. Only perhaps at the beginning of experience. Do not forget that this is the chief thing: to show householder’s warmth to your visitor, full attention, a cheerful disposition, and along with this remembrance of God with fear and reverence.

If you were to become incapable of continuing to live in the world—the loss would be small. But prayer, proceeding on the true path, should not lead to this. It will only lead you to glorify God with your whole life, removing from it all that is superfluous, vain and passion-feeding, and making it a silent sermon on what is proper; yet not pushing anyone away or wounding hearts, but attracting all and disposing all to imitate it through the fragrance of your life. Labor to think through this according to your circumstances and arrange yourself thus. A gloomy, repellent or querulous life is not God’s life. I trust that your prayer will not let you fall into this distortion of yourself.

Yet it is necessary to have deliberation, experience and petition for God’s help. The root of all is humility and warmth of heart toward all. God will give burning of heart. Then whoever meets you will perceive this warmth, and it will bind all to you and make all submit to you.

(Letter 256. Vol. 2, pp. 89–90)