Chapter 153

Meditation on God is Necessary

“I can’t,” you say, “be watchful and awake.” If this comes and goes, as you write, then it is nothing... But if it lasts a long time, you must strengthen yourself through meditation on God or contemplation of the mystery of our faith, especially: death, judgment, hell and paradise. The fear of God must be kindled—it has great awakening power. From its weakening comes laziness, negligence and drowsiness...

In the Jesus Prayer meditation on God is nonetheless necessary—otherwise it is dry food. It is good if the name of Jesus has stuck on your tongue. But you can do this while not remembering the Lord at all, and even holding thoughts contrary to Him. Therefore everything depends on conscious and free turning to God and the effort to keep yourself in this with discernment.