GOD HEARS THE PRAYERS OF THE RIGHTEOUS
I write to you as men who love God, and seek Him with all your heart. For
God will listen to such men when they pray, and will bless them in all things,
and will grant them all the requests of their soul when they entreat Him. But
those who come to Him not with their whole heart, but in two minds, who perform
their works so as to be glorified by men -- such men will not be listened to by
God in anything that they ask Him, but rather He is angry at their works. For
it is written, "God has scattered the bones of the man-pleasers." (Psalms
53:5)
WORK TO PLEASE GOD, NOT TO PLEASE MEN
You see, then, how God is angry at the works of these men, and gives them
none of the requests that they ask of Him, but rather resists them. For they do
not their works in faith, but superficially. Therefore, the divine power does
not dwell in them, but they are diseased in all their works, in whatever they
set their hand to. For this reason they have not known the power of grace, nor
its freedom from care, not its joy, but their soul is weighed down with a load
in all their works. The greater part of our generation are such: they have not
received the divine power that fattens the soul, prepares it to rejoice, and
brings it day by day that gladness which makes the heart fervent in God. For
the work that they do, they do as if it were for men. This is why this power
does not come upon them; for an abomination to the power of God is the man who
does his works as though for men's benefit.
FIGHT AGAINST PRIDE ABOVE ALL ELSE
But do you, my beloved, strive against the spirit of vainglory at all
times, so that you may conquer it in everything, in order that the divine power
may accompany you at all times. And I will pray God for you, that this joy may
be given you always, for nothing is more free from care. And if after receiving
this joy you see that your fervor withdraws and leaves you, seek it again and
it will return. For this fervor is like fire which changes the cold into its
own power. And if you see your heart weighed down temporarily, bring your soul
before you and question it until it becomes fervent again and is set on fire in
God. For the prophet David, too, on seeing his heart weighed down, said,
"I have poured out my heart by myself (Psalms 42:4), I have
remembered the days of old, and meditated on all your works, I lifted up my
hands unto you; my soul thirsts after you as does a thirsty land." (Psalms
143:5-6) This is what David did when he saw his soul grow cold, until he
had made it fervent again; and he received the divine sweetness both by day and
by night. Do this, then, my beloved, and you will grow, and God will reveal to
you great mysteries.
May God keep you in health of spirit and soul and body, till He brings you
into the kingdom with your fathers who completed a good life, unto ages of
ages, amen.
CONVERSATION