The Basis of Firm Peace of Heart and True Progress
The Voice of Christ
MY CHILD, I have said: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world
giveth, do I give unto you.”
All men desire peace but all do not care for the things that go to make true peace. My peace is
with the humble and meek of heart: your peace will be in much patience. If you hear Me and follow
My voice, you will be able to enjoy much peace.
The Disciple
What, then, shall I do, Lord?
36 John 14:27.
The Voice of Christ
Watch yourself in all things, in what you do and what you say. Direct your every intention
toward pleasing Me alone, and desire nothing outside of Me. Do not be rash in judging the deeds
and words of others, and do not entangle yourself in affairs that are not your own. Thus, it will
come about that you will be disturbed little and seldom.
Yet, never to experience any disturbance or to suffer any hurt in heart or body does not belong
to this present life, but rather to the state of eternal rest. Do not think, therefore, that you have found
true peace if you feel no depression, or that all is well because you suffer no opposition. Do not
think that all is perfect if everything happens just as you wish. And do not imagine yourself great
or consider yourself especially beloved if you are filled with great devotion and sweetness. For the
true lover of virtue is not known by these things, nor do the progress and perfection of a man consist
in them.
The Disciple
In what do they consist, Lord?
The Voice of Christ
They consist in offering yourself with all your heart to the divine will, not seeking what is yours
either in small matters or great ones, either in temporal or eternal things, so that you will preserve
equanimity and give thanks in both prosperity and adversity, seeing all things in their proper light.
If you become so brave and long-suffering in hope that you can prepare your heart to suffer
still more even when all inward consolation is withdrawn, and if you do not justify yourself as
though you ought not be made to suffer such great things, but acknowledge Me to be just in all My
works and praise My holy name—then you will walk in the true and right path of peace, then you
may have sure hope of seeing My face again in joy. If you attain to complete contempt of self, then
know that you will enjoy an abundance of peace, as much as is possible in this earthly life.