Spiritual snacks

Arrange not yourself for much rest, but for great patience. (CIoC)

My child, you are never secure in this life, but as long as you live, you will always need spiritual armour.(CIoC) Meditate on Saint Paul’s teaching in his book called Ephesians chapter 6 .

But one that is wise and well instructed in the Spirit stands fast upon these changing things, not heeding what one feels in oneself, or which way the wind of instability blows, but that the whole intent of one’s mind may be to the right and the best end. (CIoC) My article on protect your mind may help here. Just click on this typing to go to it.

As long as you live, you are subject to change, even against your will, so that you are at one time happy and at another time sad; at one time quiet and at another time troubled; now devout, now undevout; now diligent, now listless; now grave and now light. (CIoC) S A 2 This reminds me of King David’s son Solomon .   He had it all yet he wondered about the meaning of life.   Check out his diary in Ecclesiastes ; for the executive summary start at the very end.

My child, don’t trust your feelings, for whatever they are now they will quickly be changed towards some other thing. (CIoC)

For true heavenly wisdom does seem very mean, of small account, and almost forgotten among people, as having no high thoughts of itself, nor seeking to be magnified upon earth. Many indeed praise it with their lips, but in their life they are far from it; isn’t it the precious pearl, which is hidden from many? (CIoC) S A 2 Wow, this is very profound and will require a lot of digesting. I think it’s like diamonds, gold and copper. How often do we think about how dirty the miners got to retrieve the beauty we so willing display? Take time to pray for them along with folks like the Gospel for Asia who are currently enduring significant persecution for the sake of teaching people about an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ.

Set little by earthly wisdom, and study not to please others or yourself. (CIoC)

From inordinate love and vain fear arise all unrest of heart and distraction of the mind. (CIoC)

Let not your peace depend on the tongues of people; for, whether they judge well of you or ill, you are not on that account other than yourself. Where is true peace and true glory? Are they not in Me? (CIoC)

If you walk spiritually, you will not weigh fleeting words. (CIoC)

My child, don’t grieve if some thinks ill of you, and speak that which you would not willingly hear. (CIoC)

Grant me prudence to avoid the person that flatters me, and to endure patiently the person that contradicts me. (CIoC)

O Lord, grant me heavenly wisdom that I may learn above all things to seek and to find You, above all things to enjoy and to love You, and to think of all other things as they really are, according to Your wise ordering. (CIoC)

If you seek this or that, and would be here or there, the better to enjoy your own profit and pleasure, you shall never be at peace nor free from a troubled mind. For in every case there will be someone to cross you. (CIoC)

Do not covet what is not lawful for you to have. Do not have that which may hinder you, and may deprive you of inward liberty. (CIoC)

Know that the love of yourself hurts you more than anything in the world. (CIoC)

It is not lawful to cast away all things, because nature needs to be sustained; but to require trimmings and those things that are merely pleasurable, the holy law forbids us, for then the flesh would rebel against the Spirit.   Here I implore You, let Your hand govern me and teach me, that I may not exceed in anything. (CIoC) S A 2   Getting the right portion of the margin of utility is a key.  "There are two things, Lord, I want You to do for me before I die: Make me absolutely honest and don't let me be too poor or too rich.  Give me just what I need.  If I have too much to eat, I might forget about You; if I don't have enough, I might steal and disgrace Your name" Proverbs 30:7-9  

Give me strength to resist, patience to endure, and faithfulness to preserve. (CIoC)

I implore You, my most gracious God, preserve me from the cares of this life, lest I should be too much entangled therein; and from the many necessities of the body, lest I should be ensnared by pleasure, and from whatever is an obstacle to the soul lest, broken with troubles, I should be overthrown. (CIoC)

O Lord, it is the business of a perfect person never to withdraw one’s mind from attentive thought of heavenly things, and thus to pass amidst many cares without care; not as one destitute of all feeling, but by the privilege of a free mind, cleaving to no creature with inordinate affection.(CIoC)

In every matter look to yourself, as to what you do and what you say; and direct your whole attention to this, to please me alone, and neither to desire or to seek anything besides me. (CIoC) I’m noting the “me” is not capitalized.   Does this mean the reader or God?   How does your answer fit into Jesus summary of the law and the prophets? “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and your entire mind” Saint Matthew 22:37

Peace is what all desire, but all do not care for the things that pertain to true peace. (CIoC)

Be careful, and watch in prayer, and in all things humble yourself by being authentic. (CIoC)

For what is it to you, whether a person is such and such, or whether this person does or speaks this or that? You don’t need to answer for others, but shall give account for yourself, why therefore do you entangle yourself. (CIoC)

My child, don’t be curious, nor trouble yourself with idle cares. (CIoC) Yet isn’t this exactly what a child does? What do you think Christ meant when he told Nicodemus he had to be born again in Saint John’s biography of Christ chapter 3 .

Wish always, and pray, that the will of God may be wholly fulfilled in you. (CIoC)

Seek always the lowest place, and to be beneath everyone. (CIoC)

Choose always to have less rather than more. (CIoC)