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Rise: The Great Fifty Days 11

Rise: The Great Fifty Days 11

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The Wake-Up Call is a daily encouragement to shake off the slumber of our busy lives and turn our eyes toward Jesus.

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In all things I wish you to be stripped of self. How otherwise can you be

mine or I yours unless you be despoiled of your own will both inwardly

and outwardly? The sooner you do this the better it will be for you, and

the more fully and sincerely you do it the more you will please Me and the

greater gain you will merit.

Some there are who resign themselves, but with certain reservation; they

do not trust fully in God and therefore they try to provide for themselves.

Others, again, at first offer all, but afterward are assailed by temptation and

return to what they have renounced, thereby making no progress in virtue.

These will not reach the true liberty of a pure heart nor the grace of happy

friendship with Me unless they first make a full resignation and a daily

sacrifice of themselves. Without this no fruitful union lasts nor will last.

I have said to you very often, and now I say again: forsake yourself,

renounce yourself and you shall enjoy great inward peace. Give all for all.

Ask nothing, demand nothing in return. Trust purely and without hesitation

in Me, and you shall possess Me. You will be free of heart and darkness

will not overwhelm you.

Strive for this, pray for this, desire this — to be stripped of all selfishness

and naked to follow the naked Jesus, to die to self and live forever for Me.

Then all vain imaginations, all wicked disturbances and superfluous cares

will vanish. Then also immoderate fear will leave you and inordinate love

will die.

 

Thomas a Kempis; Book Three; 37th Chapter: Pure and Entire Resignation

of Self to Obtain Freedom of Heart

 

If you enjoyed these readings, there’s a lot more where they came from. The “Rise”

readings this week come from Volume 1 of “Seeds: A Scattering of Groundbreaking

Ideas,” edited by J.D. Walt. You can get it digitally or in print here.

Visit our Worship Design Collective for more resources like this one.

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