29. Решимость жить по благодати не должна ограничиваться лишь желанием, а должна сопровождаться готовностью к трудам и борьбе, стремлением непременно достигнуть желаемого. Решившись, должно тотчас начинать дело и продолжать с терпением и постоянством

And not everything is said yet. In addition to this, I undertake to write something else. Compels the importance of the subject being discussed. The radiance of the soul, which is permeated by God’s grace like fire and iron, is an attractive state. Hearing about it, everyone is ready to rush with the desire to achieve it. I assume you have a similar impulse. But impulse, although it means that the soul knows how to choose the best, does not express everything that is required for this occasion. You can rush and stand, but nothing will come of the impulse. No, it is not impulse alone that is needed here, but a sound consideration of the matter and the formation of determination, firm and unwavering, with the awareness of all the labors, obstacles, troubles that lie ahead, to stand against them with courageous inspiration, to the point of one’s stomach. Seeking for God's grace to permeate our entire being is the same as seeking the Kingdom of God, or zeal for the salvation of the soul, or love and election of “the one... for need” (Luke 10:42). The names and expressions are different, but the point is the same. I took the side that is more clear. Whatever you call it, the object in itself is most desirable, therefore it is impossible not to desire it. Ask anyone: “Do you want to go to heaven, to the Kingdom of Heaven?” - He will answer in spirit: “I want, I want.” But tell him later: “Well, do this and that,” and your hands give up. I want to go to heaven, but I don’t always have the desire to work hard for it. What I am saying is that it is not only necessary to desire, but also to have a firm determination to certainly achieve what you want and to begin the actual work towards this achievement. To make this clearer to you, I will tell you everything about how desires usually rise to determination. There are many things that we think about and things that we think about. But let's think and think and forget. This means that the soul did not lie down to them: the soul did not lie down - and the memory of them disappeared. What is memorable is what the soul turns to. The soul will lie down - I mean, we liked the subject. Even if we liked the object, it is pleasant for us to think about it or hold it in thought, imagine it, but it may not yet arouse the desire to have it, and if this is the case, to make it. We say: a thing is good or a deed is good, but what do we care about them? We admire them, but we don’t see the urge to reach out for them or towards them. In order to wish for something, it is necessary that what we want has the closest relation to us personally, that it would be either useful for us, or necessary, or that we would like it so much that living without it would be boring and bitter. When such aspects are seen in any matter or thing, we cannot restrain their desire: it is formed inevitably. Let's say they wanted it. As if everything has already been done? Not yet. How many desires remain unfulfilled due to lack of energy or effort to fulfill them? In order for a desire to come true, it is necessary to elevate it into an indispensable intention, or determination, it is necessary for the soul to say within itself: “At any cost, I will get such and such a thing or do such and such a thing.” When this word is pronounced in the soul, then after it considerations begin on how to put into action what has been decided: thinking about means, inventing favorable circumstances of time and place, anticipating obstacles and identifying measures to eliminate them, and a possible review of the entire course of the matter from beginning to end. When all this is identified in the soul, it is completely ready for action. Everything is ready for the task, but the task is not there yet - it must be started, continued with constancy, patience and appropriate diligence until it comes to the end. Everything that has been described so far is similar to how, for example, your sawmill is prepared for sawing: the pairs are separated, the wood is supplied and everything is set up properly. All that remains is to put it into action - and the work has begun. This - to put into action - is the crown of all previous preparations: and it seems that nothing is added to the work, but the execution of the work all depends on it. It’s exactly the same in the transition of desires into determination and action: when the determination has matured and everything has been thought out for doing, there still remains the most self-needed act, in which all the power lies - to begin to do. You might think, what’s so difficult about it when everything is already ready? Meanwhile, this is the most difficult step. Everything before the decision took place inside, now our internal matter - the smart one - must enter the environment of events and flow along with others. Just take the first step, and then the very environment in which the person who started the business will enter will begin to push him - to do and do in the spirit and order begun. So here's the whole procedure for you! I say all this in order to indicate what still remains for you to complete within yourself, so that the desire with which you rushed to the work of God turns into action. So that your desire is not an empty flower, you must first bring it to the point of determination, not fleeting, but ponderous, thoughtful, strong, reasonable and, most importantly, irrevocable, and then get down to business. First, everything must be accomplished internally by one’s own reflection with a prayerful appeal to God for enlightenment and enlightenment of the mind regarding this much-needed subject. And the second will not be difficult for you, judging by the order that is maintained in your home. May the Lord bless you and bless the prescribed formation to take place within you! You might be interested in: