How We Must Stand and Speak, in Everything that We Desire.
Book 3, Chapter 15
Chapter Focus: Apart from Christ we can do nothing (Jn 15:5). And with God, we can do anything: “all things are possible” (Mt 19:26). When we consult God’s will and compare it to our actions, our plans, we rest in His holy intention for us. We set ourselves apart to follow His will, leaving behind the worldly choice. This is not always obvious or easy.
For example: How about when you have a career choice that causes strife in your marriage or makes you feel as if you are becoming distant from your children? Therein lies the struggle between self-aspiration and God’s will for marriage and the family. It is easy to sacrifice at the wrong altar.
In my own case, I have found that where I choose the path that strengthens my marriage or enhances my relationship with my children, God’s will seems to be on a parallel path. And, not surprisingly, His will being followed brings its own rewards, if not financially.
Bishop Jacques-Benigne Bousset (1627 – 1704), a great theologian and orator lays out this concept of setting ourselves apart for Heaven:
Bishop Bossuet
“Although we are not set apart in as eminent a way as the Blessed Virgin, we must not fail to be [separated] in some way. For who are the faithful people? They are a people set apart from the others. . .. They are a people living in the world, but not of the world. They have their treasure stored up in Heaven, their home and patrimony. God has marked the foreheads of the faithful with the sacred character of Baptism so that they may be set apart for Him alone. Yes, Christian, if you have bound yourself to the love of this world, if you do not live as one set apart, you will lose the grace of Christ.
“How shall you set yourself apart? We live in the world and are surrounded by its distractions. Must we banish ourselves from society? Must we exclude ourselves from all worldly affairs? No, but what we must do is set our hearts apart. It is by the heart that we are Christians: man believes with his heart (Rom 10:10). It is the heart that must be set apart. Yet this is the chief difficulty, for it is the heart that is beset on all sides. The world flatters it and beckons to it. On one side are honors. on the other pleasures. Someone offers love; another demands it of us. How shall the heart defend itself? The task is arduous: to be always in the world but to keep one’s heart set apart from its attractions. Is there any other gospel for us to follow?…”
We can set ourselves apart for God’s will by way of prayer in these decisions. Thomas suggests a few prayers here. The first is easy, as he quotes The Beloved: “Lord, if it pleases You, let this come to pass.” The second prayer at the end of the chapter is a more thorough request for God’s grace over all of our actions; worthy of framing above our desks. I put a pdf for you to download at the end of this post.
Chapter 15, In Short.
1. As disciples we should always speak this way, ‘Lord, if it please You, let this come to pass.’
2. Whatever seems desirable to you, under the fear of God say, ‘Lord, You know what is best, let this be done, according to Your will.
3. May the most merciful Jesus grant me Your grace, to be with me, work in me, and persevere with me, even to the end.
4. Grant that I may die to all worldly things.
Scripture Memory Prayer: “Lord, I am Your servant.” (Ps 119:25)
Question: How do I set myself apart?
Key Quote: Lord, give what You will, so much as You will, when You will.
The Text of Chapter 15: How We Must Stand and Speak, in Everything that We Desire.
The Voice of Christ:
“My Child, you should speak this way in every matter, ‘Lord, if it please You, let this come to pass. Lord, if this shall be for Your honor, let it be done in Your Name. Lord, if you see that this is good for me, and approve it as useful, then grant me to use it for Your honor. But if You know that it will be hurtful to me, and not profitable for the health of my soul, take the desire away from me’! For not every desire is from the Holy Ghost, although it may appear to a disciple right and good. It is difficult for a disciple to judge with certainty whether a good or an evil spirit moves you to desire this or that, or whether you are moved by you own spirit. Many have been deceived at the last, who seemed at the beginning to be moved by a good spirit.
2. “Therefore, whatever seems to you desirable, you must always desire and seek after it with the fear of God and humility of heart, and most of all, must altogether resign yourself, and commit everything to Me and say,
Lord, You know what is best; let this be done, according to Your will.
Give what You will, so much as You will, when You will.
Do with me as You know best, and as best shall please You, and as shall be most to Your honor. Place me where You will, and freely work Your will with me in all things.
I am in Your hands – turn me in my course.
Behold, I am Your servant (Ps 119:125), ready for all things; for I desire to live not for myself but for You. Oh, that I might live worthily and perfectly.'”
A PRAYER TO DO GOD’S WILL PERFECTLY
3. Grant me Your grace, most merciful Jesus, that it may be with me, and work in me, and persevere with me, even to the end (Wis 9:10). Grant that I may always desire and wish whatever is most pleasing and dear to You. Let Your will be mine, and let my will always follow Yours, and entirely follow with it. May I choose and reject whatever You reject; yes, let it be impossible for me to choose or reject except according to Your will.
4. Grant that I may die to all worldly things, and for Your sake love to be forgotten and unknown in this world. Grant to me, above all things that I can desire, to rest in You, and that in You my heart may be at peace. You are the true peace of the heart, You alone its rest; apart from You all things are hard and unquiet (Jn 15:5). In You alone, the supreme and eternal God, I will lay me down in peace and take my rest (Ps 4:9). Amen.