“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Following Christ leads people out of the labyrinth of their godless thoughts and gives them true freedom. Following Christ restores their divine identity and enables them to love God personally. This is the way that we not only can walk, but must walk if we want to return to the Father’s house in order to pass from death to life.
This path begins with accepting our life situation in trust in God’s care and assistance. It involves gradually renouncing earthly desires in love for Jesus Christ. To walk this path means letting go of everything that binds the soul to the world of transitory sensual pleasures – while at the same time grasping the divine Father’s hand. If one truly wants to be reborn, renewed in spirit, one must walk this path of renunciation and devotion.
What appears to the unbeliever as foolish naivety, as a journey into uncertainty, soon becomes apparent to the Christian as a gift of love. He becomes aware that Jesus Christ is always walking beside him and revealing his divine heart to him. As they walk forward together, the narrow path away from the broad roads of the world, the eye of the needle through which one must pass in discipleship, turns out to be a priceless treasure buried deep in every human heart, which must be unearthed and opened during the course of earthly life.
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If you live in the world, you must do justice to the world. Walking the spiritual path does not free you from earthly duties; incarnation also requires the acceptance and observance of established laws. “Render unto Cae-
sar the things that are Caesar’s.”
In order to take responsibility for one’s own life and that of one’s family, it is necessary to pursue a righteous profession. Sometimes one must fulfill social obligations, and such conversations can never be completely ruled out. It always depends on how one does something, and not so much on what activity one pursues or where one spends one’s life.
Thus, a true Christian may lead a completely ordinary life outwardly, but in his soul realm he is already an inhabitant of the spiritual world. He possesses earthly goods, but he is not attached to them, for he regards them as a loan from his heavenly Father. In his heart he carries a deep love for Jesus Christ, in which and from which he loves his fellow human beings. In the course of his earthly life, he grows ever deeper into spiritual life.
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Most so-called Christians think that they live quite passably and that their few weaknesses are not so bad. But what generally slumbers under the guise of worldly or spiritual self-knowledge is, when viewed in the light of truth, mostly a state of neglect. Rarely does anyone know their true nature; as a rule, people see themselves in their imagined state. Intellectual egoism is a master of camouflage and subtle falsehood; it can present itself in a variety of seemingly right and just, even selfless guises, without anyone noticing. If a person is ready for change and humbly opens themselves to divine inspiration, the veil of the soul gradually lifts, revealing their actual state. Now they are astonished beyond measure, but also shocked at the abysses that open up within them. If they are sincere about their aberrations and do not cover up their weaknesses with hypocrisy, they give the heavenly powers the opportunity to continually influence their
soul, so that they can soon be freed from their inhibitions. Above all, it calls upon the Father, who personally accompanies his loving child on the further path and stands by him with advice and support.
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Since one suffers an apparent loss at the beginning of the path of faith by giving up selfish habits and material preferences, the first steps on the path, which is not yet visible, already require a high degree of seriousness. However, one should not expect immediate and lasting communion with God as a result of renunciation, for further development consists mainly in burning out spiritual abuses through trials of faith. The dishonest thoughts of the previous way of life have become literally burned into the soul and brain cells (fixed conditioning); these impurities must now be removed. “You don’t pour new wine into old wineskins.” In this interplay of light and shadow, in the ups and downs of spiritual awakening, one must not despair, but must surrender one’s heart again and again to the Father and trust in His love and mercy. In sincere and conscientious action, the miracle of transformation finally takes place.
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Time and again we hear: “How can you love others if you don’t love yourself?!” This principle is popular in esotericism and has a scientific basis in psychology. But this kind of self-understanding harbors a great danger, because accepting and appreciating oneself with all one’s faults and weaknesses in order to be capable of love takes away all space from the spirit of God—its effectiveness is thus nipped in the bud. Only in humble insight and the admission that God alone is good and that man, according to his devotion to God, has a share in the true and good, can divine vitality and love arise in the soul and manifest themselves in deed. In intimate communion with Jesus Christ lies the certainty that every human being, in his created personality, is truly a child of God and is loved by Him unconditionally. This realization gives true (self)awareness and (self-)realization, in which lies the only valid value, meaning, and purpose of all life in time and eternity.
The correct wording should be: “How can you truly love others if you don’t love God?!”
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Following Jesus and taking up the cross of self-denial does not mean exposing oneself to every false and deceitful activity without protest or reaction—that would be a misunderstanding of charity. Following Jesus can also involve pointing out wrong behavior, as long as it is done for the good of one’s neighbor. However, this should always be preceded by patience and gentleness, because above all, tolerant love has the power of redemption. Here, however, one must be careful not to cloak cowardice and despondency in the guise of patient love for one’s neighbor, while secretly harboring resentment.
How one can and should behave in different situations can be recognized progressively in the love of God. If one is still uncertain in one’s faith life at the beginning, the divine light of love will increasingly reveal the right way to speak and act in everyday encounters and affairs as one progresses.
Self-reflection, in order to penetrate into areas of the soul that reveal the complexity of our life circumstances, absolutely requires the light of Jesus Christ. No meditation technique, no guide to self-knowledge, no membership in a religious community illuminates our soul truthfully. Only unbiased love for Jesus Christ gives divine insight, which is the prerequisite for liberation from the invisible forces that bind the soul to spiritual death.
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The willingness to place the divine will above the views, opinions, and desires of our fellow human beings presents a great challenge. Here one must proceed very cautiously and take care not to ‘confuse’ one’s own will with God’s will and self-love with love for God, otherwise one mutates into a religious dictator and judge who uses his environment for his own selfish interests in God’s name.
Gentleness and patience, compassion and understanding in the face of misunderstanding or even rejection by fellow human beings, without anger, without accusation, but with determination in fulfilling divine commands – this is the path that Christians can follow in their discipleship.
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Withdrawal into silence for prayer and reflection, for self-examination and inner contemplation, is important and necessary. But only by overcoming the mistakes and weaknesses in the daily struggle of life can lasting and indestructible peace be achieved. In this confrontation with oneself, one stumbles again and again over one’s own inadequacies, in that one judges one’s fellow human beings, who often do not act as one wishes or considers right. This is a fundamental problem that one inevitably encounters and is challenged by day after day.
If one remains steadfast on the prescribed path, it soon becomes apparent that the Father always enters into the self-righteousness of his child in order to bestow light and love there. Even when the child falls and is overcome by weakness, he remains with him and offers his helping hand. Under the Father’s guidance, the child of God is increasingly able to cope with challenging situations and makes good progress. Finally, the Father gives them insight into the souls they judge or ridicule, the souls they pigeonhole, the souls they secretly look down on from their position of superiority. In this insight, the brotherhood of all people becomes apparent to them. The bond of brotherhood is divine love, filling hearts with deep affection and connection.
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The worldly mind cannot comprehend that godless thoughts and the actions that result from them inevitably become stumbling blocks for a Christian. However, the wanderer on the path of truth knows the ‘unimportant’ trifles, he sees the hidden obstacles that bind consciousness to material desires and transitory passions and thus prevent the soul from becoming free. In the mindfulness of divine presence, he senses exactly what he can and cannot do in order not to stray from the straight path and get lost again in the labyrinth of conditioned patterns of thought and behavior.
As a result, spiritual progress opens up insight into the necessity of freeing oneself from earthly dependencies and liberates the renunciation that was initially based on blind obedience. Soon, the desire to cast off further worldly burdens that weigh down the soul on its way to the Father’s heart increases. If one wishes to fulfill the requirements that lead to spiritual rebirth, one must be careful not to focus on renunciation and sacrifice, because then one quickly loses sight of love. Ultimately, self-righteousness becomes a “Christian” motivation, which leads to constant, often subliminal condemnation of the mistakes of one’s fellow human beings.
However, every child of God must offer a special sacrifice to the Father. Depending on their disposition and calling, every human being has at least one seemingly insurmountable weakness that often causes them great struggle, repeatedly brings them down, and humiliates them in their inadequacy. This weak point represents the shell of the seed that must die in the soil of the soul so that God’s life can arise in it and from it. Humility loosens the soul and creates the conditions for vigorous growth. If the Christian, with sincere desire, overcomes and abandons the earthly desires he loves above all else or the vices that hinder his progress, the Father can establish his dwelling place in the free space of the heart – a great step towards spiritual rebirth has been taken. Here it becomes true that the greatest treasure is hidden in the heaviest burden.
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In material existence, time is a valuable commodity. It is the currency with which to purchase eternal life. Every moment is precious. Every hour counts and is irretrievable. But man squanders this capital and thus pays the price of transience and death.
When the light of this realization dawns on us, it makes little sense to constantly force ourselves to engage in spiritual pursuits in order to do justice to the gift of time. Then restlessness, impatience, and fear would be
the driving motivation, and the mind would remain in control. A sensible approach is to proceed step by step, on the one hand by studying books with spiritual content, and on the other hand by temporarily retreating into soul consciousness in order to establish contact with Jesus Christ through childlike prayers from the heart. These encounters enable effective self-reflection, and through devotion and faithfulness, love for the Father awakens steadily.
In the newly gained vitality, time is finally transformed from an all-consuming enemy into a life-giving friend of man. Together they shape and accomplish the day. Since the heart of time is a child of the present, inner peace and patience unfold practically by themselves. The awakened one realizes that transience no longer rules him. With the help of time, he has advanced to eternity. Now time has fulfilled its task, for in eternity this currency is worthless.
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If a believer is truly serious about following Christ and shows in their daily efforts that they truly want to live the Christian way, the Father also becomes serious and intervenes with all his power in the liberation of his child. Now it is urgently necessary to remain faithful to one’s spiritual plans and goals and not to constantly look back. Otherwise, one will experience divine severity, which makes one feel the full power of former habits, which is very painful in this phase.
If one remains steadfast in trust and devotion, the Father can pour out His Spirit into the human being. Just as flowing water pours into open space, so the Spirit of God fills the space in the soul that has been emptied of stubbornness and self-righteousness through true humility. The God-loving heart is the magnet that gently but firmly holds this Spirit.
Jesus says: “I am with you according to your devotion. Every second of the day that you give to Me brings you closer to Me. In this way, you determine your own progress. I am always there, waiting for you.”
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Every human being carries within them aspects of satanic characteristics that they must redeem. In the daily struggle for liberation, divine powers are unleashed that would otherwise remain hidden in a life without resistance. Thus, evil always serves good on the path to spiritual rebirth.
When someone overcomes a weakness through God’s grace, he or she becomes a trailblazer and pioneer for brothers and sisters who are also trapped in such an inability. They can then break free more easily, as the diseased fields of consciousness are cleared in the light of the awakened child of God. The more Christians follow Jesus Christ, the more liberated and free the collective world soul becomes. Thus, individual liberation not only brings personal salvation, but is also a global, even universal instrument of redemption. The heavenly Father wants to liberate the fallen creation only with the help of his children. He himself laid the foundation for this 2000 years ago. Through his earthly work in Jesus Christ, the path of salvation from the clutches of spiritual death was opened for all life.
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The Father shows me the development from the first steps of faith to divine life:
In a figurative sense, one begins like a toddler in kindergarten playing with building blocks. At this stage, one is already handling intellectual property, but it is still just playing around without responsibility. Jesus comes to visit and brings many gifts with him, which he gladly distributes. The children grab and reach for them; they are wonderful gifts and more than enough for everyone. But as we know from children, they soon lose interest in their toys because they would rather have those of another child, or they break theirs and scream and cry when something no longer works. Then they turn back to ‘important ‘ things and smear themselves with dirt from head to toe and forget about the gifts.
In spiritual education, which runs parallel to practical training, like earthly teaching and vocational school, the pupil already has greater responsibility for the life of God and is accountable for it. The divine gifts are not toys, but tools and weapons that must be handled with seriousness. Joy and contentment no longer arise
primarily from self-satisfaction with spiritual goods, but are based on devoted love for the heavenly Father and the resulting acts of charity. The bliss contained therein leads the student ever deeper into the self-giving heart of God.
Now the pupil is assigned special tasks; no, rather, the seeds of tasks that the Father once planted together with him in the soil of his soul are now opening up. In this calling, the Christian is completely happy. He recognizes that the seed planted in him is actually God Himself, and that it is precisely in the task of life to be fulfilled that the union of God the Father and the human child can take place.
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Even if one is filled with God’s presence at times and is allowed to experience His love, one is still in training. Every day is a day of learning and overcoming. One should not look too far ahead, but always devote oneself to this one day. In the morning, ask Jesus in prayer for His blessing, that His light and love may accompany you: “Dear Father, how can I come closer to You today? You and I are going through this day together. You are my teacher, my master. In every situation, You show me the right thing to do, You show me the right way to live. What a joy it is to walk with You, to learn from You, to serve You in love.”
Every moment of the day is thus embedded in God’s loving will. Acting with compassion and patience at all times and accepting the fate of the day is the highest commandment of following Christ. At Jesus’ side, one sees the goal within oneself right from the start of the journey, and by keeping one’s eyes fixed on it, one walks on solid ground. It is always a matter of acting hand in hand and heart to heart between master and disciple, between father and child. When the apprentice acts stubbornly, the master remains patient and shows him the result that would have been achieved by divine action. Occasionally, the disciple finds himself in situations where the teacher seems to leave him alone – this is how he learns to act independently in the Spirit. In daily use, the divine attributes increasingly become the property of the child of God; with every free will decision for love, they enter more and more into his heart spirit. Practice makes perfect here too.
In evening prayer, review the past day together with Jesus and discuss it with him. In this way, he can heal us. He alone is our beloved Savior.
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If one lives imperfectly, one’s own spiritual state is expressed in and through the earthly imperfection one experiences. The behavior of the environment is a mirror, and if necessary, a magnifying glass in which one can sometimes see how one is doing. Sometimes it is hard to believe, but the soul is multi-layered; as a rule, we only know its surface, its actual nature is invisible.
However, the world’s relationship to us also and above all reveals our own behavior toward God. The earthly reflection thus reveals to us not only soul structures that need healing in the interpersonal sphere, but first and foremost in relation to God—which is basically one and the same thing.
It can sometimes be helpful to apply the law of the soul mirror. However, this only works if love for God illuminates the consciousness. Without it, this practice soon becomes an unbearable burden, as the recognition of the corresponding reflections shifts almost imperceptibly to the egocentric level, causing the respective processes to be perceived as resistance and personal attacks. This prevents the unconditional humbling of the soul parts that unfold from the unconscious and need to be redeemed. Basically, it is not advisable to analyze every situation. The mind quickly gains the upper hand and one drives oneself crazy in the stream of thoughts of constant questioning.
If one lives in conscious communion with Jesus Christ and the spiritual helpers, the small and large circumstances of life become tools that bring about spiritual growth anyway. In constant trust in divine guidance, the closed doors of chance open and lead the child of God out of the darkness of fate, guilt, and atonement into the light of the all-illuminating love of his heavenly Father.
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In the world of temporal experience and development, motivation is necessary to ensure a reasonable existence. When positively motivated, every activity brings joy when one performs well. Motivation is the driving force in school and career, in sports, in the arts, and in many other areas of earthly existence. Motivation often serves to attain worldly status in order to satisfy the ambitious need for self-affirmation and recognition and/or to possess power and wealth. This is where its dark side, which goes beyond any form of humanity, often reveals itself. The selfish mind uses the power of motivation to defeat, repress, or harm others.
The first steps on the spiritual path are also positively motivated, because one wants to do good and realize one’s faith in love and in love. One wants to alleviate need and misery and thereby give one’s life a sense of meaning and satisfaction. This is worthy of all honor and is usually the first stage in the life of faith.
However, the follower of Christ eventually reaches a point where every form of motivation becomes an insurmountable obstacle. The egocentric motor of self-will, with all its facets and effects, causes too much noise and unrest in the soul and thus takes up the space needed for divine life. This is the phase in which the child’s well-intentioned motivation enters into God’s motive. Man now stands at a decisive crossroads.
Here the Father speaks: “If you give Me your will, I will give you My will.”
He now seriously demands the opinion and apparent life of his child. He demands the surrender of blind love. He demands “Thy will be done!” in all its complete and inevitable consequences. Here, all intellectual and rational thinking ends. Here, the course is set for the rest of one’s life. Here, the wheat is separated from the chaff.
When the Christian says yes, his life changes radically. Now it’s time to get down to business, as they say. The trials that follow demand everything of him; they can only be passed by humbly surrendering to divine love. This love now increasingly takes over the will of the inner and outer man, thereby realizing his devotion.
Then night falls once more: the period of life in Gethsemane. The Father withdraws. At the same time, the wounds of the past and the remaining weaknesses, worries, and desires push their way into the consciousness of the Son of God. But his future is also clear to him, for he already lives in anticipation of his unrecognized or public calling. The spiritual death of humanity is vividly presented to him, and he knows that if he surrenders his life to his heavenly Father, the latter can effectively intervene in world affairs. Here, the circle of motivation closes , for once again it is the driving force to persevere in this phase of far-reaching decisions.
But now a mystery unfolds, a gift of merciful love: the struggling child of God has the opportunity to visit Jesus on his night in Gethsemane and, together with him, resist the temptations of Satan. In the togetherness and intimacy with the struggling soul of Jesus, it gains insights into the nature of love that would otherwise not be possible at this point in time – resulting in a profound union between Father and Child.
How is it possible to visit Jesus Christ in Gethsemane on the night before his crucifixion? There are various possibilities: First, one can imagine oneself there in one’s mind – the more feeling, i.e., soul power, is involved, the more intense and clear the encounter will be. If one is already closely connected with the spirit of one’s heart, love creates a vivid encounter and gives the impression of actual togetherness – which is basically what it is, because in awakened soul life, spiritual vision is based on divine reality. The more intimate the love for Jesus Christ, the stronger the power for actual union.
Once the birth into the Spirit of God has taken place, one is united with Jesus always and everywhere. There can be no more separation. The reborn human being loves and lives eternally in the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
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