NEUOFFENBARUNG← Gifts of Heaven · Volume 1 · Contents
Prayer – the best educational tool
18th April 1841, afternoon
[1] Listen, My dear Andreas Willig, as far as your nephew L. is concerned, he is paralyzed in his active will-zeal by a sluggish spirit. Therefore, he will indeed not be easily incited to do anything good by whatever means of coercion, and that is until this spirit has departed from him.
[2] But such spirits are not to be expelled except by persistent prayer – that does not mean hour-long prayers, but to persist in firm and living faith and trust with prayer in My name, through which alone every request can and will find sure granting.
[3] But only I know when the prayer has reached the just power of faith. Success always depends on the self-acting power of faith. The more this holds firmly and unshakenly to My name, the closer is also the success, which always lies in the complete, undoubted surrender, patience and all love and gentleness.
[4] But when this has reached the right degree, only I know, as already said. Therefore, patience must not be excluded in every request, so that everyone checks himself how strongly he holds on to My name.
[5] But to every petition should be added: Lord, do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Do that, and you will make your nephew a willing and eager man.
[6] But let him pray with you more often and tell him that he should also pray diligently himself and overcome himself. Even if it should cost him so much effort, the more joy he will have in the victory over himself achieved in My name. This is the best means and the most infallibly effective!
[7] By the way, every means that sprouts from My love in you, is a suitable one and gradually leads to the purpose. The humbling ones are the better ones, which are only to be used when a rebellious spirit should show itself in a significant degree. For these indolent spirits usually have small unruly spirits with them as faithful companions. But as already said: persistent prayer is the best remedy against everything!
[8] Besides, My dear Willig, look only at the formation of the heart in all your children! For this alone counts with Me. Everything else has no value with Me. And if your children would know more than Solomon in all his wisdom, then all your efforts would be like those of the goldsmiths, whose enterprises have always been reduced to ashes.
[9] Therefore, teach the children to be humble and trust in My name, and you will become a good worker of My vineyard and be satisfied with My reward forever! Amen.
[10] This I say, in Whose name all power and strength is hidden!