Gifts of Heaven · Volume 2 · Chapter 339

Practice makes perfect

29th June 1844

[1] Give therefore to him that thirsts a little, this good drink. For I gladly give everything to those who look forward to My gift. But to those who fear My gifts, I do not give so gladly, because I Myself, through some secret pressure of conscience, do not want to have anybody misled in his freedom!

[2] My little daughter is also a little afraid, but that is why I gladly give her something, because she loves Me in secret!

[3] But let that be the gift! Listen to Me, you My dear little daughter!

[4] If a man who is ill and hungry, and would like to be healed and be satisfied, and has a good medicine and a table full of the best food before him, but does not take medicine and does not eat of the food, but only smells both the medicine and the food, and thinks that even the smell alone will heal and satisfy him, do you think, My daughter, that this man will be healed and satisfied by the mere smell of medicine and food?

[5] Oh no! He will only get weaker and weaker and will finally die of hunger, just as one who had nothing to eat! For the fragrance strengthens and blissfully satisfies the healthy and satiated man, but where the stomach is still empty, the mere fragrance is obviously too little!

[6] See, My dear little daughter! So now there are sick and hungry people in large numbers in the world. These people are calm and have good and honest morals, but they make their own stupid laws in their nature, according to which they find the best taste and greatest pleasure in everything good and true. But still they don't want to bite into what is good and true themselves!

[7] They also resemble those who always love and admire the artists. But in no case do they want to become artists themselves; for there they consider the effort and then do not have the courage to put their hands to work. They would very much like to be artists themselves, too, when they hear other artists or look at their works – if only becoming an artist were not connected with so much effort!

[8] But for this reason it is also said: “Many are called, but only a few are chosen.”

[9] Behold, so it goes with all that is of the spirit. I tell you: there is not enough seeing and hearing. To the artist this is certainly enough to strengthen him, but the layman will reap little for himself in a concert!

[10] And so it is with My gifts too! They should not only be read but also practiced at work! Only then will they bring true living benefit to the reader and listener.

[11] If you therefore only diligently practice living love for Me and become a true virtuoso in it, you will only then see alive in yourself how great each of My gifts is for ever!

[12] This is My desire for you, My little daughter. Obey Me actively, and you will have life for ever. Amen.