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�MY Son, lose thyself and thou shalt find Me. Stand
still without all choosing and all thought of self, and thou shalt ever be
a gainer. For more grace shall be added to thee, as soon as thou resignest
thyself, and so long as thou dost not turn back to take thyself again.�
[Mat 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and
whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.]
2. O Lord, how often shall I resign myself, and in what things shall I
lose myself?
3. �Always; every hour: in that which is little, and in that which is
great. I make no exception, but will that thou be found naked in all
things. Otherwise how canst thou be Mine and I thine, unless thou be
inwardly and outwardly free from every will of thine own? The sooner thou
dost this, the better shall it be with thee; and the more fully and
sincerely, the more thou shalt please Me, and the more abundantly shalt
thou be rewarded.
[Luk 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from
me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. ]
4. �Some resign themselves, but with certain reservations, for they do
not fully trust in God, therefore they think that they have some provision
to make for themselves. Some again at first offer everything; but
afterwards being pressed by temptation they return to their own devices,
and thus make no progress in virtue. They will not attain to the true
liberty of a pure heart, nor to the grace of My sweet companionship,
unless they first entirely resign themselves and daily offer themselves up
as a sacrifice; without this the union which bringeth forth fruit standeth
not nor will stand.
[Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of
God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto
God, which is your reasonable service.]
5. �Many a time I have said unto thee, and now say again, Give thyself
up, resign thyself, and thou shalt have great inward peace. Give all for
all; demand nothing, ask nothing in return; stand simply and with no
hesitation in Me, and thou shalt possess Me. Thou shalt have liberty of
heart, and the darkness shall not overwhelm thee. For this strive thou,
pray for it, long after it, that thou mayest be delivered from all
possession of thyself, and nakedly follow Jesus who was made naked for
thee; mayest die unto thyself and live eternally to Me. Then shall all
vain fancies disappear, all evil disturbings, and superfluous cares. Then
also shall immoderate fear depart from thee, and inordinate love shall
die.�
[Isa 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is
stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee. ]
* * *
Thomas � Kempis. (b. 1379 or 1380, d.
1471). The Imitation of Christ. The Harvard Classics.
1909�14. Book III: On Inward Consolation XXXVII. Of Pure and
Entire Resignation of Self, for the obtaining Liberty of Heart
[Scripture references above cited and inserted by editor-JoyPals.com]
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