Source: https://www.bertha-dudde.org/en/proclamation/0552

0552 Inner voice.... but never compulsion.... child learns to use will first....

August 22, 1938: Book 12

Everything done on earth will be judged according to the degree of love that dominates the person at the time it is carried out. And the reward will also be measured according to this. If you now have the desire in you to be helpful to a person and you carry out a good deed in this desire, only ever out of love for your neighbour, then such a deed will have an effect for eternity as it were, because a divine power is inherent in it, by virtue of which the soul spiritualizes itself and separates itself from the desire of the body. Although it still dwells in its shell, it has nevertheless moved considerably closer to the divine spirit and can now be strengthened by the divine grace which overflows into the heart capable of love.

Every activity of love is preceded by the quiet voice of God.... it will always admonish the human child to do what is beneficial to his soul. However, as soon as opposing forces take effect which want to determine the heart to only do that which could bring the person earthly benefit, then he now has to endure an inner battle and free will is compelled to express itself.... And thus every action will be preceded by a directive from God to do what is right, yet the person's own will will be decisive and therefore he can never be forced into doing what his will does not approve of. He therefore learns to use his will far sooner than he hears the divine voice within himself and will therefore also be responsible for his actions. The very first decision is often decisive for the later development of the soul.

A child which turns to love of its own accord will not run the risk of ever going astray, for the soul turned to the good of its own accord, was supported by grace and therefore did not easily lose its connection with the good spirit world, the strength is granted to it time and again and it produces new works of love again. Whereas a being which only nourishes self-love within itself will seek every advantage for its body but creates a bad state for the soul because it lets it starve and without divine grace it hardly becomes aware of its actual purpose and therefore its activity of love is truly very small.... whereas a loving soul cannot do enough for itself, for the spirit of love is constantly at work in it. Every good deed is an inexhaustible source of grace.... it provides the human being with the strength to work in love, and therefore every good deed also has the blessing in itself that it awakens love where such is still dormant and thus a single deed of love can have an infinitely happy and beneficial effect on the soul....

Amen

Translated by Doris Boekers