Source: https://www.bertha-dudde.org/en/proclamation/0630

0630 All beginnings are difficult.... willpower.... prayer during war.... controversy over God's word....

October 20, 1938: Book 13

All beginnings are difficult.... this is how your work began. Every great work must be preceded by a struggle that first matures the will to tackle this work. And only then will a person's perseverance show how strong his will is. If increased willpower is already present at the beginning of a work, it will have to increase the further a work has progressed. There is often a danger that the will will slacken, that the person will become discouraged by failures or that a certain indifference will set in with every work begun, which then results in a weakening of the will, and then the work is easily in danger of being broken off and remaining unfinished. You would also be in such danger if you did not continue to ask for help. This work should not suffer any interruption, it should be continued with all love with the support of the active spiritual beings from above, and so the strength will also continue to be transmitted to you if only you willingly place yourself at the lord and saviour's disposal. The lord has His wise plans, and nothing is to be carried out under compulsion, and therefore time and again the human being himself must struggle and withstand every temptation which could weaken his will. Then you will hear the word spoken in your heart, and the fountain from which you may draw will be opened to you at all times, and your heart will be refreshed, and your will will be strengthened and constantly ready to serve only the lord. You will be able to penetrate the inner being of man and recognize the maturity of his spirit. Humility and modesty will be recognizable to you in the eyes of man, and you will be able to distinguish the genuine from the false. But then it is also up to you to devote yourself to your task with increased fervour, for the time is drawing ever closer when the battle for the word of God will begin. People know how to pray when they are in danger of war, but they are relaxed about the battle for the word of God, which is a thousand times more important because it can have even more dreadful consequences for the soul. This battle affects them so little and yet should arouse all their horror on the one hand and their full willingness on the other, and far more attention should be paid to this battle. For what the soul can reduce or lose through it is so immensely important.... the loss is infinitely painful and the gain just as unspeakably blissful. Therefore, man's prayer should be far more focussed on the battle and struggle for the victory of the word of God, so that man may emerge from it safe and sound....

Amen

Translated by Doris Boekers