Source: https://www.bertha-dudde.org/en/proclamation/0791

0791 Overcoming earthly desires increases resilience....

February 28, 1939: Book 16

You all live too much to your flesh and pay too little attention to the soul, and therefore you will also lack resilience. Only those who desire the strengthening and nourishment of the soul will find it easy to overcome. But how often do you fall prey to temptation and still choose the comforts of the world, and this makes you weak. Only when the body willingly renounces everything that appeals to it and contributes to its well-being will it feel the power of resistance within itself, and it will not need to worry about succumbing in the struggle. Do not give in to the urges of the body, but desire only the good of the soul, and you will grow and mature in spirit. For those who love the lord with all their heart must give up everything for Him, they need nothing more if they carry Him in their heart, but the lord only comes when all love and all desire is for Him alone. You want to strengthen your faith in visible signs and do not realize how little you yourselves do to make faith strong in you. Pay attention to yourselves and your desires and try to silence the latter within you.... put up the right resistance to them.... and your strength will increase, you will grow stronger in faith and you will truly have no need to fear your own weakness. But a warning is issued to humanity not to reject the lord's work lightly, for He has chosen this path in order to send news of unheard-of significance to the whole world. In a time that has probably never been more serious, the lord puts Himself in the middle and tries to save what can still be saved. And this in the same way that He expresses Himself directly. He Himself is embodied in every word, He continues to give His teachings to people, He also ensures that they are received by people, but their will still opposes the divine will too much. And so there is always only a small part which recognizes the lord Himself in His word. But very soon the deeds that He has announced in His word will also follow. And all will tremble before God's power and wisdom. They will hear Him and fear Him, for even if He admonishes in love and patience, even if it is His intention to uplift people and proclaim the truth to their spirit, He will nevertheless also bear witness to His power and those who do not want to recognize Him will hear the voice of His wrath. Pay attention to that time and expect it so that it does not take you by surprise. Most people will indeed see nothing and even in the midst of the greatest events will not feel the nearness of the lord, for they do not see with spiritual eyes but only behold the world and its goings-on, and steering upwards is without success. But he who tries to overcome himself and does not respect the desires of the world will recognize the time brightly and clearly and stand in the midst of great world events, which will mean radiant light for one person but also dark night for another and the beginning of another time, a time of spiritual striving. Whoever then fully surrenders to the father's guidance is travelling the right path.... the path to eternal home, to eternal peace....

Amen

Translated by Doris Boekers