Source: https://www.bertha-dudde.org/en/proclamation/2925

2925 Overcoming mistakes and shortcomings.... struggle and victory....

October 14, 1943: Book 37

No spiritual progress can be made if a person does not consciously work on himself, i.e. strive with all his strength to become perfect. He is indeed weak and will not be able to rid himself of his shortcomings and faults by his own efforts. However, he must first recognize himself and then, recognizing his faults and weaknesses, request the necessary strength from God to overcome them. He must not allow himself to be driven without will, he must not remain inactive where he is to muster the strength of resistance that will make him victorious over his weaknesses and shortcomings. This is the battle without which no human being can reach the heights, this is spiritual progress, that the human being conquers himself, that he successfully works on himself, that he changes and discards the faults which stamp him as an imperfect being. For for this purpose he goes his last earthly life path in free will, that he fights against all bad instincts which he has brought with him into his last embodiment, that he strives upwards, towards Godlikeness. And for this purpose he was given the intellect, the gift of cognition, so that he can account to himself to what extent his nature, his actions and thoughts correspond to God's will. He should criticize himself strictly and without embellishment, he should do everything that is beneficial to his soul, and this includes inner reflection on his worth and unworthiness; he must try to shape himself with his eyes turned towards God in order to become an image of God, and he must know that a person's faults and shortcomings are obstacles to coming close to God. Consequently, if he aspires to God, he must first eliminate these faults.... and, recognizing his weakness, he must sincerely call upon God for help, he must request strength for his work of transformation, and he must want to become like God, to discard everything ungodly and gain victory over all weaknesses and faults. God respects his sincere will and He will also give him the necessary strength and enlighten him as to how he should use this strength in order to achieve success, to progress in his development, to mature his soul and to emerge victorious over himself....

amen

Translated by Doris Boekers