Source: https://www.bertha-dudde.org/en/proclamation/7135

7135 Prayer in spirit and in truth....

May 31, 1958: Book 76

Words alone are not enough if they lack inner life. How easily words are spoken, often only with the mouth, so that even the intellect is not involved.... but even words which the intellect controls need not yet carry the right spirit within themselves, and thus they do not reach My ear either, because I as spirit can only be called upon in spirit and in truth. And therefore the words have to be born in the heart because I only pay attention to what is spirit and truth. Only once you humans have fallen into profound adversity and in this adversity turned to the one Who alone was able to help you will you understand what I regard as 'prayer in spirit and in truth'.... For thousands upon thousands of prayers are merely uttered by the mouth, and these prayers are so worthless and will never reach My ear, for they are and remain lip prayers which are an abomination before Me. Yet your intellect can also participate in them and yet the prayers do not flow from your heart, you only think about the meaning of the words, you do some mental work but you do not speak trustingly and humbly to your father of eternity Who only listens to such a voice of His child and responds to it. But you humans should not take pleasure in endless lip prayers, you should not take part in such prayers which people elevate to daily exercises, which the masses indulge in and believe to have 'prayed'. For you all know the words of the scriptures: "This people honours Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me...." Why do you not heed these words, why do you do the same, murmuring long prayers before you which can never reach My ear...? Why do you waste your time with useless customs and do not retire to your closet once a day to talk to Me in all intimacy and openness?.... You will always find an open ear with Me for all your concerns, for your needs and worries, and you will always be able to count on My help, but you will never achieve anything in that way, for your heart will remain dead and cold, your heart will not participate in what your mouth utters. And as long as you don't feel repelled by senseless behaviour, as long as you still take part in it, you cannot expect that I will pay attention to your wishes and requests. And if you receive fulfilment then you can put this on My adversary's account who wants to keep you in spiritual darkness more and more and who tries to prevent a heartfelt bond with Me with all his might. But your intellect should already tell you that you cannot make your God and father inclined towards you in this way, if you would even think about yourselves and your relationship with Him. What you do is so obviously wrong that every person could recognize it for himself.... And therefore you will one day have to answer for every thoughtlessly spoken word which applied or should apply to your creator.... For you cannot say that you were not repeatedly reminded to pray 'in spirit and in truth'.... in order to detach yourselves from the one who seeks to entrap you in lies and error....

Amen

Translated by Doris Boekers