Source: https://www.bertha-dudde.org/en/proclamation/8701

8701 Powerful effect of the divine word....

December 16, 1963: Book 91

A powerful flow of favour flows down to earth when the word of God is supplied to men from His infinite love because they receive a measure of power with the word, which removes every spiritual weakness, which strengthens the will and guarantees man the safe ascent up. But this current of favour can only then become effective on men when man opens his heart and lets it flow in, for which his will must be prepared. The word holds the power in it to overcome all resistances, but the will of man remains free; he cannot be forced to accept favour, but the slightest turning towards God is already will directed towards Him, which causes the power of favour to have an effect, and then God no longer lets him fall, then the word will so fill him and impart power to him that he no longer lets go of him, and the rescue of his soul is certain. The word of God, His flow of favour, goes out directly from Him, and so something divine comes to earth, something divine touches the heart of a man; it fills him and must now inevitably also have an effect, because a divine gift of favour can never be without effect, and its effect can always only be positive.... It must strengthen the weak, heal the sick, make the blind see, comfort the unhappy, give new hope to the hopeless.... It must inevitably lead back to Him that which once fell away from God. And so therefore man, who is an imperfect being through his own fault, must again become perfect, because the power out of God.... His word.... is able to do everything, because it can never remain ineffective. And this exceedingly great gift of favour is at the disposal of you men; it flows down to earth uninterruptedly; it touches all hearts, which open themselves voluntarily, and it brings certain salvation to him who receives it, who lets God's word have an effect in him. For the word is a ray of favour, which brings light, which means light, which penetrates all darkness and gives brightest knowledge.... But men are unhappy as long as they dwell in darkness of spirit.... Although intellectually they are not aware of their dark spiritual state because they are mostly content with worldly knowledge.... But that the soul lies in torment as long as no real light shines for it, men do not consider. And for the soul a spiritual knowledge is the right light, and this is given to it through the word, which is led directly from above to earth.... The soul receives out of the hand of God what it urgently needs, because it is still in darkness as long as it walks along without right spiritual knowledge. And it is the soul alone which also feels the power of the word; it is the soul on which the word of God has an effect, which heals and perfects itself, as well as a power current flows to it directly from above.... as soon as God Himself addresses it and also supplies it with the strength with His word which it needs in order to perfect itself still on earth. The intellect of man will feel little touched when the word of God sounds to him, and the soul also only then when it is willing to love, because love establishes the contact between the soul and God, which is necessary for the overflowing of His word and His power. But then the soul draws an immeasurable benefit from it, because the power out of God has an effect on the soul with all power; it also gives itself willingly to this power; it opens itself more and more; it matures and wins a knowledge, which can never be given to it otherwise than through His word, which truly also includes all power of proof in itself. Who once has received the word of God in him, which is sent to him unimagined from above, he will no longer want to exchange with other men, and no matter how richly blessed these still seem to be with earthly goods. Nothing can outweigh the spiritual goods, which are taken possession of by the soul, because these lead to ever more intimate union with God, which again includes all happiness. And before the end that flow of favour will flow stronger and stronger; everyone will be able to refresh himself in it; no-one will be denied to drink at the spring and to absorb the power of the word in himself. Only the free will of man will always be demanded, because God will never force the proofs of His love upon him who opposes Him. But unlimited He will give to him who desires His gift. And from God truly only the most delicious goes out, because God alone can impart right food and right drink to the soul and because He knows what His creatures need to again reach happiness, which they once voluntarily gave away. Again they are allowed to hear His word as in the beginning when they just want to open themselves and listen to Him. And then they are saved for time and eternity.... then they will live and no longer lose this life for ever...._>Amen

Translated by Doris Boekers