My Daily Bread Book 1 Chapter 26

PART TWO
AFTER CONVERSION

Having seen your complete need of God, and of His loving attention and generosity, try to realize that He deserves the best love and loyalty which you can offer Him. How can you please Him more in your daily life? Part of this question is answered in this section.

Book One: The Way of Purification
AFTER CONVERSION
CHAPTER 26 Beginning a New Life

CHRIST: MY CHILD, do not lose the hope of making spiritual progress. You still have time. Your chance is not over yet. Why put off your good intentions until tomorrow? Now is the time for action I Begin this very moment! Here is your opportunity to make a new start. Begin your new life with the help of My grace.

2. Always keep a steady hope of achieving success. Do not let your failures discourage you. Beware also of over-confidence, so that you may not become a victim of pride or laziness.

3. Whenever you have to omit your prayers or some daily spiritual exercise, because of some urgent duty or for the sake of your neighbor, try to make up later what was omitted. Do not be too ready to omit spiritual exercises because of weariness. This can easily become a habit which will hurt you.

THINK: It is easy enough to start again. All I have to do is: (1) to examine my life, (2) face what needs to be done, (3) pray for strength, and (4) start doing it. I may fail on this occasion or that, but the main thing is that I have begun and am determined to go on trying in spite of any failures which may occur.

PRAY: Lord, now I begin I Help me to live as You desire. If it is your will, I can do it. If You want this of me, I ought to do it. Let me not be a coward and run away from Your Will. You know what is right and best. I must begin now. Lord, help me. I do not expect to become a different person overnight, just as my faults developed slowly over a period, so too will the opposite virtues grow within me. I will not be discouraged when my old faults catch me by surprise. My love for You will be proved by action, that is, by a steady, patient effort to get rid of my faults and to practice the opposite virtue. Now I begin. Amen.