J Heinrich Arnold-Freedom from sinful thoughts.pdf

FREEDOM FROM SINFUL THOUGHTS - D E T A C H M E N Tthat they were always tense, and never able to listen toGod.If we really desire God’s help, we should not look toourselves, but to him. Eckhardt writes:Nothing but the giving up of his will makes a true man. Thisalone is the perfect and true will, that one enters into God’s willand is without self-will. For the whole perfection of man’s willmeans being in harmony with the divine will, by willing whatGod wills.At the time when the angel appeared to Mary, nothing shehad ever done would have made her the mother of Jesus; but assoon as she gave up her will, at that same hour she truly becamemother of the Eternal Word and conceived Jesus.God has never given himself (nor will he ever give himself) toan alien will. Only where he finds his will does he impart andleave himself, with all that he is. This is true inner detachment.Then the Spirit stands immovable in the face of everything thatbefalls it, whether it is good or bad, honor or disgrace orcalumny, just as a broad mountain stands immovable in the faceof a little breeze.The just man hungers and thirsts so very much for the will ofGod, and it pleases him so much, that he wishes for nothing elseand desires nothing different from what God decrees for him. IfGod’s will were to please you in this way, you would feel just asif you were in heaven, regardless of what happens or does nothappen to you. But those who desire something different fromGod’s will get what they deserve: they are always in misery andtrouble; people do them a great deal of violence and injury, andthey suffer in every way.50