Being and Doing – 7 December – Discouragement

DO NOT be discouraged at your faults;  bear with yourself in correcting them, as you would with your neighbour.   Lay aside this ardour of mind, which exhausts your body, and leads you to commit errors.   Accustom yourself gradually to carry prayer into all your daily occupations.   Speak, move, work in peace, as if you were in prayer, as indeed you ought to be.   Do everything without excitement, by the spirit of grace.   As soon as you perceive your natural impetuosity gliding in, retire quietly within, where is the Kingdom of God.    Listen to the leadings of grace, then say and do nothing but what the Holy Spirit shall put in your heart.    You will find that you will become more tranquil, that your words will be fewer and more effectual, and that, with less effort, you will accomplish more good.

FÉNÉLON

DISCOURAGEMENT is an inclination to give up all attempts after the devout life, in consequence of the difficulties by which it is beset, and our already numerous failures in it.   We lose heart; and partly in ill-temper, partly in real doubt of our own ability to persevere, we first grow querulous and peevish with God, and then relax in our efforts to mortify ourselves and please Him.   It is a sort of shadow of despair, and will lead us into numberless venial sins the first half-hour we give way to it.

F. W. FABBR

oooOOOooo

These quotes are from ‘Being and Doing’ A selection of helpful thoughts from various authors arranged for daily reading.

Collected by Constance M Whishaw and first published in 1908 for members of the Being and Doing Guild whose object is to do all they can for the relief of suffering and misery.

Most of the writers are 19th Century Christians from Britain and Europe who were committed to living their faith through deeds as well as words – Being AND Doing.

For many years these words have kept me company and encouraged me on the journey of faith.  I hope they will encourage others also.