Written by Henri Nouwen (1932-1996), a Dutch priest, professor, writer, and theologian. This is an excerpt from his book “Making All Things New.”
The spiritual life is a gift. It is the gift of the Holy Spirit, who lifts us up into the kingdom of God’s love. But to say that being lifted up into the kingdom of love is a divine gift does not mean that we wait passively until the gift is offered to us. Jesus tells us to set our hearts on the kingdom. Setting our hearts on something involves not only serious aspiration but also strong determination. A spiritual life requires human effort. The forces that keep pulling us back into a worry-filled life are far from easy to overcome.
If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. [Matthew 16:24]
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