"By this all men will know that you are My disciples,
if you have love for one another." (John 13:35)

The only true and lasting gift that you can give to someone is your love, and the only true and lasting gift that you can receive from someone is their love. Love does not last for a lifetime - it lasts for an eternity! Love is the only thing you can take with you from this world into the next. It is the Spirit of God, and the more you love others and allow others to love you, the more God's Spirit will live within you and be a part of you, until you find that it is no longer you who live but God who lives and reigns in you. Love is a gift that cannot be lost and is never given in vain - your Father sees all! It is a gift that brings joy and renewal. It cost nothing but 'self' and cannot be bought at any price. Open your heart and receive God's love! Pray without ceasing that God will grant you a greater love, that His Spirit will possess you entirely. Become selfless; give your love and your time to all who ask of you. Love God in the simple ways, pray with a heart full of love, trust in God's mercy, praise Him daily, love all people, forgive all things, give unselfishly and do not judge anyone. You will find that the more you give, the greater will become your joy in giving, until you live as Jesus lived - to be the servant of all! True joy comes from being filled with the grace of God and God loves to pour out this grace on all who will become His children, children of love. Love is the only thing that can change our world, and it is given in abundance to all those who wish to receive it from God - who is the origin and source of all love. God is love, and love is God! You were created to love and be loved, and only in this can you find life's purpose, and your joy and consolation. God loves you more than you will ever know, more than your heart can comprehend. Jesus carried His cross to Calvary...dying to give you His love!

"To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit,
is life and peace." (Romans 8:6)

To summarise then, cultivating the Interior life has two important aims: One, to seek a perfect union with the God of love. Two, to become holy. To seek a perfect union with God we need to become one with Him, until our will, and the will of God, are one and the same. To become holy we need to overcome ourselves and master our passions, having contempt for ourselves, and the things of this world. Holiness means having faith, living humbly, being prudent, just, patient, kind, meek, chaste and diligent, carrying out our duties for no other reason than pleasing God. Jesus told us: "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:48) Cultivate the interior life then, for the kingdom of God is within you!

Has God spoken to you yet? Give Him time... Give Him YOUR time!

For further copies visit www.worksbyfaith.org

Dedicated to the Rev. J Fairweather

In appreciation for his spiritual guidance,
and for bringing the gift of Holy Communion to my bedside
during the many years of my illness.