Did your heart become hard as a street through much listening to the radio, or to your own occupied thoughts, that there is no place for the word of God within you? Are you like a stone in the midst of a river, into which no wetness comes? Ask your Lord for brokenness of your hard heart, in order that you should not become like a road paved with cement, but like a fertile ground, good for the sowing of the word of God. If you did not repent, the devil would come personally, and take away the holy seed from you. The evil one, first of all, wants you to forget the powerful word of God. He makes you busy, after your listening to sermons, with idle babblings, exciting clamor, excessive pastime, and futile imaginations in order that your listening to the word should be in vain. Be watchful how to hear! Keep the word of the Lord with determination and steadiness, and memorize many verses. Do not think that your knowledge of the Lord’s counsel is enough. You are just a novice.
Keep away from enthusiasm in following Christ. You are not righteous and skillful enough, nor are you worthy of serving him. He wants first to change your heart, and crush your mind completely, that you may penetrate deeply into his words, and take power from them. Do not be superficial, but open your heart completely to the grace of God, for its power can keep you in the times of trouble, so that you may become patient and love your enemies. Ask your Lord to break your superficiality, imaginations, and self-righteousness that you may become righteous.
Do you love both money and the Lord simultaneously? Are you trying to gain honor and self-denial simultaneously? Do you trust the All-Ruling and wish to manage your life simultaneously? Are you satisfied with the joy of Christ, or are you also searching in the mud of amusement? Christ wants you to be perfect to him. He does not crown a divided heart. If you do not give up yourself completely and forever to Christ, the spirit of the world will choke you, and worries will overburden you. Then you will not find power in yourself, for Christ is the only Deliverer and Savior.
No man has a good, clean heart as a good ground, but the word of Christ makes us useful, and prepares us for hearing, believing, and good working. Be aware that the fruits of the Holy Spirit do not grow in one day in a heart that was already filled with evil. In order to strengthen your faith, you need patience, longsuffering, and constant confidence in the mercy of God, for it is he who bears you. Abide in him and he in you that you may bear much fruit.