The Heart – A Fire Or An Icicle?

I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts. Jeremiah 31: 33

God warms the heart and inward parts. When we feel a chill in our hearts coming from the devil (for the devil is cold) let us call on the Lord. God will come and warm us with perfect love, not only love for himself but for our neighbour as well; and at the touch of this fire Satan’s chill will vanish.

Nothing so much as idle words has power to extinguish that fire brought by Christ and enkindled in our heart by the Holy Spirit.

When mind and heart are united in prayer and the soul is wholly concentrated in a single desire for God, then the heart grows warm and the light of Christ begins to shine and fills the inward being with peace and joy.

One must constantly watch over the heart. The heart cannot live unless it is full of that water which boils in the heat of the divine fire. Without that water the heart grows cold and becomes like an icicle.
Seraphim of Zarov

The person who will not have fear of God will not have love of God. The person who will not have love of God will not have fulfilment of God’s commandment. The person who will not have fulfilment of God’s commandment will not have eternal life in heaven. For fear underlies love. Love underlies holy work. Holy work underlies eternal life in heaven.

Love of the living God cleanses the soul. It satisfies the mind. It increases rewards. It drives out vices. It despises the world. It cleanses, it concentrates thoughts.
Colman mac Beognae The Alphabet of Devotion

Kindle in our hearts, O God
the flame of that love which never ceases
that it may burn in us, giving light to others.
May we shine for ever in your temple,
set on fire with your eternal light,
even your Son Jesus Christ,
our Saviour and our Redeemer.
Columba