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Quoting an unnamed writer: 'To this day,' she writes, 'I cannot understand dallying with religion and the commandments of God. The very instant I heard my Father's cry calling unto me, my heart bounded in recognition. I ran, I stretched forth my arms, I cried aloud, 'Here, here I am, my Father.' Oh, happy child, what should I do? 'Love me', answered my God. 'I do, I do,' I cried passionately. 'Come unto me,' called my Father. 'I will,' my heart panted. Did I stop to ask a single question? Not one. It never occurred to me to ask whether I was good enough, or to hesitate over my unfitness, or to find out what I thought of his church, or . . . to wait until I should be satisfied. Had I not found my God and my Father? Did he not love me? Had he not called me? Was there not a Church into which I might enter? . . . Since then I have had direct answers to prayer - so significant as to be almost like talking with God and hearing his answer. The idea of God's reality has never left me for one moment.'

William James#61

ReligionExperienceFaithSpiritualityConversionPrayer

About this quote

What does it mean?
Genuine religious conversion involves an immediate, joyful response to divine calling without hesitation or calculation of worthiness.
In plain terms
True faith is a immediate joyful response to God without hesitation.
What can you take from it?
Approach faith with immediate acceptance rather than waiting to feel worthy.

Where it applies

  • spiritual seeking
  • religious practice
  • personal faith

Putting it to work

  • respond immediately to calling
  • seek direct connection
  • embrace faith

Questions to consider

  • How do you respond to spiritual calls?
  • Is hesitation a barrier to faith?

Another view

Some may find it hard to ignore questions of worthiness or theological details.

More from William James

  1. The sentiment of reality can indeed attach itself so strongly to our object of belief that our whole life is polarized through and through, so to speak, by its…

    Permalink to quote #60
  2. Let sanguine healthy-mindedness do its best with its strange power of living in the moment and ignoring and forgetting, still the evil background is really the…

    Permalink to quote #62
  3. We can act as if there were a God; feel as if we were free; consider Nature as if she were full of special designs; lay plans as if we were to be immortal; and…

    Permalink to quote #59

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