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Praying and the reading of Scriptures should be done with joy and in moderation: (1:22) Pride not yourselves on much reading of the verses...Were a man to read a single verse with joy and radiance it would be better for him than to read with lassitude all the Holy Books of God.13 Baha'u'llah (1:23) The most acceptable prayer is the one offered with the utmost spirituality and radiance; its prolongation hath not been and is not beloved by God. The more detached and the purer the prayer, the more acceptable is it in the presence of God.14 The Bab (1:24) 'A pastor asked a little girl what she thought of her first experience in a meeting of 'holy rollers,' where they praised the Lord for hours at a time. 'The music was nice,' she said, 'but the commercial was too long.'' (1:25) If one friend feels love for another, he will wish to say so. Though he knows that the friend is aware that he loves him, he will still wish to say so...God knows the wishes of all hearts, but the impulse to pray is a natural one, springing from man's love to God... (1:26) If this love and desire are lacking, it is useless to try and force them. Words without love mean nothing. (1:27) If a person talks to you as an unpleasant duty, with no love or pleasure in his meeting with you, do you wish to converse with him?15 'Abdu'l-Baha (1:28) References: |