Will
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III speaks about the importance of having a heart connected to God and filled with love for goodness, yet emphasizes that love alone is not enough without a strong will. Many love God but still fall into sin due to weak will. Therefore, the Pope calls for training oneself to resist sin and to strengthen spiritual will.
🔹 Will and Conscience:
The conscience guides a person like a traffic light but does not force him to stop; will is what acts. Therefore, the conscience must be awake and the will firm and disciplined, not yielding to sin even without external supervision.
🔹 Causes of Weak Will:
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Neglecting to flee from temptation and remaining near sin.
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Allowing evil thoughts to linger too long.
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Living in corrupt environments or bad company.
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Neglecting spiritual means like the Bible, prayer, confession, and the Eucharist.
🔹 Ways to Strengthen the Will:
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Avoiding sin and its causes, as Joseph the Righteous fled from temptation.
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Staying vigilant and constantly examining oneself.
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Quickly rejecting wrong thoughts before they grow.
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Practicing self-discipline and persistence in doing good until it becomes natural.
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Living seriously with God, without excuses or compromises.
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Growing gradually in virtue and not allowing sin to enter the heart step by step.
🔹 Will and Spiritual Struggle:
Willpower grows through continual spiritual struggle, as St. Paul said: “You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.” Every time a person forces himself toward good, God’s grace comes to support him.
🔹 Spiritual Atmosphere:
Living constantly in a spiritual environment protects the soul from falling, increases love for God, and weakens the attraction to sin. Neglecting spiritual means leaves a person unarmed before the enemy.
Finally, His Holiness teaches that strengthening the will begins with a sincere decision to walk in God’s path without hesitation — firmly, like an arrow aimed at its target, not turning right or left until it reaches God.
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