Friday.

   My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh (Gen. 6:3).[1] Man has two opposing forces inside, but one consciousness—the human being. The characteristics of this being are determined by his inclinations. If he sides with the Spirit, he is spiritual; if he sides with the flesh, he is fleshly. The spirit does not disappear altogether even from the fleshly, but it is enslaved, and has no voice. It becomes yoked, and serves the flesh like a slave serves its mistress, inventing all sorts of pleasures for it. Similarly, the flesh does not disappear from the spiritual, but it submits to the spirit and serves it. It loses its natural rights for food through fasting, its rights for sleep through vigil, for rest through continuous labour and weariness, for pleasing the feelings through seclusion and silence. Where the flesh reigns, God does not abide; for His organ of communication with man is the spirit, which is not given its due priority in the flesh. God’s approach is felt for the first time when the spirit begins to claim its own through the operation of the fear of God and one’s conscience. When consciousness and freedom also come to help, then God communicates with man and begins to dwell in him. From that moment on begins the inspiration of the soul, the flesh and of the entire inner and outer man, while God becomes all in all in him. By becoming spiritual, man is made divine. What a marvellous benefit, and how little it is remembered, valued and sought after!

[1]The Slavonic for Gen. 6:3 reads: My Spirit shall not eternally be scorned by men, because they are flesh.