The Imitation of Christ. Book 1, Chapter 1-25. Day 1-5.

Day 1. The Ultimate Good (Chapter 1-7).

• Ch. 1. Because there is so much good in the world God made, we are always tempted to make good things ultimate things (Exo 20:3-4). Even knowledge of the Trinity without humility displeases God; only a virtuous life makes you dear to God.

• Ch. 2. The truths to know are the truth of who God is, and truths about ourselves (Gen 18:27; 1 Cor 15:9; Eph 3:8; 1 Tim 1:15). Love to be unknown. Think less of yourself.

• Ch. 3. All knowledge in this life--scientific, philosophical, even theological knowledge--is not as important as living a good life. Do you love God (Dt 6:5)? Or yourself? Don't trust yourself.

• Ch. 4. Don't believe everything you hear; don't believe every instinct. Don't be hasty in your actions or stubborn in your own point of view.

• Ch. 5. Don't worry about who said what; focus on what is said. Read the Bible simply, humbly, faithfully, regularly, and never seek popularity or fame (2 Tim 2:15).

• Ch. 6. There is no peace if you give yourself to the flesh, to external things, and to the world (1 Jn 2:15-17). 

• Ch. 7. Don't take pride in riches, or powerful friends, or how attractive you look (1 Sam 16:7), or how talented, skilled or smart you are, but only in God who knows your heart (Jn 2:25). Nothing is ultimate but God. There is no harm to place yourself below everyone else.

Day 2. Facing Temptations and Adversity (Chapter 8-14).

• Ch. 8. Do not open your heart to every person. Do not be familiar with any one woman (Job 31:1).

• Ch. 9. It's better to live under obedience and humbly be in submission than to exercise authority (1 Pet 1:5-6).

• Ch. 10. You do not need to speak up and give your opinion on everything (Isa 42:2; Mt 12:19).

• Ch. 11. To be at peace, don't be distracted by other people who are not your responsibility (2 Thess 3:11; 1 Tim 5:13).
• We should enjoy much peace if we did not concern ourselves with what others say and do, for these are no concern of ours.
• The greatest obstacle, indeed, the only obstacle, is that we are not free from passions and lusts.

• Ch. 12. Tough troubles, trials, tribulations and temptations are very good for your inner peace (Heb 5:8).
• Therefore, a man ought to root himself so firmly in God that he will not need the consolations of men.

• Ch. 13. To have peace, understand that no one, however holy, will ever be totally free of temptation (1 Cor 10:13).
• There is no state so holy, no place so secret that temptations and trials will not come.

• Ch. 14. Do not ever rush to judgement about anyone (Mt 7:3-5).

Day 3. Loving Patiently (Chapter 15-20).

• Ch. 15. Only work done with love--no matter how small or looked down upon--becomes wholly fruitful, for God notes the love behind the action rather than how much one does (1 Cor 13:1-3).

• Ch. 16. Strive to bear with the shortcomings of others (Gal 6:2); strive to correct ourselves, rather than others. Adversity reveals who we truly are. Don't say, "This person annoys me." Say, "This person purifies me."

• Ch. 17. If you want to live well, regard yourself as an exile and a pilgrim on earth (1 Pet 1:1), not a settler. You're called to serve, not to reign (Mk 10:42-45).

• Ch. 18. Compared to the holy fathers--who hated their lives in this world for the sake of eternal life (Jn 12:25), who fasted, hungered, prayed, labored, worked, served, and disciplined and mortified their passions (Col 3:5; Rom 8:13)--we are doing little to almost nothing.

• Ch. 19. Be who you are inwardly as who you profess to be outwardly, for God sees and knows who you truly are (1 Sam 16:7). Examine your thoughts, words, and deeds twice a day. Never be idle, but always reading, praying, writing, doing something useful. Recreate and rest, but not rot.

• Ch. 20. Give up curiosities [FOMO from online chatter] (1 Jn 2:15-17) and read what inspires. Lord, make my inside and outside match Jesus.
• Why wish to see what you are not permitted to have? Sensual craving sometimes entices you to wander around, but when the moment is past, what do you bring back with you save a disturbed conscience and a heavy heart?

Day 4. Remember Your Death (Chapter 21-23).

• Ch. 21. Compunction/Repentance. Think more of your death than of a long life.
• Happy is the man who casts from him all that can stain or burden his conscience.

• Ch. 22. Consider your wretchedness. Unless you turn to God you are a wretch. Don't despair of making spiritual progress. You still have time. Now is the time to act. Now is the time to fight. Now is a good time to put things right. 

• Ch. 23. Meditate on death. A short time is all you have left. Here today, gone tomorrow. 
• Your every thought and action should be that of a man who is to die this very day. 
• Why desire a long life if you show so little improvement. 
• A long life often makes faults worse and increases your guilt. 
• The chains of habit are too light to be felt until they're too heavy to be broken. 
• You do not get better by getting older. 
• Can you live even a single day well? 
• Live in such a way that you'll rejoice at death's hour rather than be afraid.
• Always think of death. 
• Die to the world now. 
• Despise the world now. 
• Frequently we hear of someone who died. One die it will be you. Everyone dies (Eccl 7:2; Heb 9:27).

Day 5. Preparing for Judgment (Chapter 24-25).

• Ch. 24. In all things keep your eye on the goal. You will stand before a Judge (2 Cor 5:10).
• Keep your goal always before you. No one slides into heaven.
• Learn to suffer in small things now. Subdue your passion to do God's will in all things. My whole life belongs to God, and no part of my life is mine.
• All is vanity except to love God and serve him alone (Eccl 12:13).

• Ch. 25. Be fervent for progress (1 Tim 4:15). Be willing to faithfully fight against the broken parts of our life.
• Watch over yourself, arouse yourself, warn yourself, and regardless of what becomes of others, do not neglect yourself. The more violence you do to yourself, the more progress you will make.
• The one who makes most progress is the one who strives to conquer what is most difficult.
• Seize progress wherever you find it.
• It is not good to have security in your hands or you will become lazy and proud.
• If you know what you should do, do it.
• Lost time will never come back.
• Not everyone has the same obstacles to overcome. Fight you own specific weakness and deficiency.
• If you dedicate yourself to fervor you will find great peace and your labor will be light.
• You will make progress only to the extent that you have been forceful with yourself.