The Imitation of Christ. Book 2. Chapter 6-9: The Joy of a Clean Conscience. Day 7.

Day 7. Book 2. Chapter 6-9: The Joy of a Clean Conscience. A clean conscience always brings peace. Profound freedom is found in detachment from praise and criticism. Accept the truth of who you are before God.

• Love God more than yourself, more than what you desire. (Dt 6:5)

• God wants you for Himself and will tolerate no rivals. (Exo 20:3-4)

• With Jesus everything is good; without Him everything is hard. (Rom 8:28)

• Blessed are you to disregard yourself for Jesus' sake. (Lk 9:23)

• A clean conscience is a good man's pillow.  If you have a good conscience you will always have joy, even in adversity (Ac 24:16; 1 Pet 3:16; 1 Tim 1:5; 2 Cor 7:4)

• Don't rejoice when you're praised or be depressed when you're criticized or rejected. (1 Cor 4:3-5)

• Who you are right now is who you actually are. You are not greater than what God knows you to be. (2 Cor 5:17; Gal 2:20; Eph 2:10; Col 3:3)

• If God gives you consolation, know that it's a gift and not what you deserve. (Eph 2:8-9)

Ch. 6: The joy of a good conscience. If you have a good conscience you will always have joy. One whose conscience is clean will easily be content and at peace. A good conscience can bear a whole lot and be very joyful in adversity (2 Cor 7:4). A clean conscience is a good man's pillow.

• The wicked never have true joy and never experience inner peace (Isa 48:22). Sorrow always accompanies the glory of the world (2 Cor 7:10).
• One who doesn't worry much about praise or rebukes has great tranquility of heart (Jn 14:27; Ps 37:7; Isa 26:3). [He has great tranquility of heart who cares neither for the praises nor the fault-finding of men.] You are not holier if you are praised, nor more evil if you are blamed or accused. If you focus on what you are within your own self, you will not care about what people say about you.
• Man sees the action, but God weighs the intention. You are what you are and not greater that what God knows you to be.
• Refusing consolation from a creature is a sign of great purity.

Ch. 7: Loving Jesus above all else. Blessed are you to disregard yourself for Jesus' sake. If you seek yourself you will find yourself, but to your own ruin.

• Love God more than yourself, more than what you want for yourself.
• God wants you for himself and will tolerate no rivals.

Ch. 8: Intimate friendship with Jesus. When Jesus is there everything is good, but when Jesus is not there everything is a challenge.

•  You quickly drive Jesus away and lose his grace if you choose to turn toward externals.
• Everyone should be loved for Jesus' sake, but Jesus for his own sake.
• Be inwardly pure and free without being caught up with any creature.

Ch. 9: Lacking all consolation/solace. Learn how to give up a needed and beloved friend for the love of God. 

• One not tested or seasoned by a trial for God is not worthy of deeply contemplating God. Divine consolation is granted in order that you may be strong enough to bear adversities.