Preserve Inner Zeal

St. Theophan the Recluse (+1894) warns Christians about forgetfulness and the remembrance of God, and gives us two examples of what can cause us to grow lukewarm:

"You have zeal for salvation. When you have this zeal, it shows itself in a fervent care for salvation. It is absolutely necessary to avoid lukewarmness. This is how lukewarmness arises: it begins with forgetfulness. God's gifts are forgotten, and so is God Himself, and our salvation in Him, and the danger of being without God; and the remembrance of death disappears--in a word, the whole spiritual realm is closed to us. This is due to the enemy, or to the dispersion of thoughts by business cares and excessive social contacts. When all is forgotten the heart grows cool, and its sensitivity to spiritual things is interrupted: and so we fall into a state of indifference, and then into negligence and carelessness. As a result, spiritual occupations are postponed for a time, and afterwards abandoned completely. And then we begin again our old way of life, careless and negligent, forgetful of God, seeking only our own pleasure. Even if there is nothing disorderly in it, do not look for anything divine. It will be an empty life.

"If you do not want to fall into this abyss, beware of the first step--that is, forgetfulness. Therefore walk always in godly recollections--in remembrance of God and divine things. This will keep you sensitive to such things, and these two together--recollection and sensitivity--will set you on fire with zeal. And here will be life indeed."