Living According to God's Will: Principles for the Christian Journey

by Philaret Voznesensky

"The task of man’s earthly life is preparing himself for eternal salvation and blessedness. To attain this, a man must live in a holy and pure manner - that is, according to God’s will." In this short but incisive treatise the reader is guided on a spiritual journey that begins with the awakening of conscience and the realization of the presence of both sin and virtue in the world, culminating in a union with God: that is “a living, personal relationship with the one we love.” In following the path of this ascent, the author delineates many of its markers and stresses that these have both personal and societal aspects. This book is suitable for both private reading and group study. Questions for discussion or contemplation are interspersed throughout this edition. A short biography of the author is also included.

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

saint in Russian orthodoxy, metropolitan of New York

Reviews

[Kaj Efrayim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book is great! I also recommend How to Live a Holy Life by Metropolitan Gregory Postnikov, which is similar in its call to our Life in Christ.

[Gregory Korbut · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book on the recommendation of a parishioner and am very glad I did. In less than 100 pages, many of the truths of the Orthodox Church, sometimes taken for granted, are laid out very plainly. It is comforting to find that this work, composed in recent times, flows consistently with the Holy Tradition of the Church, as expressed by clergy today and the fathers of centuries past.

I wonder if the 'matter of fact' nature of this book might scare away some inquirers to Orthodoxy? The book is a jolt, a shot in the arm for those who have (like myself) drifted toward a more intellectualized faith, directing us back to one more experiential, the relationship with God and with our neighbor.

This short but powerful text has 30 chapters, each a few pages long, addressing aspects of Christianity (and in some cases rightly noting its decline). One could easily read a chapter and then ponder it days, formulating questions, discuss them with friends or clergy, digging deeper into their own heart. A very useful tool for self examination!

I purposely read this once through without a highlighter, and I know I will return to this for a more in-depth and thoughtful reading in the near future.