Notes from ‘Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ’

Guyon’s Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ, which has a rich and incredible history, begins with an indictment against those who would say that deep relationship is not for them:

As you pick up this book, you may feel that you simply are not one of those people capable of a deep experience with Jesus Christ. Most Christians do not feel that they have been called to a deep, inward relationship to their Lord. But we have all been called to the depths of Christ just as surely as we have been called to salvation.

… And continues with this one:

… Let no one feel left out. Jesus Christ has called us all.
 Oh, I suppose there is one group who is left out!
 Do not come if you have no heart. You see, before you come, there is one thing you must do: You must first give your heart to the Lord.
 “But I do not know how to give my heart to the Lord.”
 Well, in this little book you will learn what it means to give your heart to the Lord and how to make that gift to Him.

On the ease of prayer and relationship over time:

There are two reasons that you will find it easier each time to bring your mind under subjection to the Lord. One is that the mind, after much practice, will form a new habit of turning deep within. The second is that you have a gracious Lord!
 The Lord’s chief desire is to reveal Himself to you and, in order for Him to do that, He gives you abundant grace. The Lord gives you the experience of enjoying His presence. He touches you, and His touch is so delightful that, more than ever, you are drawn inwardly to Him.

The Law of Central Tendency:

As you come into this deeper level of knowing the Lord, you will eventually come to discover a principle I will call the law of central tendency.
 What do I mean by the law of central tendency? As you continue holding your soul deep in your inward parts, you will discover that God has a magenetic attracting quality! Your God is like a magnet! The Lord naturally drains you more and more toward Himself.
 The next thing you notice is this: As you move toward the center, the Lord also purifies you of all the things that are not of Him.
 This is illustrated in nature. Observe the ocean. The water in the ocean begins to evaporate. Then the vapor begins moving toward the sun. As the vapor leaves the earth, it is full of impurities; however, as it ascends, it becomes more refined and purified.
 What did the vapor do?
 The vapor did nothing. It simply remained passive. The purifying took place as the vapor was drawn up into the heavens!
 There is one difference between your soul and those vapors. Although the vapor can only be passive, you have the privilege of cooperating voluntarily with the Lord as He draws you inwardly toward Himself.
 When you soul is once turned toward God — the God who dwells within your spirit — you will find it easy to keep turning within. The longer you continue to turn within, the closer you will come to God and the more firmly you will cling to Him.

On being cleansed and drawing nearer to God:

… Do not be anxious and do not be so eager for action. The purest love you can ever know is that love which comes to you when the Lord is working on your soul. So let Him work. You must remain in the place He assigns to you. Agree with the instruction of a very wise man who said:
 “Put your confidence in God; remain quiet where He has placed you.” (Apocrypha)
 As you walk on in the experience we have just described, you will notice something. You will be amazed at how difficult it is to remember your sins! Forget your sins? Is this proper? Yes! And such an experience should not cause you to be uneasy. You see, forgetting your sins is a proof of your having been cleansed from them.
 It is a good thing to have forgotten your sins. It is best to forget anything that concerns you so that you can remember only God.

On how prayer should shift as you draw closer:

You may find that prayers of request become more difficult. Yes, it is true that in the past you have offered up petitions and requests with complete ease. Until now, praying this way was never difficult. But in this new relationship with your Lord, it is the Spirit who prays! And as the Spirit prays, He helps your weakness. He is making intercession for you. And He is praying according to the will of God.

On weakness:

You and I are very weak. At our best, we are very weak. If you, in your weakness, attempt to attack your enemies, you will often find yourself wounded. Just as frequently, you will even find yourself defeated.
 There is another way.
 In times of temptation and distraction, remain by faith in the simple presence of Jesus Christ. You will find an immediate supply of strength.
 This was David’s resource and support:
 “I have set the Lord always before me.
 Because he is at my right hand,
 I shall not be moved.
 Therefore, my heart is glad
 And my glory rejoices;
 My flesh also shall rest in hope.”
 (Psalm 16:8,9)
 And again in Exodus, it says:
 “The Lord shall fight for you while you keep silent.” (Exodus 14:14)

Finally, an Ecclesiastical reminder:

All true worship is “in spirit.” To be “in spirit,” the soul is annihilated. “In spirit” you enter into the purity of that Spirit that prays within you; you are drawn away from your own soulsish and human methods of prayer. You are “in reality” because you are placed in the reality of the all of God and the nothing of man.
 Dear reader, there are, in fact, only two truths: the All and the Nothing.
 Everything else is a lie. God is All; you are nothing. The only way you can pay due honor to God is by your own annihilation. As soon as this wonderful work is done, God moves in.
 There is a principle of nature here: The Lord never allows a void or an emptiness in nature to remain. He comes to the place of nothingness — of emptiness — and instantly fills it with Himself.
 He puts Himself in the very place of that which He has put to death!
 But is not annihilation a bitter thing? Oh! If only he you knew the virtue and the blessing which the soul receives from having passed into this experience. Taste it and you will be willing to have nothing else. This is the ”pearl of great price,” “the hidden treasure.” Whoever finds it, freely sells all that he has in order to purchase it. (Matthew 13:44,45)