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cry out to Hashem regarding spiritual goals, “You must save me!” There is no happier situation in a person’s life than will to always recite the blessings before and after eating word by
many of them told me that these words fill them with great fervor when he finds himself despairing of his own capabilities. word, with great intent. Give me the wholeness of will only to eat
to do the work of the will. That is to say, he has already toiled and done all that he healthy food and not junk food out of appetite.” The main idea is
could think of, and it did not help. Then it is fitting that a person’s request must basically be to nullify his lustful will
Everything depends on how a person interprets these words. and replace it with the will to eat solely as a way of serving Hashem.
When a person understands clearly that Hashem wants to save him to engage in complete prayer for His help, may He
and is only waiting for his work—meaning that the essence is his be blessed, because this person knows with certitude Similarly, if a person constantly makes hurtful comments, speaks
work—these words give him great impetus and he engages in the that his own work will not bring him results. But as long coarsely, and gossips, and he is still far from having attained
work stormily, with all his might and with all his fervor. But if a as he feels some power of the work of his own hand, his wholeness of will, he cannot ask Hashem, “Help me guard my
person is seeking to release himself from the yoke of work, and he prayer is incomplete. mouth immediately,” because that might result in heaven making
thinks that this way is a shortcut and he cries out to Hashem, “You him mute. Hashem’s will is that he receive his salvation of his own
must save me!” superficially and without truly working on his will When a person attains this feeling after having worked for days free choice—i.e., with his own whole and complete will. Then he
and feelings, then it is forbidden for him to tell Hashem, “You must and years, he can argue before Hashem: “Master of the universe, will receive that salvation for the rest of his life. Therefore, he
save me!” because these words anesthetize him and give him the You must save me!” Although (as was explained above) Hashem’s should ask Hashem: “Give me immediately a strong and whole
justification to continue to remain on his level. He throws all of the will is more than an “obligation,” the fact is that when a person will not to say anything forbidden. Give me the mindfulness to
work onto Hashem and thinks that he himself does not have to do cries out to Hashem, “You must save me!” he receives a very great remember this. Give me the faith. Give me the awareness. Give me
anything. influx of inspiration. These words affect the person and arouse his immediately the wholeness of will to speak only words that express
will more than do the words “You want to save me.” I myself and the service of Hashem…,” and the like.
Thus, although this wonderful practice inspires one person to my students have felt how saying these words has filled us with a
work, it takes away another person’s sense of the yoke of service. great sense of urgency. Salvation and Life
From here, I learned that different people interpret subtle and
delicate points in faith in accordance with their will. One person is However, I was hesitant to commit this to writing. That is because We want salvation for our lives, salvation that brings us blessings,
inspired to work, and another falls into a deep sleep. quite a number of people came to me and told me that they very
much enjoyed my classes because, understanding that Hashem salvation that blesses our awareness and thoughts, salvation that
will make it possible for us to receive with whole and full hands the
Bring Receipts must save them, they addressed Hashem, “You must save me!” blessing of Hashem, salvation that will make it possible for us to go
However, they thought that this meant that they would not have to
do any work: neither the work of faith—to recognize Hashem, to about everywhere in this world with the strong and forceful will to
Therefore, I have hedged this about with many explanations: understand that Hashem wants to give and that He is all-powerful— have no desire to see any forbidden sight. When we possess such
that a person should tell Hashem, “You must save me!” only with nor any true work of the will. If so, why did Hashem create them? complete intent, heaven gives us awareness and helps us guard our
true feeling. Also, when we tell Hashem, “You must save me!” we So that they would receive “the bread of shame” for free, without eyes completely. Therefore, the main thing is to pray for attaining
must bring “receipts.” There is no better receipt than a person’s any work? A person has the work of attaining complete faith and such intent to completely and swiftly nullify your evil desires and
habituation to doing the work of the will at a set time every day. complete will. Regarding that, he can say to Hashem, “You must immediately attain the complete will to serve Hashem.
That constitutes the proof that he has true will. And now when give me faith; You must give me will, because every day of my life
he asks to attain a strong and mighty will, that is a request that is I invest half an hour on the work of the will.” If all you pray for is your ultimate goal, the ultimate spiritual
reasonable and pleasing, and it is accepted. level, you are not doing the right thing. You came to this world in
However, I decided not to withold this good, because when these order to work. Do not flee that work. You must pray to be able
Similarly, the essence of prayer and request is to ask Hashem to words emerge from the entire structure of the will (as discussed to do your work: which is to say, to want with your entire intent.
give us the will itself, because that is a person’s essential quality here), they possess power, force and very wondrous light. In my You yourself must choose the good. Therefore, pray that heaven
that he may not compromise in the least. Therefore, when we classes, when I told about the student who was drowning and cried will give you the ability to choose (because, as discussed earlier at
tell Hashem, “You must,” the essence of our request is to say to out to Hashem, “You must save me!” and I inspired my students to length, the essence of free choice lies in the will).