• “Desire is a mystery, and sex is its funeral,” remarks Parthenope at one point. But longing for her beauty to remain closed off to others—a vision to be admired, not a spectacle to be consumed—leaves her as alienated from the human experience as the timeless deities to which she’s compared.

    —Roger Ebert

  • To me, the world is transient, not the essence.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Dialogue with the Divine

  • If somebody refuses to do the will of God, let them suffer the consequences of their wrong choice. Let them suffer, but pray for them, and they will return back.

    —H.E. Metropolitan Youssef, How to Know the Will of God

  • Q4. How does one know what is the gift that God has given them? Is there something that is supposed to be revealed at a certain time? Is there anything one can do to speed up the process of finding our gift?

    Yes, you can pray about it and God will help you, to reveal your gift to you. Also, you can listen to the feedback other people give you. For example, people will say to you, “You have leadership qualities”;

    “You know, when I talk to you, I feel comfortable,” so perhaps your gift is counseling, or you may be good at administration. So listen to the feedback from other people.

    —H.E. Metropolitan Youssef, How to Know the Will of God

  • Q3. How do you know when a door is closed by God?

    As I told you, you will not have peace about this way. When you ask many people, they will not be comfortable about this way. As I told you, God is not the author of confusion. God will send you certain signs or verses or messages, assuring you that this is not the way. When you try to knock on this door or to pursue it, you will find may challenges.

    So, when you put all these things together, then you will know that this door is not for you. It is closed.

    —H.E. Metropolitan Youssef, How to Know the Will of God

  • So, examine the circumstances around you.

    Perhaps the job for which you have applied several times is not God’s plan for you to get. You may need to apply in another company, for another job. You need to look at the circumstances. Yes, there are some doors which will be closed, but this does not mean that God does not like you, God hates you, God rejects you, God does not love you. It does not mean all of these. It can simply mean that this is not the will of God for you. Look at the open doors. But, also, I want to warn you here that not every open door is necessarily the will of God. That is why you need to follow the mentioned steps not only this one step.

    —H.E. Metropolitan Youssef, How to Know the Will of God

  • It can be one or two questions, or more; write all of them and then sit in silence waiting for God to speak to you. Be assured that when you train yourself, then an idea or a thought will come to your mind, which you have never thought about, and it will give you peace.

    —H.E. Metropolitan Youssef, How to Know the Will of God

  • Pray each day, and each time you pray, ask God, “Lord, what do you want me to do?” I assure you that if you pray faithfully and sincerely, God will reveal His will to You.

    —H.E. Metropolitan Youssef, How to Know the Will of God

  • Pay attention to how God has gifted you. His plan, and His will for you, is directly related to the gift He has given you. See what your gifts are, and then it will make it very easy to know the will of God for you.

    —H.E. Metropolitan Youssef, How to Know the Will of God

  • I encourage you to be in church every single time the doors are open. This will lead you to be more involved with godly people and with the community of the believers, and this will help you more and more to discover and to discern the will of God.

    —H.E. Metropolitan Youssef, How to Know the Will of God