Wesley summarized his search for Christian perfection in his work, A Plain Account of Christian Perfection. As I work my way through this piece I find my own heart longing for this work of Christ in me. It is a lifelong journey. Without knowing it, I’ve been living out Wesley’s journey for quite some time. It is wonderful to see so many other authors I respect pick up on what Wesley said… and to have Wesley pick up on what others said before his time.

Here is the sum of the prefect law, the circumcision of the heart. Let the spirit return to God that gave it, with the whole train of its affections… Let it be continually offered up to God through Christ, in the flames of holy love.

Learn that it is Christ alone we are to pursue. God is jealous of all other pursuits. His cry to us is this: “Knock it off!”

My mind, my heart, my very affections need to be turned toward Christ. It is in this pursuit I am so deeply grateful for the works of Dallas Willard, John Ortberg, and Richard Foster. They have written in a way that draws me in and turns my attention to the living Christ. It is about one holy pursuit. One holy passion. It is Christ.

Wesley shares his journey with his readers:

In the beginning of the year 1738, as I was returning from (America), the cry of my heart was, O grant that nothing in my soul may dwell, but thy pure love alone! O may thy love possess me whole, My joy, my treasure and my crown! Strange fires fare from my heart remove; My every act, word, thought, be love!