The Rebbe was once speaking to one of his followers. In the midst of their conversation, they heard someone reciting the evening Ma'ariv prayer. He was up to “Hashkivenu” and was saying very quickly, “Vetakneinu be'eitzah tovah milfanekha – And remedy us with good counsel from before You.”
The Rebbe said to his follower, “See how this man is saying, ‘Remedy us with good counsel,’ running through the words. Doesn’t he realize that he must say these words with great emotion and feeling from the very depths of his heart? This is a most precious prayer. You must always beg that God have mercy and grant us good counsel and advice, that we may be worthy of knowing what is right” (see “His Wisdom” #52).
The Rebbe himself said, “When the day begins, I surrender my every movement to God. I ask that every motion I may make be as God would want it. I ask the same for all my children and other dependants. On Shabbat and festivals, I also surrender the entire day to God, praying that every action be as God’s would wish. Then as things occur that day – or that Shabbat – I am not disturbed that my observance might not be proper” (cf. “His Wisdom” #2). Understand this.
הָיָה מְדַבֵּר עִם אֶחָד. בְּתוֹךְ כָּךְ שָׁמַע אֶחָד שֶׁהָיָה מִתְפַּלֵּל תְּפִלַּת עַרְבִית וְאָמַר: "וְתַקְּנֵנוּ בְּעֵצָה טוֹבָה מִלְּפָנֶיךָ", וְאָמַר אוֹתוֹ הָאִישׁ בִּמְהִירוּת אֵלּוּ הַתֵּבוֹת "וְתַקְּנֵנוּ בְּעֵצָה" וְכוּ'.
The Rebbe was once speaking to one of his followers. In the midst of their conversation, they heard someone reciting the evening Ma'ariv prayer. He was up to “Hashkivenu” and was saying very quickly, “Vetakneinu be'eitzah tovah milfanekha – And remedy us with good counsel from before You.”
וְעָנָה רַבֵּנוּ ז"ל, וְאָמַר לְזֶה שֶׁעָמַד אֶצְלוֹ: "הַרָאִיתָ שֶׁזֶּה חוֹטֵף בִּמְהִירוּת אֵלּוּ הַתֵּבוֹת 'וְתַקְּנֵנוּ בְּעֵצָה טוֹבָה' וְכוּ'. הֲלֹא אֵלּוּ הַתֵּבוֹת צְרִיכִין לְהִתְפַּלֵּל בְּהִתְעוֹרְרוּת גָּדוֹל וּבְכַוָּנָה גְּדוֹלָה מֵעֻמְקָא דְּלִבָּא מְאֹד, כִּי זֹאת הִיא תְּפִלָּה יְקָרָה מְאֹד מְאֹד, כִּי מְאֹד צְרִיכִין לְבַקֵּשׁ רַחֲמִים מֵהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה שֶׁיִּתֵּן לָנוּ הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ עֵצָה טוֹבָה, שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לֵידַע אֵיךְ לְהִתְנַהֵג" וְכוּ'.
The Rebbe said to his follower, “See how this man is saying, ‘Remedy us with good counsel,’ running through the words. Doesn’t he realize that he must say these words with great emotion and feeling from the very depths of his heart? This is a most precious prayer. You must always beg that God have mercy and grant us good counsel and advice, that we may be worthy of knowing what is right” (see “His Wisdom” #52).
וְדָבָר זֶה מוּבָן מְאֹד, לְכָל מִי שֶׁרוֹצֶה לִכְנֹס בַּעֲבוֹדַת הַשֵּׁם, שֶׁצְּרִיכִין לְבַקֵּשׁ מְאֹד מֵהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ עַל זֶה, שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְעֵצָה טוֹבָה מִלְּפָנָיו יִתְבָּרַךְ.
If you truly want to serve God, you must understand this well. Plead before God and ask that you be worthy of His good counsel.
וְאָמַר עַל עַצְמוֹ: "כְּשֶׁמַּגִּיעַ הַיּוֹם אֲנִי מוֹסֵר כָּל תְּנוּעוֹת שֶׁלִּי שֶׁל כָּל הַיּוֹם אֵלָיו יִתְבָּרַךְ, שֶׁיִּהְיוּ כָּל הַתְּנוּעוֹת שֶׁלִּי וְשֶׁל בָּנַי וְשֶׁל הַתְּלוּיִים בִּי שֶׁיִּהְיוּ הַכֹּל כִּרְצוֹנוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ וְכוּ' וְכוּ'. וְכֵן כְּשֶׁמַּגִּיעַ שַׁבָּת אוֹ יוֹם טוֹב וְכַיּוֹצֵא, אֲנִי מוֹסֵר הַיּוֹם לְהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה כָּל הַנְהָגַת אוֹתוֹ הַשַּׁבָּת כִּרְצוֹנוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ". וְאַחַר כָּךְ כְּמוֹ שֶׁמִּתְנַהֵג אֶצְלוֹ בְּאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם אוֹ בְּאוֹתוֹ הַשַּׁבָּת וְכַיּוֹצֵא שׁוּב אֵינוֹ מְבַלְבֵּל דַּעְתּוֹ אַחַר כָּךְ כְּלָל. אִם הָיָה הַנְהָגַת שֶׁל אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם כָּרָאוּי. וְהָבֵן.
The Rebbe himself said, “When the day begins, I surrender my every movement to God. I ask that every motion I may make be as God would want it. I ask the same for all my children and other dependants. On Shabbat and festivals, I also surrender the entire day to God, praying that every action be as God’s would wish. Then as things occur that day – or that Shabbat – I am not disturbed that my observance might not be proper” (cf. “His Wisdom” #2). Understand this.