The Sermon of the Godwary and Imam Ali’s letter to Imam Hasan (peace be upon them) in Nahj al-Balagha are among the finest guides to the duties of servanthood, beautifully setting out how we should live throughout the day and night.
Whoever embodies this noble verse will not be among the losers:
العنكبوت : 69 وَ الَّذينَ جاهَدُوا فينا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنا وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمَعَ الْمُحْسِنينَ
As for those who strive for Our sake, We will surely guide them to Our ways. God is indeed with those who do good.
Only one who attains the station of certitude will be envied; otherwise, he is a loser—and, God forbid, perhaps even accursed.
عَنْهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ: قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فِي خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ سَلُوا اللَّهَ الْيَقِينَ وَ ارْغَبُوا إِلَيْهِ فِي الْعَافِيَةِ فَإِنَّ أَجَلَّ النِّعْمَةِ الْعَافِيَةُ وَ خَيْرَ مَا دَامَ فِي الْقَلْبِ الْيَقِينُ وَ الْمَغْبُونُ مَنْ غُبِنَ دِينُهُ وَ الْمَغْبُوطُ مَنْ غُبِطَ يَقِينُه
Al-Maḥāsin, vol. 1, p. 248
It is related from Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq (peace be upon him), who quoted his revered father, Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (peace be upon him), as saying:
The Commander of the Faithful, Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him), said in a sermon:
“O people! Ask God for certitude, and turn to Him with earnest supplication, seeking well-being. For well-being is the greatest blessing, and the finest thing that settles in the heart is certitude.
The one who has gone astray is the one whose religion has been plundered; and the one to be envied is the one whose certitude is worthy of envy.”