About warfare and prayer

“It is better not to notice the warfare on account of not paying attention to it and being focused on prayer, rather than, abandoning the attention to prayer, give in to contemplating the warfare, which is above our strength, and from this perceived contemplation arrive at high mindedness, which is inseparable from self opinion.” — …

On God’s grace in our deeds

“…God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” (James 4:6) Often, in the church and generally in life, we see the following: someone is putting all his efforts, one might say trying to jump out of his skin, in order to do good, to serve God and neighbour, but his efforts produce only …

About temptations

…Without temptations no one can be saved… Much can be said about someone based on his reaction to temptation. Some murmur quietly, some judge the offender, some make a loud fuss, and some altogether become enraged and seek vengeance; rarely, some quietly, with tears thank God for correction, offer Him a heart that is broken …

On giving of thanks

The holy apostle Paul teaches us to thank the Lord always and in all things. However, the feeling of gratitude, for the most part, is familiar to us only when all things are smooth, when everything is going our way. Alas, in times of temptations our first reaction is grumbling, vexation, irritation. All of this …