Tuesday, August 4, 2015

If we hold on to the prayer with all our strength during temptations, we will certainly overcome the devil


To guard love, the pinnacle of virtues, diligence in prayer is an immediate spiritual necessity. Struggle in prayer if you want our Christ to dwell in you, and He, the most experienced general, will struggle together with you. He will fight for us and grant us the victory. We become like roaring lions when we get a good grip on the prayer—not when we pray carelessly or lukewarmly, but with strength of soul! Invigorate yourselves with the thought that the prayer is everything. Without the prayer, expect a general decline, going from one fall to another. If we hold on to the prayer with all our strength during temptations, we will certainly overcome the devil and we shall ascribe the victory to the all-holy name of Christ.

Elder Ephraim of Arizona

Έχε τον φόβον του Θεού ωσάν λυχνάρι


Μη φοβού τίποτε, ει μη τον Θεόν. Έχε τον φόβον του Θεού ωσάν λυχνάρι και αυτός θα σου φωτίζη τον δρόμον, πως ακριβώς να περιπατής, διότι χωρίς φόβον Θεού, συνείδησιν καθαράν δεν δυνάμεθα να δημιουργήσωμεν, ούτε εξαγόρευσιν ειλικρινή δυνάμεθα να κάνωμεν, ούτε σοφίαν πνευματικήν ποτέ θα αποκτήσωμεν, διότι αρχή σοφίας και τέλος σοφίας φόβος Κυρίου.

Γέροντας Εφραίμ της Αριζόνας