My imagination is overwhelmed with demonic deception and temptations when I practice the prayer. Especially during times of fasting. How do I overcome this, siblings?
Dear Fr Spyridon, I find Orthodox declarations that no one outside Orthodoxy can truly experience a close walk with God, understand prayer, understand, grasp and experience deep genuine fruits of the Spirit, and what you expressed of Orthodox life, very troubling. And that they can only have the slightest glimpses of God's Light, but nothing clear or truly Orthodox -- maybe not your exact words. There are actually people (tho' probably very few) called of God who have most certainly lived & struggled the Orthodoxly way (as strange as that may sound), even prior to knowing anything of Orthodoxy until God, in His good will and providence, brings them into the Orthodox Church. I testify of this personally: my Christian life has been a decades long, arduous, agonizing struggle the whole way, and continues so after becoming Orthodox. I admit Orthodox teaching certainly is deep and wonderful, but there has always been that longing to learn and grow, and stay close to God/Christ, regardless of the cost. The Scriptures have been my Anchor and the Saints in Scripture (hopefully that doesn't sound "too Protestant"), and 16th-19th century authors very helpful, for I did not have the Church and the Orthodox Saints, yet. I totally forsook the world & have left everything behind many time; attended Church regularly without missing for 45 years, except for the transition from Protestantism to Orthodoxy -- an extremely painful and sad time due to persecution, but the Lord brought us out into a wealthy place! I cannot thank God enough for all He has done for me, even prior to baptism & chrismation into Orthodoxy. To deny I was a Christian before and that now I see so much more "clearly" -- well, all the way it has been a most wonderful, yet painful, growing process . . . . Forgive me for putting this in a public place. I just wanted to say how troubling it is to "belittle," as it were, Christ's dealings in non-Orthodox people's lives who know nothing about Orthodoxy. I also find it sad that the Orthodox pray for Protestants & their dead only at certain times. I'm quite sure Christ, the Saints, and the Theotokos pray for all -- mankind -- otherwise how would so many be coming to Orthodoxy? Please know I shared this only because the declaration that people "outside Orthodoxy" are somehow in greater darkness, or cannot receive Light, doesn't settle well. The persecutor of the Church comes to mind, whose heart was smitten when Christ called him; suddenly converted, and totally changed. I find many Orthodox just as weak, very poorly informed spiritually, lacking spiritual understanding, worldly, and as needy as Protestants, even tho' they have been raised Orthodox. God bless you. Please know I am not "ranting," or accusing. Forgive me, a sinner.
Thank you Lord Jesus Christ for paying the ultimate price for the sin of the world. Peace ✝
Thank you for a great message. Pray God we be doer of his words
Thank you Father..
God bless you Father. Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Tacoma, Washington
Mesa, Arizona
Words full of wisdom and guild thank you fr spyridon.
Be sincere in your prayer, if ur not focused on god in ur prayer u will be overcome with the demons
Wonderful strengthening words, thanks! Greetings from Orthodox Iceland.
Hallelujah Hallelujah, best wishes from the south of England! ☦️
Thank you, Father. Just what I needed to hear today.
My imagination is overwhelmed with demonic deception and temptations when I practice the prayer. Especially during times of fasting.
How do I overcome this, siblings?
Dear Fr Spyridon, I find Orthodox declarations that no one outside Orthodoxy can truly experience a close walk with God, understand prayer, understand, grasp and experience deep genuine fruits of the Spirit, and what you expressed of Orthodox life, very troubling. And that they can only have the slightest glimpses of God's Light, but nothing clear or truly Orthodox -- maybe not your exact words. There are actually people (tho' probably very few) called of God who have most certainly lived & struggled the Orthodoxly way (as strange as that may sound), even prior to knowing anything of Orthodoxy until God, in His good will and providence, brings them into the Orthodox Church. I testify of this personally: my Christian life has been a decades long, arduous, agonizing struggle the whole way, and continues so after becoming Orthodox. I admit Orthodox teaching certainly is deep and wonderful, but there has always been that longing to learn and grow, and stay close to God/Christ, regardless of the cost. The Scriptures have been my Anchor and the Saints in Scripture (hopefully that doesn't sound "too Protestant"), and 16th-19th century authors very helpful, for I did not have the Church and the Orthodox Saints, yet.
I totally forsook the world & have left everything behind many time; attended Church regularly without missing for 45 years, except for the transition from Protestantism to Orthodoxy -- an extremely painful and sad time due to persecution, but the Lord brought us out into a wealthy place! I cannot thank God enough for all He has done for me, even prior to baptism & chrismation into Orthodoxy. To deny I was a Christian before and that now I see so much more "clearly" -- well, all the way it has been a most wonderful, yet painful, growing process . . . .
Forgive me for putting this in a public place. I just wanted to say how troubling it is to "belittle," as it were, Christ's dealings in non-Orthodox people's lives who know nothing about Orthodoxy.
I also find it sad that the Orthodox pray for Protestants & their dead only at certain times. I'm quite sure Christ, the Saints, and the Theotokos pray for all -- mankind -- otherwise how would so many be coming to Orthodoxy? Please know I shared this only because the declaration that people "outside Orthodoxy" are somehow in greater darkness, or cannot receive Light, doesn't settle well. The persecutor of the Church comes to mind, whose heart was smitten when Christ called him; suddenly converted, and totally changed.
I find many Orthodox just as weak, very poorly informed spiritually, lacking spiritual understanding, worldly, and as needy as Protestants, even tho' they have been raised Orthodox. God bless you.
Please know I am not "ranting," or accusing. Forgive me, a sinner.
Thank you, Father.
Book recommendation: Beginnings of a life of Prayer by Bishop Irenei
I love this man so much.
he's the only youtube priest that i completely trust
Thank you, e-bouna.
Thank you!
Great video. Thanks for posting this.
God bless you
Lord Yeshua Son of God have mercy on me a sinner 🙏 ✌️ ❤️ blessings to all
I'm not exactly toiling here, but maybe I am? :)
Your ranting