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This was my feelings 3 years ago. I was a Satanist for 10 years before finding Holy Orthodoxy. I was lost in despair and felt like I had fallen to far for Christ to save me. But after I attended a Divine Liturgy for the first time I realized that not only could Christ save me but that he still loved me in his infinite mercy.
To the man who wrote the letter: At the depths of my despair and sin, I cried out to the Lord to save me from myself. The journey was painful, but God heard my prayer and brought me to himself through death itself. God never gives up on us, ever. To Father: Thank you so much for answering this man's letter. Hope and Love is needed most in this world right now. May God grant you and your monestary Many Many Years!
I too need salvation from self and despair from uncleanness waywardness Independence I am getting overwhelmed again I beseech and prayers of the saints and priority in my confusion to son of God incarnate
I've struggled with this despondency for quite a few years, Father. I pray that by the grace of God, in his good time, that I shall become a faithful servant to Christ; always seeking him before anything else.
Christ is Merciful. Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on us sinners. To abandon ourselves but persevere for Christ is true humility. Jesus calles us by our names not by our shame and sin.
Beyond thankful for this message. I have been dealing with condemnation for months now. Thank you Father and thank you Lord for allowing me to watch this video today. A weight has been lifted off. God bless you all in Jesus name 🙏
Your videos really touch my heart, thank you so much Father. I am a former Seventh Day Adventist that by the Grace of God have found the Orthodox church .
My spiritual Father has postponed absolution from me for 8 days because of the habitual nature of my sin. I am appalled at myself over my sins against our Lord. Iv had this thought that all is lost. Thank you for the video. Please pray for me.
"You may be certain that as long as someone is in hell, Christ will remain there with him." I encourage anyone who has these thoughts or feelings to read Saint Sophrony Sakharov and also his works on Saint Silouan and the works of Archimandrite Zacharias Zacharou. I had depression from the time I was 13 until I was in my forties. God gas healed me of that, all of the nihilism and much of the selfishness (there's still more hubris in me too be sure.) Fr. Seraphim has helped me in that, and if you Google for a thesis on the Anthropolgy of Saint Sophrony from Dunham university, you can read what Fr. Aldea has done on the topic too. I can't begin to tell you how much thanks I have for God putting you into my life Fr. Aldea, and I will be praying for all of these dear ones to be healed of the pain of despair. I will be continuing to pray for your monastery as well. ♥️
Because of the Word of God you speak, I have found Celtic Orthodoxy and now, after 46 years as a Christian Hermit Solitary, I am now a dedicate studying Celtic Orthodoxy and pray The Lord blesses me...
@@mullmonastery thank you. By God's grace I am now praying Jesus Prayer. Loving Celtic Orthodoxy but will be a miracle if I get to a Church as I live 20+ miles from any town. Can not drive and live on hermitage. Though I am truly blessed with tiny chapel. My vows and consecration 46 years ago in Catholic church. But have left because so much heresy... Just finding Orthodoxy has been a mighty blessing. I have all hope He will guide me
This sounds like me. Was a hermit, an accident happened, and here I am months later, fighting for my life in 2023, and God suggested these videos to me. I believe I have Irish or Scottish blood and think it would be cool to live in a monastery. I feel like my time is up now though. I wish I had seen these videos earlier. Can I ask for your prayers? I will pray for you as well.
Bless father ! This teaching clip is by far one of the most uplifting ,inspiring , and much more,even Godly sermon I've heard from you,so far.Thank you, and please forgive me, father !
Thank you father, these past few weeks have felt like a struggle with myself. I get overwhelmed with despondency, but just when I think I've fallen to many times or to low it seems that God delivers a message to tell me to keep striving.
I'll pray about that, dear Emiliano, although it would feel wrong for me to talk about laziness when I am lazier than everyone else. On the other hand, this offers me a great deal of experience to contemplate. Be blessed, dear one.
Glory be to God, dear Daniel. I pray that the work we do at the Monastery brings some hope, some light into this world. That is all we can all hope for. May we all be blessed, dear one.
(Beware the dragon, brother.) Thank you for sharing your faith for it has blessed me. I pray for many blessings and protection for you and your monastery. May Jesus Christ protect you and bring peace to you. ❤❤❤
I went from Joy to doing something I couldn't imagine doing it create a great chaos in my soul and the feeling of dissociation from everybody who I wanted to live live within the incarnate Christ please again pray if you read this in Christ restores me by the body of his flesh through death so I can say body of Christ body Christ have mercy on me
I am so delighted you have started offering these videos again. They are precious gifts full of wisdom. Listening to you is like reading the sayings of the desert fathers. There is such authenticity and deep understanding in all you say, and so clearly rooted in close relationship with God. May you be blessed in all your times of prayer.
Thank you Farher Seraphim!!! These are such deep words and so true! I ,many years ago when I was young, lived a life of deep physical sin/passions that despite everything, I couldn't break, no matter how hard I tried. But I prayed for others: God, help them. Give them the blessing that I don't have and don't deserve. And you are right. That saved me. Because Even with all of my sin, I kept my faith. And thank God! How I would be getting through this trial without it; well, I just wouldn't. I'd be suicidal, that's all. Now, decades later, although I am only in my 50s, the Lord has me in the wilderness. I do not have cancer. In many ways that is easier to fight. Because they tell you what stage you are at. My illness has no stages, changes from day to day, and because of my heart, even if the treatment works, I have no guarantee of not dying tonight or tomorrow. God is slowly untying every string attaching me to the material world, yet at the same time, I must live each day and get through it, interact with my family, etc. My illness changes daily. When I woke last Thursday, I realized I couldn't walk. Why am I writing all of this in the comments? For a few reasons: I'm dying, and the things I have learned and that the Lord had shown me here in the wilderness may be of benefit to those reading this, and to let others know what the devil's biggest weapon is ( because I have been shown that), and to give the writer of the letter hope. And a reminder that your salvation isn't coming from your efforts, but from grace and faith. First, there is a reason God didn't say, clean all of the sin out of your life, and then I will find you acceptable and you will be saved. ( all other religions are based on works). If we could do it; if it were even possible, Jesus would not have needed to come and live a perfect life, and be our righteousness. Your righteousness will never come from you. Even if you were able to live what " you would consider " a sin free life, you would be just as guilty in the eyes of God. Perhaps, it would Even be worse. Then, you would be less humble, maybe even proud, like the Pharisees, and that would be worse. Because you can't do it alone..ever. and if you get to the point where you think you can, or are, you are delusional, lol. When you are fighting great sin or temptation, ( or succumbing), don't focus on the sin. Focus on Christ. ( when I am weak, then I am strong, right?) Your ability to fight it, will not come from yourself, but from him. In order to sin, your thoughts must be focused on the sin, right? You aren't going to be committing adultery or having sex, while you're thinking about soccer or baseball. So, don't focus on the sin, and fighting the sin in your own strength, you can't anyway. Focus on Christ. If you fall, repent, and then REFOCUS on Christ. Second, I was shown the devil's biggest weapon. One word: DESPAIR!!!!! Think about it. Peter denied Christ 3 times! Yet, God went on to use him greatly. Saul was killing Christians and thinking he was doing God's work. God humbled him, turned him into Paul, and made him the apostle to the Gentiles. Judas, however, gave into DESPAIR. He committed suicide. This is the devil's whole desire. To put thoughts in your head that you are too far gone, that you will never be able to live as sinfree as other people, that God will give up on you. And get you to DESPAIR. No matter your level of sin, whether you are committing fornication, or a devout church member checking every box and convinced you are living a sinfree life, we are all in the same category. Sinners saved by grace. Period. Don't give into despair ever. Realize, just like Father Seraphim gave in a talk last year, the devil is putting thoughts in your head, and remember what he said; 1) is this my thought? 2) do I want this thought?. NO AND NO!! Focus on Christ when these thoughts come. As someone who spends 20 hours a day laying in bed,dying, alone with my thoughts, believe me when I tell you it is VERY easy to succumb to the devil reminding me of my life of sin. It is easy for me to realize that if I had lived differently, I would be like one of those " inspirational " Facebook posts, where the dying person's room is filled with visitors, messages, balloons, flowers, and viral messages from all over the world. That ,however, is not my life. Outside of home nurses, I have 2 people, my husband and sister, who check on me. If I were to rate my value to God based on my approval level with the world, you can see, I would not score too high would I? A lot of this is because of my chronic illness, I was disabled, and already taken out of the world before the pandemic hit. Then, when this catastrophic illness hit, the world had already forgotten about me. But I am not complaining or in self pity. There is great treasure to be found in the wilderness. This, I think, is why God sends people there. Right now, alone in the wilderness, just me and God, it is easier to hear Him. No distractions, and He can use me for intercessory prayer, and I am seeing Him do great miracles!!!!! So, be of good cheer. Remember to put on the whole armor of God every morning. Focus on him, not your sin. Listen to no lies of the devil, and DO NOT DESPAIR. And God willing, may Revelation 14:13 apply to me: And I heard a voice from Heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them". God bless you Father Seraphim, and my brothers and sisters. Forgive me the length of this, but I may not be here tomorrow. Stay in prayer 🙏
Dear WOTEC. (May I ask for your name so that I can pray for you?). God bless your struggles in your little "hermitage". Lord Jesus Christ Son of God have mercy on me a sinner 🙏💖🇦🇺
A trap that I sometimes used to fall into when I gave in to sin was to believe that I was not worthy of God's mercy--that I didn't deserve to be forgiven and had to severely punish myself. It took me years to distance myself from that way of thinking, but thank you so very much for enlightening us all on the realities of God's unconditional love.
Possibly the most powerful message you have placed on your channel, dear Fr. Seraphim. For those of us who know, or have known, the utter desolation of addiction, your thoughts and words in this matter are a great light. Continued blessings and may God, the Great Lover of all mankind, be merciful to each one of us.
"Keep imploring that good brain that comes from time to time..... " 🤣 Occasionally it appears in my case. 😵💫 But in all seriousness, an excellent and inspiring message. I got a lot from it.
Needed to hear this. Even though I've been a protestant for a long time I've questioned their methods of engagement with the spiritual states you brought up. They just tell us that Christians have peace and never fail never fall and theirs no real serious attention paid to how easy it is to fall into lust and many other sins. Thank you for the upload man, I wish I could attend your church but maybe I'll become Eastern orthodox
Thank you for your kindness and the encouragement it gives us, dear one. Don't do anything sudden, but do listen to the voice of Christ in your heart. Ask all the questions that trouble you, look for answers and - above all - listen to that voice in your heart. It will lead you where Christ wants you to be; the sign is that it will bring you deep peace (not lack of temptations, but a sense of deeply rooted peace through them all)
"methods of engagement" That nails what I have felt, ie NOT engaged until I found Orthodoxy - I am unable to get to an Orthodox Church, I wish I could be baptized.
I can relate to that letter. The Evil One suggested that God has certainly given up on me. That I had exhausted His Forgiveness and Mercy. That to continue with this journey will Only lead to my Destruction. I cried out, for All of Heaven to come to my aid! My Guardian Angel told me to Sit Still and to Silence my Thoughts. I then began to recite my Rosary and Peace was restored. I “Felt” this Utter and Complete Love, this Love overwhelmed me, and I began to Cry. Tears of absolute Joy. To look at who and what I am in the Eyes of God, could have driven me to Despair, but No, I was Assured of God’s Love and Mercy!
Thank you so much, father. Thank you dearly. I am undergoing the conversion to the Orthodox faith. These talks have helped the despair in my soul. Christ be praised
I have a confession to make. I had this thought after so many years of struggle with my melancholic nature which is hereditary so I can't cancel it completely. The thought goes like this "Thank you God for bringingme from non-being into being". I am not sure what this thought means in it's entirety and it seems very deep and therefore not from me obviously. But I remember it throughout my day and it helps. Thank you Father for your encouragement because we need it.
Fr. Thank you for always reminding me to return to Christ and seek union with Him. Humans say so many “things” about religion that can derail the mind at times. Appreciate you as always. May God bless you and the sisters and brothers. -Evan
Good evening, Father. Recently I was diagnosed with a rather rare illness called Cowden Syndrome. The doctors actually referred to it as a "defect" rather than an illness. Essentially, in my DNA, the gene that suppresses the growth of tumors is missing. Needless to say, this is very important to stay on top of; and I will. It really ate away at me, that how could a loving God, write a potentially deadly defect into me. I gave into the despondency, and it lead me to a very unhealthy place. I stopped going to liturgy, praying, fasting, and all the bad habits slowly came back. However, God is good, and my parish priest is guiding me thru it slowly. The day I finally went back for confession was the day before St.Nicholas Day, my patron saint. I did not know it was until after my confession. It is like I was being told everything is going to be okay.
Your teaching has lifted me up tremendously, thank you so much. I have a question in regards to praying for those around us who are not Christian. Can we ask God to forgive their sins, and pray as we do for our Christian brothers and sisters? I feel called to pray for others to be led to Christ, and I am not sure if there are other ways I can pray for them.
I second what Fr. Seraphim stated. I might also add that there is continual hope in God - Think about the Trisagion prayer: Oh Heavenly King, Comforter, The Spirit of Truth, Who is everywhere present and fills all things. Find strength in the truth that God is everywhere and the beauty that occurs through him.
Just last night I was reading from the DIVANI SHAMSI TABRIZ ( something about the Teachings of Rumi) ... It says..."The man of God is a treasure in a ruin"..not to be pesimistic but aware of our condition in this world. I am catholic and write to you from the US/MEXICO border. Thank You for coming back to us. God brought me to you during the pandemic. Blessings for the Mull Monastery!
Thank you For these words father🥲🙏🙏I am on the right path 🙏I can’t tell you how much hope you are giving me, exactly how it is 2 brains It’s like living in a war, ridiculed rejected slandered thieves🙏🌺
Timely video Fr., we are grateful to God for your wisdom. I've always had trouble fasting, but yesterday it seemed especially difficult. I couldn't take it any longer and argued with God about why He had abandoned me and why I was working so hard on my own. I had gone for a Holy hour, but I stayed for another hour or two because I was meditating on the way of the cross, which was the most profound of all of my meditations on the subject. However, as I was going through the stations, I kept getting urges to leave the adoration chapel and felt as though I was being dragged out, but I persisted and finished the stations. The rest of the day wasn't any better, but at about 6:30 o'clock I knelt beside my bed and sincerely questioned God, and all of a sudden I felt better, and my fasting came to an end with a grateful and joyful heart. I'm really grateful that you were able to process the Father. Your Ugandan RC follower.
Well one thing is obvious about repeated sin, it definitely causes you to seek Jesus more. As compared to one who has settled feeling that his life is good enough! I raised myself and have always gone my own way, I stay out of trouble yet I enjoy getting away with bad things. The worst part is I find myself doing it with Jesus too. It's part of the way I was raised. It breaks my heart when I see myself doing it. 💔
I needed to hear this. I have fallen so often, and have often wondered if I've just gone too far, that I have messed up too many times, that I am a hopeless, lost cause. This was an important video for me Christ is Lord
Say a prayer for me dear Father.. For my soul to be saved, for spiritual Power to endure temptetions, and above all to be able to love my neighbours...
This video is _golden_! Of especial importance is when you urge us to pray for others when we feel we can no longer pray for ourselves. I have done this, and am doing this now, and let me tell you all: _it works_! And I would like to add something... I won't go into details as to how I learned this, but demons feed off of our sins. But just as you (I hope!) don't eat in your bathroom, demons don't crap where they feed. They go elsewhere to do greater harm to someone else. I never prayed harder for my enemies when I applied that lesson to my prayer for them: that through my sins, they become worse people and thereby my enemies and who knows who else's. It is _so_ much easier and genuine to implore from God, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do", when you accept your part in their disgraceful behavior. ALWAYS remember... Because of the sins of two, we all gained the potential to do the worst sins. So pray for your enemies and beg God for the strength to refrain from sin, that the Souls of your enemies may have rest, by which they may come back to Him!
Fr. Seraphim, thank you. As a young man trying to navigate this world, I am blessed to have come across your videos. May Christ bless you. Greetings from South Africa.
Dear Father Seraphim, what a joy to find you back again on your posts and sharing your wisdom and experience in your inimitable warm and compassionate way. I have missed you so very much over these past 2 years and have prayed hard for you in case you were sick again. Thank you so much for reconnecting and for updating us on the blessings God has poured out upon your growing community. May abundant Blessings continue to enrich all at Mull Monastery & in turn those who are helped so much by your shared wisdom, advice, spirituality and your personal warmth and love for your 'dear ones'. Your own humility also provides us with a deep personal pattern to emulate in our lives as we struggle each moment to draw closer & closer to Christ and to learn from His all embracing love and mercy how to love those around us. I am writing from my room/ cell in a Care facility in Dunedin nz. We have another round of Covid in the country at the moment. Tis now 2 am Sunday & time I tried to get to sleep! Be assured of my continued prayers for you & all your community. And please pray for me a sinner. Blessings.
Father thank you. You are a light a beacon in this dark world we live in. Your videos and advice are an inspiration to all. May God Bless you and grant you many years.
Evil's plan is based not only on sin but also despair and then a doubt of God's forgiving love. It's a further suffering that sin imposes on us. Once we see that evil's plan is a lie to try to separate us from Christ, then we can understand and choose not to believe it.
This is what I tried to say by describing our falls not only as our sins, but also as our loss of faith, which always leads to despair. Thank you for making that so much more clear, dear one.
@@mullmonastery Thank you for replying! I missed your videos while you were away, and I really like the letters and your responses. This one really connected with me, so I thought I'd chime in. I'm touched that you wrote "dear one." It means a lot to read it addressed to me personally.
Very few things trouble me as much as that, dear one. These modern deformations of Christ's teaching are destructive precisely because they are offered in His name, on His behalf. They end up deforming our perception of God and what salvation looks like, and that can cause so much damage and so much pain to very many people.
@@mullmonastery I know this personally as I was thoroughly trained in the Scriptures from a heterodox perspective all the way through my bachelor’s degree. There are many tears and much spiritual struggle tearing down destructive teachings that have almost become intertwined with my very being. It is sad to think what teachings a person may have heard to lead them to these kinds of questions. And often, I am afraid, teachings from within the Orthodox community.
Thank you so much for making videos again! I like the background too. I think that one and when you're outside by the trees with the icons are my favorite backgrounds for videos.
Thank you for speaking, telling the truth in love, most helpful . My prayers for you and everyone at Mull Monastery many years Heavenly Father bless everyone Glory to God
I do want to thank you even though I'm straight a month or so ago you met you said something I repeated in prayer no matter what I felt or said or done even enjoy your total confusion which is Lord resurrect me Lord live in me Lord Jesus son of God have mercy upon me a sinner resume you getting me a right spirit this is so
Well, thank God that our stupidity IS finite, dear Charles. In fact, there is a verse in the Orthodox funeral service about how God, in His love for mankind, allowed death to step in precisely in order to prevent our instinct to sin from becoming eternal. In other words, God uses death to stop our fall from becoming eternal. I find that immensely beautiful.
It can be a long time though, and a very hard fall. Didn't he make the Israelites wander in the wilderness for 40 years until the unbelieving generation died off? Can an entire generation be cursed? Can my whole entire life be cursed because of something my parents or grandparents did?
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May God bless us all!
This was my feelings 3 years ago. I was a Satanist for 10 years before finding Holy Orthodoxy. I was lost in despair and felt like I had fallen to far for Christ to save me. But after I attended a Divine Liturgy for the first time I realized that not only could Christ save me but that he still loved me in his infinite mercy.
I am reminded of a saying which has absolutely carried me for years and years- “There is no pit so deep that God is not deeper still.” Corrie ten Boom
That is very beautiful, dear Jen. Thank you for sharing that with us all.
To the man who wrote the letter: At the depths of my despair and sin, I cried out to the Lord to save me from myself.
The journey was painful, but God heard my prayer and brought me to himself through death itself.
God never gives up on us, ever.
To Father: Thank you so much for answering this man's letter.
Hope and Love is needed most in this world right now. May God grant you and your monestary Many Many Years!
I too need salvation from self and despair from uncleanness waywardness Independence I am getting overwhelmed again I beseech and prayers of the saints and priority in my confusion to son of God incarnate
@@franciscafazzo3460 Be patient with the Lord. He will deliver you my Brother.
Simply saying thank you doesn't fully convey the gratitude I have for these videos ... May God continue to bless you and your community.
Thank you, dear Beth - thank you for your blessing and thank you for your kindness. May Christ lead us all into His eternal Joy.
Totally agree
Absolutely ☦️✝️
I've struggled with this despondency for quite a few years, Father. I pray that by the grace of God, in his good time, that I shall become a faithful servant to Christ; always seeking him before anything else.
Christ is Merciful. Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on us sinners. To abandon ourselves but persevere for Christ is true humility. Jesus calles us by our names not by our shame and sin.
Not gonna lie. When you said ‘no. No. No. No’
I teared up
Beyond thankful for this message. I have been dealing with condemnation for months now. Thank you Father and thank you Lord for allowing me to watch this video today. A weight has been lifted off. God bless you all in Jesus name 🙏
Your videos really touch my heart, thank you so much Father. I am a former Seventh Day Adventist that by the Grace of God have found the Orthodox church .
My spiritual Father has postponed absolution from me for 8 days because of the habitual nature of my sin. I am appalled at myself over my sins against our Lord. Iv had this thought that all is lost. Thank you for the video. Please pray for me.
"You may be certain that as long as someone is in hell, Christ will remain there with him."
I encourage anyone who has these thoughts or feelings to read Saint Sophrony Sakharov and also his works on Saint Silouan and the works of Archimandrite Zacharias Zacharou.
I had depression from the time I was 13 until I was in my forties. God gas healed me of that, all of the nihilism and much of the selfishness (there's still more hubris in me too be sure.)
Fr. Seraphim has helped me in that, and if you Google for a thesis on the Anthropolgy of Saint Sophrony from Dunham university, you can read what Fr. Aldea has done on the topic too.
I can't begin to tell you how much thanks I have for God putting you into my life Fr. Aldea, and I will be praying for all of these dear ones to be healed of the pain of despair. I will be continuing to pray for your monastery as well. ♥️
Because of the Word of God you speak, I have found Celtic Orthodoxy and now, after 46 years as a Christian Hermit Solitary, I am now a dedicate studying Celtic Orthodoxy and pray The Lord blesses me...
May Christ bless you, dear Patricia. May He enlighten and lead you to His Truth.
@@mullmonastery thank you. By God's grace I am now praying Jesus Prayer. Loving Celtic Orthodoxy but will be a miracle if I get to a Church as I live 20+ miles from any town. Can not drive and live on hermitage. Though I am truly blessed with tiny chapel. My vows and consecration 46 years ago in Catholic church. But have left because so much heresy...
Just finding Orthodoxy has been a mighty blessing. I have all hope He will guide me
@@patriciagray484 Patricia, heresy doesn't make the Church wrong - it just makes the heretics wrong.
@@patriciagray484 Praying for you dear Sister in Christ. 🙏💖🇦🇺
This sounds like me. Was a hermit, an accident happened, and here I am months later, fighting for my life in 2023, and God suggested these videos to me. I believe I have Irish or Scottish blood and think it would be cool to live in a monastery. I feel like my time is up now though. I wish I had seen these videos earlier. Can I ask for your prayers? I will pray for you as well.
Bless father ! This teaching clip is by far one of the most uplifting ,inspiring , and much more,even Godly sermon I've heard from you,so far.Thank you, and please forgive me, father !
Thank you father, these past few weeks have felt like a struggle with myself. I get overwhelmed with despondency, but just when I think I've fallen to many times or to low it seems that God delivers a message to tell me to keep striving.
Deart Father, is it possible to have a video about laziness? Spiritual laziness? Thank you and Thank God for all
I'll pray about that, dear Emiliano, although it would feel wrong for me to talk about laziness when I am lazier than everyone else. On the other hand, this offers me a great deal of experience to contemplate. Be blessed, dear one.
@@mullmonastery I love you, thank you for being humble
☦️ 🫖 Saint Sophrony of Essex, pray to God for us!
🌍🕊️😌❤️🩹🇬🇧🕯️.... Lord, have mercy.
This is why we've missed you, father...
May God bless you for your kindness, dear Jovan. That is so encouraging to hear.
This is dearly needed, thank you kindly, Father.
Glory be to God, dear Daniel. I pray that the work we do at the Monastery brings some hope, some light into this world. That is all we can all hope for. May we all be blessed, dear one.
There is no limit to God’s love. This I know. God bless xox
Thank you. May God have mercy on our souls and may we forever strive to come to him.
May God bless and keep you.
(Beware the dragon, brother.) Thank you for sharing your faith for it has blessed me. I pray for many blessings and protection for you and your monastery. May Jesus Christ protect you and bring peace to you. ❤❤❤
May we all be blessed, dear one. Thank you for your kind words and for the encouragement they give us.
I'm so grateful to God for you! So grateful! Thank you for loving Him first!🙏♥️🙏
I went from Joy to doing something I couldn't imagine doing it create a great chaos in my soul and the feeling of dissociation from everybody who I wanted to live live within the incarnate Christ please again pray if you read this in Christ restores me by the body of his flesh through death so I can say body of Christ body
Christ have mercy on me
*"Keep hoping, for God will save you."*
Thank you Father Seraphim.
Thank you father. This was much needed to hear today
Glory be to God, dear one. It is a great joy to know that something we do at the Monastery can help you even for a short while. May we all be blessed.
Mercy of your teaching, God help me to forgive my sister that always put me down and brother and his family
I try to never loose sight of Christ.
I am so delighted you have started offering these videos again. They are precious gifts full of wisdom. Listening to you is like reading the sayings of the desert fathers. There is such authenticity and deep understanding in all you say, and so clearly rooted in close relationship with God. May you be blessed in all your times of prayer.
I thanks the LORD everyday for putting you in my troubled time...
Thank you Farher Seraphim!!! These are such deep words and so true! I ,many years ago when I was young, lived a life of deep physical sin/passions that despite everything, I couldn't break, no matter how hard I tried. But I prayed for others: God, help them. Give them the blessing that I don't have and don't deserve. And you are right. That saved me. Because Even with all of my sin, I kept my faith. And thank God! How I would be getting through this trial without it; well, I just wouldn't. I'd be suicidal, that's all.
Now, decades later, although I am only in my 50s, the Lord has me in the wilderness. I do not have cancer. In many ways that is easier to fight. Because they tell you what stage you are at. My illness has no stages, changes from day to day, and because of my heart, even if the treatment works, I have no guarantee of not dying tonight or tomorrow. God is slowly untying every string attaching me to the material world, yet at the same time, I must live each day and get through it, interact with my family, etc. My illness changes daily. When I woke last Thursday, I realized I couldn't walk.
Why am I writing all of this in the comments? For a few reasons: I'm dying, and the things I have learned and that the Lord had shown me here in the wilderness may be of benefit to those reading this, and to let others know what the devil's biggest weapon is ( because I have been shown that), and to give the writer of the letter hope. And a reminder that your salvation isn't coming from your efforts, but from grace and faith.
First, there is a reason God didn't say, clean all of the sin out of your life, and then I will find you acceptable and you will be saved. ( all other religions are based on works). If we could do it; if it were even possible, Jesus would not have needed to come and live a perfect life, and be our righteousness. Your righteousness will never come from you. Even if you were able to live what " you would consider " a sin free life, you would be just as guilty in the eyes of God. Perhaps, it would Even be worse. Then, you would be less humble, maybe even proud, like the Pharisees, and that would be worse. Because you can't do it alone..ever. and if you get to the point where you think you can, or are, you are delusional, lol. When you are fighting great sin or temptation, ( or succumbing), don't focus on the sin. Focus on Christ. ( when I am weak, then I am strong, right?) Your ability to fight it, will not come from yourself, but from him. In order to sin, your thoughts must be focused on the sin, right? You aren't going to be committing adultery or having sex, while you're thinking about soccer or baseball. So, don't focus on the sin, and fighting the sin in your own strength, you can't anyway. Focus on Christ. If you fall, repent, and then REFOCUS on Christ.
Second, I was shown the devil's biggest weapon. One word: DESPAIR!!!!! Think about it. Peter denied Christ 3 times! Yet, God went on to use him greatly. Saul was killing Christians and thinking he was doing God's work. God humbled him, turned him into Paul, and made him the apostle to the Gentiles. Judas, however, gave into DESPAIR. He committed suicide. This is the devil's whole desire. To put thoughts in your head that you are too far gone, that you will never be able to live as sinfree as other people, that God will give up on you. And get you to DESPAIR. No matter your level of sin, whether you are committing fornication, or a devout church member checking every box and convinced you are living a sinfree life, we are all in the same category. Sinners saved by grace. Period. Don't give into despair ever.
Realize, just like Father Seraphim gave in a talk last year, the devil is putting thoughts in your head, and remember what he said; 1) is this my thought? 2) do I want this thought?. NO AND NO!!
Focus on Christ when these thoughts come. As someone who spends 20 hours a day laying in bed,dying, alone with my thoughts, believe me when I tell you it is VERY easy to succumb to the devil reminding me of my life of sin. It is easy for me to realize that if I had lived differently, I would be like one of those " inspirational " Facebook posts, where the dying person's room is filled with visitors, messages, balloons, flowers, and viral messages from all over the world. That ,however, is not my life. Outside of home nurses, I have 2 people, my husband and sister, who check on me. If I were to rate my value to God based on my approval level with the world, you can see, I would not score too high would I? A lot of this is because of my chronic illness, I was disabled, and already taken out of the world before the pandemic hit. Then, when this catastrophic illness hit, the world had already forgotten about me.
But I am not complaining or in self pity. There is great treasure to be found in the wilderness. This, I think, is why God sends people there. Right now, alone in the wilderness, just me and God, it is easier to hear Him. No distractions, and He can use me for intercessory prayer, and I am seeing Him do great miracles!!!!! So, be of good cheer. Remember to put on the whole armor of God every morning. Focus on him, not your sin. Listen to no lies of the devil, and DO NOT DESPAIR. And God willing, may Revelation 14:13 apply to me: And I heard a voice from Heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them".
God bless you Father Seraphim, and my brothers and sisters. Forgive me the length of this, but I may not be here tomorrow. Stay in prayer 🙏
Your message hit very close to home for me. Thank you.
Dear WOTEC. (May I ask for your name so that I can pray for you?). God bless your struggles in your little "hermitage". Lord Jesus Christ Son of God have mercy on me a sinner 🙏💖🇦🇺
Fr. You will are a saint here. A wisdom that comes, seemingly beyond your years.
I'm grateful Father, that I found your channel 2 years ago. You help me so much and still do. Your words are like medicine. God bless u always.
I need to hear that message. Thank you, Father!!
A trap that I sometimes used to fall into when I gave in to sin was to believe that I was not worthy of God's mercy--that I didn't deserve to be forgiven and had to severely punish myself. It took me years to distance myself from that way of thinking, but thank you so very much for enlightening us all on the realities of God's unconditional love.
What helped you get over it?
@@irene1234 I would also like to know
Amen!
Possibly the most powerful message you have placed on your channel, dear Fr. Seraphim. For those of us who know, or have known, the utter desolation of addiction, your thoughts and words in this matter are a great light. Continued blessings and may God, the Great Lover of all mankind, be merciful to each one of us.
I keep listening to your videos. It clears my mind and heart.
"Keep imploring that good brain that comes from time to time..... " 🤣
Occasionally it appears in my case. 😵💫
But in all seriousness, an excellent and inspiring message. I got a lot from it.
God bless you and the world 🌍
Father, this makes total sense. You are a blessing. ❤
Needed to hear this. Even though I've been a protestant for a long time I've questioned their methods of engagement with the spiritual states you brought up. They just tell us that Christians have peace and never fail never fall and theirs no real serious attention paid to how easy it is to fall into lust and many other sins.
Thank you for the upload man, I wish I could attend your church but maybe I'll become Eastern orthodox
Thank you for your kindness and the encouragement it gives us, dear one. Don't do anything sudden, but do listen to the voice of Christ in your heart. Ask all the questions that trouble you, look for answers and - above all - listen to that voice in your heart. It will lead you where Christ wants you to be; the sign is that it will bring you deep peace (not lack of temptations, but a sense of deeply rooted peace through them all)
"methods of engagement" That nails what I have felt, ie NOT engaged until I found Orthodoxy - I am unable to get to an Orthodox Church, I wish I could be baptized.
Through the prayers of our Holy Father's ☦️ LORD JESUS CHRIST OUR GOD have mercy on us and save us Amen.
That is so beautiful... Thank you for these words :) God bless you All, dear ones :)
Thank you, dear one. Thank you for your kindness and thank you for your blessing. May we all be embraced by Christ's love.
I can relate to that letter. The Evil One suggested that God has certainly given up on me. That I had exhausted His Forgiveness and Mercy. That to continue with this journey will Only lead to my Destruction. I cried out, for All of Heaven to come to my aid! My Guardian Angel told me to Sit Still and to Silence my Thoughts. I then began to recite my Rosary and Peace was restored. I “Felt” this Utter and Complete Love, this Love overwhelmed me, and I began to Cry. Tears of absolute Joy.
To look at who and what I am in the Eyes of God, could have driven me to Despair, but No, I was Assured of God’s Love and Mercy!
Thank you so much, father. Thank you dearly. I am undergoing the conversion to the Orthodox faith. These talks have helped the despair in my soul. Christ be praised
I have a confession to make. I had this thought after so many years of struggle with my melancholic nature which is hereditary so I can't cancel it completely. The thought goes like this "Thank you God for bringingme from non-being into being". I am not sure what this thought means in it's entirety and it seems very deep and therefore not from me obviously. But I remember it throughout my day and it helps. Thank you Father for your encouragement because we need it.
Thank you. I also feel like this many times.
Fr. Thank you for always reminding me to return to Christ and seek union with Him. Humans say so many “things” about religion that can derail the mind at times. Appreciate you as always. May God bless you and the sisters and brothers. -Evan
Thank you! I really needed to hear that message!
Thank you Father your videos are so inspiring and uplifting ❤️ I adore your gentle voice and feel your love. Thank you, Thank you 😊
Good evening, Father. Recently I was diagnosed with a rather rare illness called Cowden Syndrome. The doctors actually referred to it as a "defect" rather than an illness. Essentially, in my DNA, the gene that suppresses the growth of tumors is missing. Needless to say, this is very important to stay on top of; and I will.
It really ate away at me, that how could a loving God, write a potentially deadly defect into me. I gave into the despondency, and it lead me to a very unhealthy place. I stopped going to liturgy, praying, fasting, and all the bad habits slowly came back.
However, God is good, and my parish priest is guiding me thru it slowly. The day I finally went back for confession was the day before St.Nicholas Day, my patron saint. I did not know it was until after my confession. It is like I was being told everything is going to be okay.
Thank you so much
Your teaching has lifted me up tremendously, thank you so much. I have a question in regards to praying for those around us who are not Christian. Can we ask God to forgive their sins, and pray as we do for our Christian brothers and sisters? I feel called to pray for others to be led to Christ, and I am not sure if there are other ways I can pray for them.
I second what Fr. Seraphim stated. I might also add that there is continual hope in God - Think about the Trisagion prayer: Oh Heavenly King, Comforter, The Spirit of Truth, Who is everywhere present and fills all things. Find strength in the truth that God is everywhere and the beauty that occurs through him.
The best, and most encouraging, news on the internet..! 🙏
I watch you everyday! It’s an inspiration to listen to!
You have power man. Thanks for the teaching.
Of parinte,CE bine spuneti 🙏🙏🙏 va inteleg perfect! Maica Domnului sa va binecuvinteze cu toata obstea 🙏🙏🙏
❤️ Dear father this really makes sense to me unfortunately but I don’t want to loose my Lord 😔
Just last night I was reading from the DIVANI SHAMSI TABRIZ ( something about the Teachings of Rumi) ... It says..."The man of God is a treasure in a ruin"..not to be pesimistic but aware of our condition in this world. I am catholic and write to you from the US/MEXICO border. Thank You for coming back to us. God brought me to you during the pandemic. Blessings for the Mull Monastery!
Amen Father🙏🕊🇭🇺☦️🇺🇸✝️thank you for that important lesson⭐️I am worth of the Love for God I never will give up on my Faith and His Love🔥❤️🔥
Please pray for me to be delivered from the domain of torment and deep restlessness and pressure of body and soul
I'm praying for you, Francis
Thank you Father for your love and prayers for us .please remember me in your prayers 🙏
May Christ remember you, dear one. May He remember you now and in eternity. May you be His servant here and in His Kingdom.
@@mullmonastery thank you🙏💗
Thank you For these words father🥲🙏🙏I am on the right path
🙏I can’t tell you how much hope you are giving me, exactly how it is 2 brains
It’s like living in a war, ridiculed rejected slandered thieves🙏🌺
May god have mercy on me im so lost and deep in sin forgive me farther❤❤❤❤😢😢
thank you for such timely words father
Glory be to God, dear Dorian. Be blessed, be blessed to the core of your being.
Timely video Fr., we are grateful to God for your wisdom. I've always had trouble fasting, but yesterday it seemed especially difficult. I couldn't take it any longer and argued with God about why He had abandoned me and why I was working so hard on my own. I had gone for a Holy hour, but I stayed for another hour or two because I was meditating on the way of the cross, which was the most profound of all of my meditations on the subject. However, as I was going through the stations, I kept getting urges to leave the adoration chapel and felt as though I was being dragged out, but I persisted and finished the stations. The rest of the day wasn't any better, but at about 6:30 o'clock I knelt beside my bed and sincerely questioned God, and all of a sudden I felt better, and my fasting came to an end with a grateful and joyful heart. I'm really grateful that you were able to process the Father. Your Ugandan RC follower.
Well one thing is obvious about repeated sin, it definitely causes you to seek Jesus more. As compared to one who has settled feeling that his life is good enough! I raised myself and have always gone my own way, I stay out of trouble yet I enjoy getting away with bad things. The worst part is I find myself doing it with Jesus too. It's part of the way I was raised. It breaks my heart when I see myself doing it. 💔
I needed to hear this.
I have fallen so often, and have often wondered if I've just gone too far, that I have messed up too many times, that I am a hopeless, lost cause.
This was an important video for me
Christ is Lord
Beautiful awesome explanation as always thank you may God bless you always
Thank you for your blessing, dear Younia. May Christ keep all of us under His protection.
Dear Father. I missed you and I’m so glad that you are back. God bless. Marcus.
"Don't define yourself by your sin - define yourself through the image of God."
You’re right about success Father
It’s not a criteria of God’s love or presence ❤
I am crying as I watch this again and again. Thank you for this message.
This is really great.
Fools for Christ would know no mercy otherwise.
God is with us, even when we fear we should be abandoned
Say a prayer for me dear Father..
For my soul to be saved, for spiritual Power to endure temptetions, and above all to be able to love my neighbours...
May God hear your prayer, dear Marko. It is a beautiful prayer and Christ will bless it. Pray for me and for the Monastery too.
Thank you for this video brother,
I’m longing to have spiritual father like this. To sit with and talk about all these questions of faith…
This video is _golden_! Of especial importance is when you urge us to pray for others when we feel we can no longer pray for ourselves. I have done this, and am doing this now, and let me tell you all: _it works_! And I would like to add something...
I won't go into details as to how I learned this, but demons feed off of our sins. But just as you (I hope!) don't eat in your bathroom, demons don't crap where they feed. They go elsewhere to do greater harm to someone else. I never prayed harder for my enemies when I applied that lesson to my prayer for them: that through my sins, they become worse people and thereby my enemies and who knows who else's. It is _so_ much easier and genuine to implore from God, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do", when you accept your part in their disgraceful behavior. ALWAYS remember...
Because of the sins of two, we all gained the potential to do the worst sins. So pray for your enemies and beg God for the strength to refrain from sin, that the Souls of your enemies may have rest, by which they may come back to Him!
Amen ! thank you
That's solid food thank you Father
Fr. Seraphim, thank you. As a young man trying to navigate this world, I am blessed to have come across your videos. May Christ bless you.
Greetings from South Africa.
Dear Father Seraphim, what a joy to find you back again on your posts and sharing your wisdom and experience in your inimitable warm and compassionate way. I have missed you so very much over these past 2 years and have prayed hard for you in case you were sick again. Thank you so much for reconnecting and for updating us on the blessings God has poured out upon your growing community. May abundant Blessings continue to enrich all at Mull Monastery & in turn those who are helped so much by your shared wisdom, advice, spirituality and your personal warmth and love for your 'dear ones'. Your own humility also provides us with a deep personal pattern to emulate in our lives as we struggle each moment to draw closer & closer to Christ and to learn from His all embracing love and mercy how to love those around us. I am writing from my room/ cell in a Care facility in Dunedin nz. We have another round of Covid in the country at the moment. Tis now 2 am Sunday & time I tried to get to sleep! Be assured of my continued prayers for you & all your community. And please pray for me a sinner. Blessings.
Father thank you. You are a light a beacon in this dark world we live in. Your videos and advice are an inspiration to all. May God Bless you and grant you many years.
Evil's plan is based not only on sin but also despair and then a doubt of God's forgiving love. It's a further suffering that sin imposes on us. Once we see that evil's plan is a lie to try to separate us from Christ, then we can understand and choose not to believe it.
This is what I tried to say by describing our falls not only as our sins, but also as our loss of faith, which always leads to despair. Thank you for making that so much more clear, dear one.
@@mullmonastery Thank you for replying! I missed your videos while you were away, and I really like the letters and your responses. This one really connected with me, so I thought I'd chime in. I'm touched that you wrote "dear one." It means a lot to read it addressed to me personally.
I loved how you answered the question, “No. no. no. no.” It quite made me laugh. 😂 It is the only way to answer. ❤
Very few things trouble me as much as that, dear one. These modern deformations of Christ's teaching are destructive precisely because they are offered in His name, on His behalf. They end up deforming our perception of God and what salvation looks like, and that can cause so much damage and so much pain to very many people.
@@mullmonastery I know this personally as I was thoroughly trained in the Scriptures from a heterodox perspective all the way through my bachelor’s degree. There are many tears and much spiritual struggle tearing down destructive teachings that have almost become intertwined with my very being. It is sad to think what teachings a person may have heard to lead them to these kinds of questions. And often, I am afraid, teachings from within the Orthodox community.
Thank you for those words, Father. Yes, pray for others.
❤❤❤
faith hope love ❤️🩹 ~ grace & peace to you!
🎶 pray the Psalter, call upon the saints⚜️
Thank you so much for making videos again! I like the background too. I think that one and when you're outside by the trees with the icons are my favorite backgrounds for videos.
Thank you for speaking, telling the truth in love, most helpful . My prayers for you and everyone at Mull Monastery many years Heavenly Father bless everyone Glory to God
I do want to thank you even though I'm straight a month or so ago you met you said something I repeated in prayer no matter what I felt or said or done even enjoy your total confusion which is Lord resurrect me Lord live in me Lord Jesus son of God have mercy upon me a sinner resume you getting me a right spirit this is so
Gurdjieff once said that there are only two things infinite, the stupidity of men and the grace of God.
Well, thank God that our stupidity IS finite, dear Charles. In fact, there is a verse in the Orthodox funeral service about how God, in His love for mankind, allowed death to step in precisely in order to prevent our instinct to sin from becoming eternal. In other words, God uses death to stop our fall from becoming eternal. I find that immensely beautiful.
It can be a long time though, and a very hard fall. Didn't he make the Israelites wander in the wilderness for 40 years until the unbelieving generation died off? Can an entire generation be cursed? Can my whole entire life be cursed because of something my parents or grandparents did?
Teach me to pray and who can I pray for besides myself?
Thank you my brother in Christ, you lift up our hearts.
Thanks be to God.