Prayer is the opportunity to talk to God, including asking Him for things we need. But for what should we ask? When I look at my life, I can see all sorts of needs. St. Nilus of Mt. Sinai tells us that we might need to change our perspective. He says, Do not pray that [...]
Have you ever noticed the tendency some people have to define the will of God largely according to what they want? Somehow, it’s always God’s will that they have the best position, or nicest things…But Lorenzo Scupoli says, A man who is moved towards doing one thing or another purely by the consciousness of God’s [...]
In this episode of the real life podcast, we talk about how joy develops through worshiping God.
There are few things more embarrassing than having someone learn about a terrible thing you’ve said about him or her. And, of course, the most humiliating thing about it is that you know you shouldn’t have said that thing in the first place. So what do you do now? Abba Or says, If you have [...]
What makes you do good things? Is it a choice you make, or something God forces you to do? St. Maximos the Confessor answers: There are three things that move us to the good: natural tendencies, the holy Powers, good choice. The natural tendencies—as, for instance, when what we wish men would do for us, [...]
In this episode of the real life podcast, we talk about how joy develops through worshiping God.
When I was in high school there was a popular song about loving yourself being the greatest love of all. Unfortunately, our self-love can ultimately push out our love for others, including God. This is why St. Niketas Stithatos says, The passion of self-esteem is a three-pronged barb heated and forged by the demons out [...]
The saints tell us a great deal about watching our heart and mind, paying attention to both what goes into and comes out of them. St. Philotheos of Sinai describes the wonderful result that comes from such watchfulness: Let us go forward with the heart completely attentive and the soul fully conscious. For if attentiveness [...]
I’m a sucker for one word: upgrade. If a new version comes out for things I use, I immediately think that I must buy it. The problem, of course, is that this never ends—we always want newer, better, and simply more things. St. Isidore of Pelusium therefore warns us, The desire for possessions is dangerous [...]
Our culture loves intense, “spiritual” experiences, but is generally unconcerned with what generates these experiences. St. Gregory of Sinai warns, The enemy tries to produce an illusion of some spiritual experience within us, offering us a mirage instead of the real thing—unruly burning instead of true spiritual warmth, and instead of joy, irrational excitement and [...]
