Controlling our thoughts is not an easy task. Certainly, if we do, our mind becomes clearer, quieter and we gain more insight. Therefore, we can become saints. True prayer requires a silent mind free of thoughts so that we can listen to the wordless voice of God that comes from our heart. This is how we can do God's will. But being able to control our thoughts is something that seems beyond our reach. This is something we can not do by ourselves. We need help.
That's what we said St. Hesychius :
" The mind can not overcome a demonic fantasy by its own forces, and should never try to do ... Demons are very sneaky: they pretend to be defeated and then we drive down to fill ourselves with self-esteem. But when we appeal to Jesus Christ, they dare not use their tricks with us, even for one second . "(in The Philokalia)
Those of us who have tried to control their thoughts can say that no matter how much we progress, because either we are beaten by more thoughts that monopolize our attention, or we begin to think about how we control our thoughts. Once born we thought that we're doing so well, we lost the battle.
The solution lies in the words of St. Hesychius - we need to ask for help to Jesus Himself.
St. Theophanes the Recluse says:
" Whenever we appeal directly to the Lord with fear, respect, hope and faith in His full activity without getting into a verbal battle with the passionate thought, thought so passionate moves of the mind's eye, which is fixed on the Lord. When it is cut by the spirit of such attention away from the passionate thought of herself ... "
The result of using the Lord for help and entrenches a thought more powerful in our mind and pushes the one we want to ignore the background. Without this attention to the thought that we substitute a call to God asking for his help, this one goes. The demon who sought to introduce into our minds the thought is overcome unwanted. This is one reason why the practice of the prayer of Jesus is so important. God help us to fight against the unwanted thoughts when we call upon His name.
Saint Theophanes uses an example of a legend he knew
" A former lived in the desert silence. The demons attacked visibly, and began to drag him out of his cell so completely driven out of the desert. The former himself began to retaliate, but they pushed him and even managed to drag him to the door itself. The result was little they had managed to get him out. Finding himself in extreme danger, the former cried: "Lord Jesus Christ! Why hast thou forsaken me?" Help me, Lord! " Once he called the Lord appeared immediately cast out demons, and said to the old: "I do not abandon you, but you do not appeal to me and you thought you could do face the demons alone, I have not come to your aid. Call me, always promptly and you will receive my help. "Having said that, the Lord disappeared. This incident is a lesson not only for the former, but for us all: Do not fight against thoughts passionate spiritual an altercation with them, but turn around immediately to the Lord by prayers against them . "(in the spiritual life)
One last thought Saint Theophanes :
" Purification sustainable thoughts is a gift from God but the gift is not given without the intensification of efforts personal. At the same time you will not succeed only by your effort alone, God will not give you anything if you do not hire all your being in battle. This is the fundamental law . "(In the spiritual life)
0 comments:
Post a Comment