"A man becomes a bottomless abyss; he tries hard to fill this abyss, but he cannot. That is why for his whole life he is in sweat, toil, and great troubles. He busies himself with various things in hopes of finding satisfaction for this craving that consumes him. These things occupy his entire attention, all his time, and the whole of his activity. They are his highest good, to which he has devoted his whole heart. Hence it is clear why a man who sets himself up as the main object of his life can never be within himself. He is always focused on things outside of himself; on the things which were created or devised as a result of his own vanity in order to fill his craving." - St. Theophan the Recluse, Turning the Heart to God, p.5 (published separately, this is the second part of The Path to Salvation). #Abyss #Sin #Sinner #Vanity #Repentance #StTheophantheRecluse

"These are the general features characteristic of a sinner. The particular features of a man who has deprived himself of grace are presented as follows. Having turned away from God, a man becomes centered on himself and puts himself as the main object of his entire life and activity. This is certain, because after God there is nothing greater for man than himself. Having received the fullness of grace previously (baptism), and having now become empty without God, he is in a hurry and concerned with how and by what means he can fill this emptiness which is inside of him. This emptiness, which was formed in him as a result of falling away from God, kindles in him an incessant craving that nothing can satisfy. This craving is vague, but constant." - St. Theophan the Recluse, Turning the Heart to God, p.5 (published separately, this is the second part of The Path to Salvation). #Sin #Sinner #Grace #God #Chaos #sadness #Repentance #StTheophantheRecluse

"The sinner who is to be renewed through repentance is often described in the Word of God as being submerged in a deep sleep. The distinctive feature of such persons is not necessarily their manifest depravity. It is rather the absence of an active, heartfelt, and selfless desire for pleasing God, together with a resolute aversion for everything that is sinful. Piety is not the primary object of their concern and labor. They are concerned about many other things, but are absolutely indifferent to the matter of their own salvation and are not aware of the danger they are in. They are neglectful of a good and righteous life, and lead a life that is cold to faith, although this life may sometimes be outwardly irreproachable." - St. Theophan the Recluse, Turning the Heart to God, p.5 (published separately, this is the second part of The Path to Salvation). #Sin #Repentance #God #Salvation #Renewal #StTheophantheRecluse

What good is a smile, if you make others grimace? What good is talking, if you make others cry? What good is sharing, if you deceive others? What good is a finger, if it shifts blame to others? What good is a hand, if you use it to slap others? What good is an arm, if you block others on their path? What good are toes, if you only test the waters of darkness? What good are feet, if you kick others when they're down? What good are legs, if you walk away from others in need? The burning center of an ego destroys you. The frigid center of a heart destroys others. The empty center of a spirit destroys everything. The Father creates. The Son redeems. The Spirit sanctifies. This is all you need. Let it fill you. #God #JesusChrist #HolySpirit #Father #Love #sin #sadness #humility

People who try to play God are distorted, sick, chaotic, and evil. They bully, overpower, demand, pressure, and deceive. They put everything in disarray and create never-ending cycles of suppression and malignancy. They deform and devalue the 'other' and they certainly abandon their own life in God. Do not be like them. It puts your soul in eternal jeopardy. If you are being treated like this, seek help. Remember that God wants liberation, joy, and love. He wouldn't have created us and all of the universe, simply to punish us. He is love and peace. The only thing worth doing in life is finding Him and living in Him for eternity. #God #JesusChrist #HolySpirit #Love #Peace #Happiness

Do not disturb our ignorance. Do not distrust our lies. You are not like us. We are not like you. Be gone on your own. Or we will send you away. But aren't we supposed to be one? "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters" (Matthew 12:30). Whom are you really against? Be careful not to find yourself scattered. #JesusChrist #SacredScripture #Unity #obedience

You prayed, O Lord. "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me" (John 17:20-23). To this, we have responded with a resounding "No." Disobedience. Disrespect. Disunity. Anger. Hatred. Separation. We did not choose His peace. We have chosen to war with each other. We ought to be more ashamed. #JesusChrist #God #Unity #obedience #prayer

God wants you to know He will not abandon you in your sorrow. Meditate on this irmos (a miniature hymn), from Ode 6 of The Great Canon of St. Andrew, which is recited on the first Monday of Lent. "With my whole heart, I cried unto the compassionate God: and He heard me, and He lifted up my soul from the depths of hell and from corruption." #God #JesusChrist #prayer #continualprayer #secretmeditation #MeditativePrayer #meditation #Conversion #Hell #HolySpirit

The Great Canon of St. Andrew, Bishop of Crete, is a long hymn used over the first few days of Great Lent. St. Andrew himself composed this personal meditation as a cathartic remembrance of his sins; as a contemplative reflection on the truth, goodness, and beauty of God; and as a loving recitation of desire for union with Christ now and in Heaven. With a spirit of mournful humility, we, too, ought to pray with it. For now, try meditating on this irmos (a miniature hymn) from Ode 5 of the Canon, which is read on the first Monday of Lent: "Out of the night watching early for You, enlighten me, I pray, O Lover of man, and guide me in Your commandments, and teach me, O Saviour, to do Your will. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me." #StAndrewofCrete #Lent #Mercy #Forgiveness #Catharsis #secretmeditation #MeditativePrayer #meditation #Redeemer

Meditate on this... If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the universe, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world (Colossians 2:20)? #SacredScripture #StPaul #JesusChrist #Conversion

Meditate on this... He who has nothing to die for has nothing to live for (Moroccan Proverb). For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain (Philippians 1:21). #JesusChrist #StPaul #SacredScripture #Death #Conversion

I love you, Jesus. You are my Lord. You are my Savior. I love you, Jesus. You are my Messiah. You are my Redeemer. I love you, Jesus. You are my King. You are my reason for Being. I love you, Jesus. You are my Priest. You are my Mystical Body. I love you, Jesus. You are my Sufferer. You are my Healer. Everything that exists In that middle space Between me and You Is not you. I seek you. Always you. Only you. Nothing else. #JesusChrist #Love #Savior #Redeemer #MysticalTheology