“Total surrender to the will of God actually is sacrificing oneself as a burnt offering to God. The proof of this state is dying to oneself, - to one's own opinions, wishes and feelings or tastes, in order to live by Divine intellect, in conformity with the Divine will and in partaking of God. In the forefront of this endeavor is our Lord and Savior. He surrendered the whole of Himself to God the Father, and us in Himself, 'For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones' (Eph. 5:30). So let us hasten in His footsteps?” StatesWholeFeelingsBodyChristianOrderFatherWishLordOpinionSacrificeDyingDivineTasteMembersOneselfIntellectBonesProofFleshSurrenderGods WillOrthodoxLive ByConformityEndeavorSaviorOfferingOur LordOrthodox ChristianFootstepsDivine WillOffering To God Author:Lorenzo Scupoli
“... if a man prays God for some virtue, and at the same time gives himself up to negligence, acquiring no definite means to gain this virtue, and making no effort towards it, truly this man tempts God, rather than prays. Thus the divine James says: 'The effectual prayer of a righteous man avails much' (Jms. 5:16). What avails to make prayer effective? is when, besides begging a saint to pray for him about something, the man also prays about it himself and with all diligence does everything necessary for obtaining his request.” IfsMenGivingMeanDoeChristianPrayerEffortVirtueDivineHe ManPrayingGainsSaintOrthodoxRighteousDefiniteRequestDiligenceBeggingOrthodox ChristianPraying To GodObtainingNegligenceRighteous Man Author:Lorenzo Scupoli