“No benefit comes from a just man's prayer if he who asks for it finds more pleasure in sin than in virtue. For Samuel mourned over Saul when he sinned, but he was not able to obtain God's mercy, for his grief was not supported by the necessary change of life on the part of the sinner. Hence God put an end to the pointless grief of His servant, saying to him, 'How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel?' (I Sam. 16:1).” IfsMenLongEndsAbleChristianAsksPrayerSinPleasureGriefVirtueSeeingBenefitsMercyIsraelServantLife ChangingSinnerOrthodoxRejectedMournPointlessNecessary Change Author:Maximus the Confessor
“Give your intentions in prayer to God, Who knows everyone, even before our birth. And do not ask that everything will be according to your will, because a man does not know what is profitable for him. But say to God: Let Thy will be done! For He does everything for our benefit.” KnowsMenInspirationalGivingDoeDoneChristianAsksReligiousPrayerBirthBenefitsIntentionOrthodoxProfitableThy Will Be Done Author:Gennadius of Constantinople
“Do you think that the man-loving God has given you much so that you could use it only for your own benefit? No, but so that your abundance might supply the lack of others.” ThinkingMenInspirationalUseMightChristianGivenReligiousBenefitsAbundanceOrthodoxLoving God Author:Saint John Chrysostom
“Are you angry? Be angry at your sins, beat your soul, afflict your conscience, but strict in judgement and a terrible punisher of your own sins. This is the benefit of anger, wherefore God placed it in us.” InspirationalSoulChristianReligiousSinTerribleBenefitsBeatsConscienceAngryYour SoulJudgementOrthodoxStrictPunisher Author:Saint John Chrysostom
“God tested Abraham. That is, he sent him afflictions for his benefit, not so that he could find out what sort of man he was, for God knows everything, but so that He give him the means to perfect his faith.” KnowsMenInspirationalGivingMeanChristianReligiousPerfectBenefitsOrthodoxFaith In GodAfflictionTestedGod KnowsAbrahamGod Knows Everything Author:Marcus Eremita
“Do not attempt to benefit by rebukes one who boasts of his virtues, for he loves to display himself can not be a lover of truth.” InspirationalChristianReligiousVirtueLoversBenefitsOrthodoxDisplayCan NotBoastRebuke Author:Marcus Eremita
“When you have been insulted, cursed, or persecuted by someone, do not think of what has happened to you, but of what will come from it, and you will see that your insulter has become the cause of many benefits to you, not only in this age, but in that which is to come.” ThinkingInspirationalHas BeensAgeChristianCausesReligiousHappenedBenefitsOrthodoxCursedPersecutedInsulted Author:Marcus Eremita