“When you want to direct someone toward the good, first put him at peace bodily and honor him with words of love. For nothing inclines such a man to shame and induces him to cast of his vice and be changed for the better as do bodily goods and honor, which he sees in you. Then, with love tell him a word or two, and do not be inflamed with anger toward him. Do not let him see any cause of enmity toward you. For love does not know how to lose its temper.” KnowsMenWantInspirationalFirstsDoeTwoChristianCausesLosesReligiousKnow HowChangedHonorDirectShameCastsVicesOrthodoxGoodsTemperEnmityIncline Author:Isaac of Nineveh
“To judge sins is the business of one who is sinless, but who is sinless except God? Who ever thinks about the multitude of his own sins in his heart never wants to make the sins of others a topic of conversation. To judge a man who has gone astray is a sign of pride, and God resists the proud. On the other hand, one who every hour prepares himself to give answer for his own sins will not quickly lift up his head to examine the mistakes of others.” ThinkingMenWantInspirationalGivingHeartHandsChristianHoursReligiousSinAnswersMistakeGoneJudgingPrideProudConversationLiftsOrthodoxMultitudesTopics Author:Gennadius of Constantinople
“We have such a law: If you forgive, it means that God has forgiven you; but if you do not forgive your brother, it means that your sin remains with you.” IfsInspirationalMeanChristianLawReligiousSinBrotherRemainsForgivingOrthodoxForgivenYour Brother Author:Silouan the Athonite
“Inasmuch as you pray with all your soul for the one who has slandered you, so much will God reveal the truth to them who have believed the slander.” InspirationalSoulChristianReligiousPrayingYour SoulOrthodoxSlander Author:Maximus the Confessor
“If you are remembering evil against someone, then pray for him; and as you remove through prayer the pain of the remembrance of the evil he has done, you will stop the advance of the passion. And when you have attained brotherly love and love for mankind, you will completely cast this passion out of your soul. Then when someone else does evil to you, be affectionate and humble toward him, and treat him kindly, and you will deliver him from this passion.” IfsInspirationalDoeSoulDoneChristianPainRememberPassionEvilReligiousPrayerMankindPrayingAnd LoveTreatsCastsHumbleYour SoulRemoveOrthodoxRemembranceAffectionateBrotherlyBrotherly Love Author:Maximus the Confessor
“A soul that is nurtured by hatred toward man can not be at peace with God, Who has said: If you forgive not men their sins, neither shall your Father forgive your sins (Matt. 6:15). If a man does not want to be reconciled, you must at least guard yourself from hating, praying with a pure heart for him, and speaking no evil of him.” IfsMenWantInspirationalHeartDoeSaidSoulChristianHateEvilFatherReligiousSinPrayingPureHatredForgivingOrthodoxCan NotPure HeartPeace With God Author:Maximus the Confessor
“Whoever will not love his enemies cannot know the Lord and the sweetness of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit teaches us to love our enemies in such way that we pity their souls as if they were our own children.” IfsKnowsWayInspirationalChildrenSoulChristianSpiritReligiousLordEnemyTeachHolyPityHoly SpiritOrthodoxSweetness Author:Silouan the Athonite
“I ask you to try something. If someone grieves you, or dishonors you, or takes something of yours, then pray like this: "Lord, we are all your creatures. Pity your servants, and turn them to repentance," and then you will perceptibly bear grace in your soul. Induce your heart to love your enemies, and the Lord, seeing your good will, shall help you in all things, and will Himself show you experience. But whoever thinks evil of his enemies does not have love for God and has not known God.” IfsThinkingInspirationalTryingHeartDoeSoulHelpingShowsChristianTurnsEvilAsksReligiousKnownLordEnemyGraceSeeingLove YouBearsPrayingCreaturesAll ThingsPityYour SoulGod LoveServantGrievingOrthodoxRepentanceGood WillDishonorLove Your Enemies Author:Silouan the Athonite
“Do not forsake prayer, for just as the body becomes weak when it is deprived of food, so also the soul when it is deprived of prayer draws nigh to weakness and noetic death.” InspirationalSoulBodyChristianReligiousPrayerDrawsWeaknessWeakOrthodoxDeprivedForsake Author:Gennadius of Constantinople
“The prayer of one who does not consider himself a sinner is not accepted by the Lord.” InspirationalDoeChristianReligiousPrayerLordAcceptedSinnerOrthodox Author:Isaac of Nineveh
“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
“Whoever wants to approach prayer without a guide, and proudly thinks that he can learn from books, and won't go to an elder, is already halfway into delusion. But the Lord helps the humble, and if there is no experienced guide, and he goes to a confessor, whoever he may be, then the Lord will cover him because of his humility.” IfsThinkingWantInspirationalMayBookHelpingChristianReligiousPrayerLordHumilityApproachHumbleGuidesDelusionOrthodoxEldersHalfway Author:Silouan the Athonite
“If, at the time when the mind is praying it is distracted by any extraneous thought or worry about anything, then this prayer is not called pure.” IfsInspirationalMindChristianReligiousPrayerWorryPrayingPureOrthodoxDistracted Author:Isaac of Nineveh
“When God wants to have mercy on someone, He inspires someone else to pray for him, and He helps in this prayer.” WantInspirationalHelpingChristianReligiousPrayerInspirePrayingMercyOrthodox Author:Silouan the Athonite
“God will cleanse your sins if you yourself are dissatisfied with yourself and will keep on changing until you are perfect.” IfsInspirationalChristianReligiousSinPerfectGods WillOrthodoxDissatisfied Author:Saint Augustine
“The saints were people like all of us. Many of them came out of great sins, but by repentance they attained the Kingdom of Heaven. And everyone who comes there comes through repentance, which the merciful Lord has given us through His sufferings.” PeopleInspirationalChristianSufferingGivenHeavenReligiousSinLordSaintKingdomsOrthodoxRepentanceMercifulKingdom Of Heaven Author:Silouan the Athonite
“If someone has repented once of a sin, and again does the same sin, this is a sign that he has not been cleansed of the causes of the sin, wherefrom, as from a root, the shoots spring forth again.” IfsInspirationalDoeChristianCausesReligiousSinSpringRootsOrthodox Author:Saint Basil
“Whoever hates his sins will stop sinning; and whoever confesses them will receive remission. A man can not abandon the habit of sin if he does not first gain enmity toward sin, nor can he receive remission of sin without confession of sin. For the confession of sin is the cause of true humility.” IfsMenInspirationalFirstsDoeChristianHateCausesReligiousSinHumilityHabitGainsAbandonOrthodoxConfessionCan NotEnmitySinningRemissionTrue Humility Author:Isaac of Nineveh
“The Lord greatly loves the repenting sinner and mercifully presses him to His bosom: "Where were you, My child? I was waiting a long time for you." The Lord calles all to Himself with the voice of the Gospel, and his voice is heard in all the world: "Come to me, my sheep. I created you, and I love you. My love for you brought Me to earth, and I suffered all things for the sake of your salvation, and I want you all to know my love, and to say, like the apostles on Tabor: Lord, it is good for us to be with You."” KnowsWorldWantInspirationalChildrenLongEarthChristianWaitingVoiceReligiousLordHeardLove YouLong TimeAll ThingsSalvationPressesSakeMy ChildrenSinnerOrthodoxSheepI Want YouRepentApostlesBosomsMy Love For You Author:Silouan the Athonite
“It is a great good to be given over to the will of God. Then the Lord alone is in the soul, and no other thought, and she prays to God with a pure mind. When the soul is entirely given over to the will of God, then the Lord Himself begins to guide her, and the soul learns directly from God ... A proud man does not with to live according to the will of God. He likes to direct himself, and does not understand that man does not have enough understanding to direct himself without God.” MenInspirationalMindDoeSoulEnoughChristianGivenUnderstandingReligiousLordProudPrayingPureDirectGuidesLikesGods WillOrthodoxPraying To GodWithout GodProud Man Author:Silouan the Athonite
“In the measure to which a man cuts off and humbles his own will, he proceeds toward success. But insofar as he stubbornly guards his own will, so much does he brings harm to himself.” MenInspirationalDoeChristianReligiousCuttingHarmOrthodox Author:Ephrem the Syrian
“The Lord has given the Holy Spirit upon the earth, and in whomsoever He dwells, that one feels paradise within himself. You might say: why hasn't this happened to me? Because you have not given yourself over to the will of God, but you live according to yourself. Look at the one who loves his own will. He never has peace in himself and is always displeased with something. But whoever has given himself over to God's will perfectly has pure prayer. His soul loves the Lord, and everything is acceptable and good to him.” InspirationalFeelsLooksSoulMightEarthChristianSpiritGivenReligiousPrayerLordHappenedHolyPureGods WillHoly SpiritParadiseOrthodoxAcceptable Author:Silouan the Athonite
“As it is not possible to walk without feet or fly without wings, so it is impossible to attain the Kingdom of Heaven without the fulfillment of the commandments.” InspirationalChristianHeavenReligiousWalksImpossibleFeetWingsKingdomsFulfillmentOrthodoxCommandmentsKingdom Of Heaven Author:Theophan the Recluse
“The Commandments of God are higher than all the treasures of the earth. Whoever has acquired them has received God within himself.” InspirationalEarthChristianReligiousHigherTreasureOrthodoxCommandmentsCommandments Of God Author:Isaac of Nineveh
“The Holy Apostle John the Theologian says that the commandments of God are not difficult, but easy (I John, 5:3). But they are only easy because of love, while they are all difficult if there is no love.” IfsInspirationalChristianEasyDifficultReligiousHolyOrthodoxCommandmentsTheologianApostlesNo LoveChristian LoveCommandments Of God Author:Silouan the Athonite
“God requires not the doing of the commandments for their own sake, but the correction of the soul, for whose sake He established the commandments.” InspirationalSoulChristianReligiousSakeOrthodoxCommandmentsCorrections Author:Isaac of Nineveh
“In all of our deeds God looks at the intention, whether we do it for His sake, or for the sake of some other intention.” InspirationalLooksChristianReligiousIntentionSakeDeedsOrthodox Author:Maximus the Confessor
“Every time that we sin, we are born of the devil. But every time that we do good, we are born of God.” InspirationalChristianBornReligiousSinDevilOrthodox Author:Saint John Chrysostom
“We abide in God insofar as we do not sin.” InspirationalChristianReligiousSinOrthodox Author:Venerable Bede
“Do not disdain the commandment to love, for through it you become a son of God, and when you break it, you become a son of Gehenna.” InspirationalChristianReligiousBreakSonOrthodoxCommandmentsDisdain Author:Maximus the Confessor
“Do not say that faith in Christ alone can save you, for this is not possible if you do not attain love for Him, which is demonstrated by deeds. As for mere faith: "The demons also believe and tremble" (James, 2:19). The action of love consists in heartfelt good deeds toward one's neighbor, magnanimity, patience, and sober use of things.” IfsInspirationalBelieveUseActionChristianChristReligiousMereDeedsNeighborDemonOrthodoxSoberGood DeedsHeartfeltMagnanimityChrist Alone Author:Maximus the Confessor
“As God illumines all people equally with the light of the sun, so do those who desire to imitate God let shine an equal ray of love on all people. For wherever love disappears, hatred immediately appears in its place. And if God is love, then hatred is the devil. Therefore as one who has love has God within himself, so he who has hatred within himself nurtures the devil within himself.” PeopleIfsInspirationalLightChristianDesireReligiousSunEqualDevilHatredShiningDisappearOrthodoxRaysNurtureGod Is Love Author:Saint Basil
“"Love covers a multitude of sins," (I Pet. 4:8). That is, for love towards one's neighbor, God forgives the sins of the one who loves.” InspirationalChristianReligiousSinForgivingNeighborPetOrthodoxMultitudesChristian LoveGod Forgives Author:Theophan the Recluse
“Love is the fruit of prayer ... Patiently abiding in prayer signifies a man's renunciation of himself. Therefore the self-denial of the soul turns into love for God.” MenInspirationalSoulSelfChristianTurnsReligiousPrayerLove IsFruitDenialGod LoveOrthodoxAbidingRenunciationSelf-denial Author:Isaac of Nineveh
“Whoever sees in himself the traces of hatred toward any man on account of any kind of sin is completely foreign to the love of God. For love toward God does not at all tolerate hatred for man.” MenInspirationalKindDoeChristianReligiousSinHatredAccountsGod LoveOrthodoxTolerate Author:Maximus the Confessor
“Who is far from love is a bad state, and to be pitied. He passes his days in a delirious dream, far from God, deprived of light, and he lives in darkness ... Whoever does not have the love of Christ is an enemy of Christ. He walks in darkness and is easily lead into any sin.” InspirationalDoeStatesDreamLightChristianChristReligiousSinWalksLove IsEnemyDarknessOrthodoxDeprivedDelirious Author:Ephrem the Syrian
“Whoever has known the love of God loves the whole world and never murmurs against his fate, for the burden of sorrow for the sake of God gains eternal joy.” WorldInspirationalWholeChristianJoyReligiousKnownFateSorrowEternalGainsSakeBurdenWhole WorldGod LoveOrthodox Author:Silouan the Athonite
“Love is manifested not only through the distribution of one's possessions, but even moreso through the spreading of the word of God and helpful deeds.” InspirationalChristianReligiousLove IsDeedsPossessionHelpfulOrthodoxWord Of GodDistribution Author:Maximus the Confessor
“What is perfection in love? Love your enemies in such a way that you would desire to make them your brothers ... For so did He love, Who hanging on the Cross, said "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)” KnowsWayInspirationalSaidChristianDesireFatherReligiousEnemyLove YouBrotherCrossesPerfectionForgivingOrthodoxLukeYour BrotherHanging OnLove Your Enemies Author:Saint Augustine
“Let there always be a preponderance of mercy with you, even though you don't feel such mercy in yourself, as God has for the world ... A cruel and merciless heart is never purified. A merciful man is the doctor of his own soul, because as it were a by a strong wind from is heart he drives out the darkness of the passions.” MenWorldInspirationalFeelsHeartSoulChristianPassionStrongReligiousDarknessWindDoctorsMercyOrthodoxMercifulStrong Winds Author:Isaac of Nineveh
“If you begin to guard wealth it will not be yours. But if you begin to distribute it, you will not lose it.” IfsInspirationalChristianLosesReligiousWealthOrthodox Author:Saint Basil
“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
“If you are truly merciful, then when what is yours is unjustly taken, don't be sad inside, and do not tell of our loss to your neighbor. Let a better loss, inflicted by those who insult you, be absorbed by your mercy.” IfsInspirationalChristianReligiousLossTakenMercyNeighborInsultOrthodoxMercifulInsults YouDon't Be Sad Author:Isaac of Nineveh
“Some suffer much from poverty and sickness, but are not humbled, and so they suffer without profit. But one who is humbled will be happy in all circumstances, because the Lord is his riches and joy, and all people will wonder at the beauty of his soul.” PeopleInspirationalSoulChristianJoySufferingReligiousWonderLordPovertyCircumstancesProfitRichesSicknessOrthodox Author:Silouan the Athonite
“Let them push you, but do not push; Let them crucify you, but do not crucify. Let them insult, but do not insult. Let them slander, but do not slander. Be meek, and do not be zealous in evil.” InspirationalChristianEvilReligiousInsultOrthodoxSlanderMeekZealous Author:Isaac of Nineveh
“As fire is not extinguished by fire, so anger is not conquered by anger, but is made even more inflamed. But meekness often subdues even the most beastly enemies, softens them and pacifies them.” InspirationalMadeChristianReligiousEnemyFireOrthodoxMeeknessBeastly Author:Tikhon of Zadonsk
“Love hunger and thirst for the sake of Christ. Insofar as you pacify your body, so much much will you do make your soul virtuous. God, who rewards thoughts, words, and deeds, will give good in return for even a small thing which you gladly suffer for His sake.” InspirationalGivingSoulBodyChristianSufferingChristReligiousReturnRewardsSakeHungerDeedsYour BodyYour SoulOrthodoxVirtuousThirstSmall ThingsHunger And Thirst Author:Gennadius of Constantinople
“You must teach yourself how to eat less, but with discernment, insofar as your work allows. The measure of temperance should be such that after lunch you want to pray.” WantInspirationalShouldChristianReligiousTeachPrayingOrthodoxLunchDiscernmentTemperance Author:Silouan the Athonite
“By obedience a man is guarded against pride. Prayer is given for the sake of obedience. The grace of the Holy Spirit is also given for obedience. This is why obedience is higher than prayer and fasting.” MenInspirationalChristianSpiritGivenReligiousPrayerGracePrideHigherHolySakeObedienceHoly SpiritOrthodoxFastingGuardedPrayer And Fasting Author:Silouan the Athonite
“Obedience is necessary not only for monks, but for all people. Even the Lord was obedient. The proud and self-regarding do not allow grace to live in them, and therefore they never have spiritual peace, while in the obedient soul the grace of the Holy Spirit enters easily and gives joy and peace. Whoever bears even a little grace in himself joyfully submits himself to all direction. He knows that God directs even the heavens and the netherworld, and himself, and his business, and everything in the world, and therefore he is always at peace.” PeopleKnowsWorldInspirationalGivingLittlesSoulSelfChristianSpiritualJoySpiritHeavenReligiousLordGraceBearsProudHolyObedienceHoly SpiritOrthodoxSubmitMonkObedientSpiritual Peace Author:Silouan the Athonite