reply to post by KRISKALI777
Hi Kris/
As with the appearance of light,
darkness retreats; so,
at the fragrance of humility,
all anger and bitterness vanishes.
St. John Climacus, “The Ladder of Divine Ascent,” (Boston: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1978), Step 8: On Freedom From Anger and On
Meekness...
"This is the way the demons work; after causing a soul to fall into sin,
then they cast us into despair to destroy us completely.
The demons are always saying to the soul: 'When will his name die and be destroyed? (Psalm. 40:6).
If the soul is one of sobriety,
it will answer them and say... 'I shall die but live,
and declare the works of the Lord' (Psalm. 117:17).
And one more Kris/
It is always possible to make a new start by means of repentance.
"You fell," it is written,
"now arise"(cf. Proverbs. 24:16).
And if you fall again,
then rise again,
without despairing at all of your salvation,
no matter what happens.
So long as you do not surrender yourself willingly to the enemy,
your patient endurance,
combined with self-reproach,
will suffice for your salvation.
"For at one time we ourselves went astray in our folly and disobedience," says St. Paul. "... Yet He saved us,
not because of any good things we had done,
but in His mercy" (Tit. 3:3,5). St. Peter of Damaskos, Philokalia, Vol. 3
His Mercy and not our will, but His Will!
ICXC NIKA
helen