Ethan D Good’s Reviews > Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: the Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica > Status Update

"Instead of striving to understand the meaning of life, we resist it and send out wicked thoughts to our fellow men. In this manner we ourselves become evil. For as soon as such a thought is conceived in our minds, we have accepted the devil, for he is a noetic power and can enter our body. As soon as we have consented to such thoughts, he is here!"

This adds a new meaning to "resist the devil!" Be kind to all.

"Life on earth is manifested in our thoughts. Whatever our thoughts are occupied with, that reflects the kind of life we lead. If our thoughts are quiet and peaceful, kind and loving, there’s peace for us; and if they are negative, there’s disquiet and restlessness. [...] For God is peace; God is comfort and joy to all people."

"And so, we must always fall down before the Lord and His Most Holy Mother. We must pray to Him to make us worthy of loving Him as His Most Holy Mother, the angels, and the saints love Him. The Almighty Lord can certainly help us in this. He desires us to be like this, so that we can be with Him for all ages and throughout eternity in His love and His embrace."

"For this reason we must always be in contact with the Source of life, with God--always without ceasing. As soon as our inner peace is troubled, we must immediatelv ask for His help [...] The soul knows that it must pass through the fire and water of this world in order to rise above the little things of this world that torment us. What torments us most are our thoughts. Thoughts make us do all kinds of things. "

"When one uses one’s discernment, then one is also vigilant. Vigilance is also needed in prayer. Our attention must precede our prayer. We must know what we are asking for in prayer. You see, when we ask a favor of someone, we say, “I know you can help me if you apply yourself to it.” That means our attention is on the words we are saying when asking for help."

I struggle with this a lot. Pray for me to be vigilant.

"QUESTION: What is the most important thing in one’s spiritual life?
ANSWER: To guard the peace in our hearts. Do not let this peace be disturbed at any cost."

"The Holy Fathers say that obedience is greater even than fasting or prayer. This is something I did not understand very well when I was younger. If we have no obedience, then our fasting is in vain."

"Therefore, let us be thankful to God for everything. He knows why He has put us in the position where we find ourselves, and we will get the most out of it when we learn to be humble."

"As soon as we break the law of God, our conscience begins to bother us. It does not give us rest. And so, we must beseech the Lord in prayer that He may teach us to cleave to Him with all our heart and soul."