If a man wants God to hear his prayer quickly, then before he prays for anything else, even his own soul, when he stands and stretches out his hands towards God, he must pray with all his heart for his enemies. Through this action God will hear everything that he asks.
Featured image: Photographer Kevin Dooley. Taken with Diana+ mini. source
If you are sparing with your anger you will yourself be spared, and you will show your good sense and will be one of those who pray.
– St. Evagrios the Solitary, on Prayer. Philokalia Vol. 1
Featured image: Metal cross in the Rostov Museum, 18th c. From the cupola of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity in the Ipatevskii Monastery. Photographer Sergeĭ Mikhaĭlovich, 1911. Prokudin-Gorskiĭ Collection. Library of Congress
Prayer is the flower of gentleness and of freedom from anger.
– Evagrios the Solitary, “On Prayer.” Philokalia Vol. 1
Featured image: Kosciuszko National Park NSW, Australia. Photographer Christian Bass. source
Let us hymn and glorify God in trials. Let us not be beggars and only ask things from God like: give me this, give me that, why won’t you give it to me?
May our lips be used to glorify God. Let us not be sullen and self-absorbed. Let us say also Glory to Thee, oh God! We must never forget it. It should be always on our lips.