The aim of our life is to become flawless, holy, sons of God and inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let us beware not to lose by chance the afterlife for the sake of the earthly life, not to neglect the purpose of our life because of the worldly worries.
Fasting, vigils and prayer by themselves don`t bring the desired results, because they don`t represent the purpose of our life, they are only means used for reaching that purpose.
Adorn yourself with virtues! Struggle to get rid of the irrational passions. Purify your heart of all the dirtiness and keep it pure so that God may come and shelter within you, to fill you with the Holy Spirit, with His divine gifts.
My beloved sons, let this be your only preoccupation and worry. Let these always be your aim and desire. For this pray to God.
Seek God every day but within your heart, not outside it. And when you find Him, stop fearfully and trembling, like the Cherubims and the Seraphims, because your heart has become a throne of God. But to seek God, you must humble yourself down to earth, since He is disgusted by the proud, but He loves the humble and searches them.
If you struggle in the right way, God will support you. By our struggle we see our weaknesses, our flaws and mistakes. Our spiritual struggle is the mirror of our spiritual condition. Who doesn`t struggle, doesn`t know himself.
Take heed even at the smallest mistakes. But if it happens to sin because of your carelessness, do not despair, just stand up quickly and kneel before God Who has the power to lift you up.
We have within ourselves weaknesses and deep rooted irrational passions. Many of them are inherited. These all can`t be drawn away immediately, and by no means by worry and overwhelming sadness, only by patience and perseverance, with care and vigilance.
Our overwhelming sadness hides pride within itself. That`s why it is damaging and dangerous and many times is caused by the devil to impede the struggler advance on his path.
The path leading to perfection is a long one. Pray to God to give you power! Endure with patience your falls, stand up again quickly and don`t remain like the children in the place where you fell, crying and wailing disconsolate.
Beware and pray so that you won`t fall into temptation. Do not despair if it happens to fall again in the same sins. Many of them are powerful both because of your nature and of your habit, but in time, by struggle, they are defeated. Do not let anything bring you to despair.
Excerpt from the book Saint Nektarios, the wonder maker – His life, miracles and teachings, Evanghelismos Publishing
