Humility and Struggle
“The devil attacks the mind that isn’t occupied with prayer. In the struggle for humility, the devil sometimes mixes with the mind of man. As long as the mind is in prayer, he can’t mingle with it; he stands at a distance, but watches for the moment when the mind is empty, unoccupied. Then the devil lashes out and attacks wherever man is weaker. For example, he tells you that you’re better than someone else. Once, when I wanted to weep for my sins, the devil said to me, “Why are you denigrating yourself? I know your sins, but you’re a little better than the bad people.” He didn’t say “good,” because he knew I wouldn’t believe him. This was a heavy blow for me. These temptations come when you try to gather your mind; if I’m praying, and my mind is carried away to church, and out onto the street, and it soars somewhere else, then the devil begins to fight me with many carnal temptations. Then you can’t see your inner life, because it’s dark.” (Monk Proclu Nicau)
“Someone who has never tasted the love of God has a similar attitude [apathetic, lack of understanding] towards humility, because in fact humility is a feeling and the work of the love of God in a person’s life. This love is so sweet that it encourages a person filled with happiness to repent of all his sins and weaknesses with his whole being. This state is utterly blissful, and yet it is full of a certain moderation, sensitivity, and fear of spoiling, destroying this crown of beauty, this Divine state, which is as fragile as a spider’s web. It is an extremely subtle state that disappears once we become “barbarians” or “animals,” and wound the soul, distancing ourselves from God and slapping love in the face.” (Monk Theologos Kadar)
“This humble sinner recognizes that all good is borrowed from God, and so expects nothing good to come out of himself unaided. Не is not afraid to look frankly at his failings and shortcomings, and is not scandalized by them. Не does not get obsessed with them. After offering his repentance to God, he feels confident of forgiveness and goes on with life. Не doesn't say, how could I ever have done such a horrible thing! I'm really not that kind of person. (Or I'm hopelessly that kind of person!)” (Nun Katherine Weston)
“We should strive to think with the mind of the Lord – to will as He wills, and choose as He chooses. Practiced over time, such thinking yields a Christian mindset. How do we recognize when we have acquired the mind of Christ? We do not yearn after high things – we refuse to waste our energy on ambition and status, nor do we seek to acquire what is popularly esteemed in the world (Rom 12:16). We are given the power in Christ to manage our own thoughts so as not to be “haughty, but [to] fear” (vs. 11:20). Thus a right mindset means never being “wise in your own opinion,” but to “associate with the humble” (vs. 12:16). Christ is our prime example: we adopt His thinking, His approach to people and situations, His self-emptying and humility (Phil 2:8).” (Dynamis 7/22/2024)
“…you should not get angry when you are scolded, nor should you love to be praised, but rather desire to be humbled. No one else is to blame; only we ourselves are at fault. We should always throw the weight on ourselves, not on others, because criticism is egotism and pride…The most blessed thing is when a man has humble-mindedness, because then comes spiritual peace. What can I say? Spiritual peace and joy come, because no matter what happens, you have the strongest weapon—humble-mindedness.” (Gerondissa Makrina Vassopoulou, Elder Dionisie Ignat)
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