My children, with a complete sacrifice of our self-will and desires we must declare war against the devil, the world, and our evil tendencies and weaknesses. The “old man” 1 of passions must leave our heart, and the man in God’s likeness must be born, that is, with dispassion and the purity of both heart and body.
Struggle with courage and with trust in God. The devil will attack you with worldly desires now and then. Nevertheless, you must keep the stance of a vigilant soldier so that you do not become spiritually drowsy and be killed by the devil. Be careful, for the adversary is roaring ferociously, seeking whom he may devour with vile passions.
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1 Rom. 6:6
From the book
Councels from the Holy mountain
Selected from the letters and homilies of Elder Efraim of Arizon
subm. no. 14
paragraphs: 11-15 from pages 198-200
Selection of passages from the book by Silviu Podariu
