Bless you both for this wonderful word. Too often we beat ourselves up for these thoughts but we should take courage. Know that when the evil one introduces these thoughts.it's because we aren't fully his. If we were fully his, these thoughts would not be thoughts but actions only. The prayer of the heart is a wonderful tool to use when you catch these thoughts. Call on Jesus and expose these thoughts in the uncreated light of the Lord.
When one realizes that destroying bad thoughts whithin oneself is a sign of one’s love for God, then suddenly every evil thought that one has becomes a blessed opportunity to show one’s love for God. What a wonderful spiritual insight.
as father spyridon said; If we were able to hear the cackles and howling laughter of the devil and the demons when we fall into sin or when they tempt us into despair we wouldn’t waste a second thought on their attacks and temptations.
Thank you, fathers, for this word. I do struggle with the negative thoughts a lot of times and just want to kick myself. instead, I find that the Jesus Prayer helps me relinquish those thoughts every time. 😊
Friend, the devil has been attacking you and is trying to trick you into accepting these thoughts as your own. Reject and rebuke in Jesus name. Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Pray to God and He will help you! Pray continuously and be open with Him. Ask Him to give you a sound mind and for discernment. Psalm 105:4 Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually. Psalm 31:24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord! God is all-knowing and all seeing and still, He NEVER CEASES to love you. Romans 8:38-39 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Just know that He already knows what you've been going through and still loves you the same and wants to help you. So Pray to Him. Repent and Trust and Believe. Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God”
Friend, the devil has been attacking you and is trying to trick you into accepting these thoughts as your own. Reject and rebuke in Jesus name. Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Pray to God and He will help you! Pray continuously and be open with Him. Ask Him to give you a sound mind and for discernment. Psalm 105:4 Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually. Psalm 31:24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord! God is all-knowing and all seeing and still, He NEVER CEASES to love you. Romans 8:38-39 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Just know that He already knows what you've been going through and still loves you the same and wants to help you. So Pray to Him. Repent and Trust and Believe. Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God”
I have followed Fr Josiah for quite some time. I go to St. Andrew’s and couldn’t believe my eyes. Both priests are very blessed and helpful. Thank you.
Thank you for this video. It is very helpful. I have been watching all this crap about blessing gay “unions,” and my faith has been greatly shaken. Nice to hear something uplifting.
God bless you both. Thank you for bringing us the wise and loving words of the orthodox faith in such a plain, simple way. These sound bites nourish the thirst for knowing God, please keep them coming. 🙏
Well describing yourself in this way.... Why? Psychology has developed from people like jung...... Who was into all kinds of strange spiruality...... There is nothing to compare with the prescriptions of Christ and His Church..... The only Way to theosis.. The great saints knew nothing of psychology and it's boasts. Lord have mercy on the pride of humanity..... Thinking she can improve on Christ and His Way
@@normadaly7506 I’m a proud Christian who works as a psychologist. Everyday I help both Christians and non-Christians through very difficult challenges and mental disorders. So I can confidently say, you literally have no idea what you are talking about. I rebuke your superficial internet piety, you sound like a Pharisee. Of course we always ask for the help of the Church first, but many priests will approve of and recommend psychological therapy for members of the church who clearly need professional support. If you are not aware of this then you truly are ignorant. Also, modern psychological therapy has nothing to do with Jung. Once again, you have no idea what you are talking about.
@@normadaly7506 the great saints also knew nothing of modern medicine. Does that mean going to a doctor is wrong? Obviously not. I would encourage you to delete your comment because you could be harming people by discouraging them from seeking professional mental health support.
@@mrscream2028 OK but I ve had a PhD in clinical psychology express amazement a no of years, ago.... He was asked by consultant psychiatrist to assess me.... I was discharged and allowed to wean of chemical straightjacket so .... I am now a carer, living a fruitful life all because I listened to ancient faith of our father's and followed their advice... Over a no of years, yes and it's ungoing til I fall asleep. Sadly there are so many money cows that take us from Christ...... Id 2 uncles and friends who died tragically..... They were under care of medical professionals..... Like Jobs comforters, you think you know what u are talking about but...... The Almighty has a different view. Self knowledge and repentance are powerful tools for recovery. Maybe you need to fast and pray and meditate on scripture.
I am brain injured, I’m lost in cyclic intrusive thoughts and no memory or good feeling. I do not connect with them they really upset me I cry and scream, I pray but there’s no escape. I believe I have a dark attachment or it is just my sinful nature either way I want yo be free and walk on the light of the holyspirit
Repeat the Jesus Prayer- "Oh Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner" when your thoughts are racing and say it with true conviction of heart, He'll clear your mind. God bless ❤️ ☦️
When I say my ROSARY I get the most evil thoughts i become upset but i still PRAY ON KNOWING THAT MY MOTHER MARY IS SEEING EVERYTHING AND I CALL ON HER OR ST JOSEPH AND ST MICHAEL TO HELP ME TO END IT🙏🕊️🙏❤️🔥🙏🕊️ I KNOW WHO IS ATTACKING ME SO I CALL FOR HELP AND I GET HELP SOMETIMES QUICK SOMETIMES IT TAKES LONGER DAYS MAYBE BUT I'LL ALWAYS SAY MY ROSARY 🙏❤️🔥🙏
Call upon the Lord Himself and He will come help you. Mary and all of the saints were still people just like me and you. Do not be deceived. Jesus is the truth, the life and the way. We can only get to the Father through Jesus, friend. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Intrusive thoughts almost torture me at times...drives me crazy. I always think to myself where the heck did this come from. I don't ever play them out, but it really hurts me wondering is this me?? Is this my heart and what I really am?
Sometimes saying the Jesus prayer simply does not prevent that second step of happening nor the others. So I was thinking I am doing the right thing in assuming the thought was mine so I feel guilty about it. I guess not then...
How does your assertion complies with the following: "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5, 28)
Scrupulosity destroys lives. It’s important for us to distinguish “bad thoughts” that are deliberately generated vs intrusive (OCD type thoughts that are unrelated to any temptation or desire). 3% of people have OCD. So 3/100 Christians are at risk of developing intense fear that they are accidentally “blaspheming” the Holy Spirit when they are having intrusive thoughts that are not tied to their temptations at all. People with this mental illness avoid Confession and Liturgy because of this disease. I think all priests should research the nature of obsessive compulsive disorder so they can delineate in Confession if certain thoughts are deliberately generated or a symptom of brain dysfunction. A priest I know personally has, and has helped many people who struggle with intrusive thoughts. For me, bad thoughts are tied to passions, intrusive thoughts are not. They are absolutely random and not a cause for moral concern. This video is going over the former. If anyone understands what I’m talking about, I have links to resources available for those that struggle from the latter type. Most of these resources are Roman Catholic as their mortal/venial distinction causes the manifestation of OCD. They cause it and deal with it more.
It is. YOu should start minding your own business instead, meaning... look after your own spiritual sickness and stop looking after other people's spiritual sicknesses.
So if I did the unforgivable sin in my mind, but didn’t rebuke it at the time, and it was my OWN thought, but I didn’t agree with it, Is it forgivable…?
@@GodIsGood-Fr It depends on your revelation of God. Many people commit the unforgivable sin because they don't really know God and are frustrated by life like Job's wife and often by the hypocrisy of religious people that gives a false representation of God. So it's between you and God. He alone knows if you have or can be forgiven. If you genuinely have love for God, then your sin is likely forgivable.
Only if you dwell on that or those thoughts and give in to the suggestions of those thoughts. If you reject the bad thoughts rather than giving in to them then that is not sin.
@@johnnyd2383 I suppose that you believe that " The Church " is the catholic church. His Church does have The Holy Spirit. The Church that Jesus established is His Church His Church does the " Will of The Father." It is the will of The Father that His hand written 10 Commandments are all obeyed.
@@francissweeney7318 This is Eastern Orthodox channel and I am EO as well. Your claim that our priests are "blind" and that Orthodox laymen are "blind" is direct denial of the Holy Spirit leading Lord's Church. BTW: Decalogue has found it's end in Jesus Christ as He came to fulfill OT law. It is true that we still like to list Decalogue but commandments are greatly uplifted by the Lord Himself. They are in NT held on a much higher regard and level.
@@johnnyd2383 Jesus died on the cross and became the only intercessor between God and man. The office of a priest is specifically eliminated in the new Testament. Revelation 1:5-6 John to the seven churches " And from Jesus Christ ... and made us Kings and Priests unto God even His Father, to Him, I say, be glory, and dominion for evermore, Amen."
@@francissweeney7318 Well... this is typical ignorance Protestants are exhibiting left and right. I will give you some Bible references for your further study. Greek word "presbyters" or "presbyteros" in original NT Bible texts was used to signify church's governing body, either in general (Acts 15, 2; 4; 6; 22), or locally (Acts 14, 23; 16, 4; 20, 17; 1 Timothy 5, 17; Titus 1, 5, etc.). The word "presbyter" has been contracted by later ecclesiastical usage into the title "priest". For a reason unknown to me, in English translations, it has been translated into word "elders" which is now causing a havoc and heavy heresies just like yours. BTW: You are mixing words "intercession" and "mediation". While we have only one mediator (1 Timothy 2, 5), we are encouraged to pray on behalf of others - to intercede: (1 Timothy 2, 1-2; Matthew 5, 44; James 5, 16; etc.).
Bless you both for this wonderful word. Too often we beat ourselves up for these thoughts but we should take courage. Know that when the evil one introduces these thoughts.it's because we aren't fully his. If we were fully his, these thoughts would not be thoughts but actions only. The prayer of the heart is a wonderful tool to use when you catch these thoughts. Call on Jesus and expose these thoughts in the uncreated light of the Lord.
Glory to God! We all need to hear this.
Thank you 🙏
When one realizes that destroying bad thoughts whithin oneself is a sign of one’s love for God, then suddenly every evil thought that one has becomes a blessed opportunity to show one’s love for God. What a wonderful spiritual insight.
as father spyridon said; If we were able to hear the cackles and howling laughter of the devil and the demons when we fall into sin or when they tempt us into despair we wouldn’t waste a second thought on their attacks and temptations.
Amen. That’s good.
Whenever an evil thought comes in my mind, I simply make the sign of the cross over me.
Thank you Fathers.
Thank you Fr. Josiah, and Patristic Nectar as a whole, for sharing these gifts with us.
It's such a shift in mindset to realize this, so many could be helped with something so simple.
Thank you, fathers, for this word. I do struggle with the negative thoughts a lot of times and just want to kick myself. instead, I find that the Jesus Prayer helps me relinquish those thoughts every time. 😊
“A bad thought in the one that destroys it, is a sign of love for God and not a sin”
Thank you Father! ☦️
Thank you, Frs, for this comforting and helpful message. Glory to God!
I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and what I've failed to do, through my fault ...
Friend, the devil has been attacking you and is trying to trick you into accepting these thoughts as your own. Reject and rebuke in Jesus name.
Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Pray to God and He will help you! Pray continuously and be open with Him. Ask Him to give you a sound mind and for discernment.
Psalm 105:4 Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually.
Psalm 31:24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!
God is all-knowing and all seeing and still, He NEVER CEASES to love you.
Romans 8:38-39 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Just know that He already knows what you've been going through and still loves you the same and wants to help you. So Pray to Him. Repent and Trust and Believe.
Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God”
Friend, the devil has been attacking you and is trying to trick you into accepting these thoughts as your own. Reject and rebuke in Jesus name.
Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Pray to God and He will help you! Pray continuously and be open with Him. Ask Him to give you a sound mind and for discernment.
Psalm 105:4 Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually.
Psalm 31:24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!
God is all-knowing and all seeing and still, He NEVER CEASES to love you.
Romans 8:38-39 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Just know that He already knows what you've been going through and still loves you the same and wants to help you. So Pray to Him. Repent and Trust and Believe.
Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God”
I have followed Fr Josiah for quite some time. I go to St. Andrew’s and couldn’t believe my eyes. Both priests are very blessed and helpful. Thank you.
Thank you for this video. It is very helpful. I have been watching all this crap about blessing gay “unions,” and my faith has been greatly shaken. Nice to hear something uplifting.
Ahhh, such wise and discerning words. Glory to God! Christ is risen!
God bless you both. Thank you for bringing us the wise and loving words of the orthodox faith in such a plain, simple way. These sound bites nourish the thirst for knowing God, please keep them coming. 🙏
I have the book Our Thoughts Determine our Lives. It is an excellent book and I urge others to read it.
Thank God for you and for the teaching ministry of His church. Protect us from false teachers.
What a blessed video! Thank you, Father Josiah and Father Alexis!
As a Christian psychologist, I can attest Fr Alexis's analysis of thoughts is harmonious with how we can therapise disordered thoughts.
Well describing yourself in this way.... Why? Psychology has developed from people like jung...... Who was into all kinds of strange spiruality...... There is nothing to compare with the prescriptions of Christ and His Church..... The only Way to theosis.. The great saints knew nothing of psychology and it's boasts. Lord have mercy on the pride of humanity..... Thinking she can improve on Christ and His Way
@@normadaly7506 I’m a proud Christian who works as a psychologist. Everyday I help both Christians and non-Christians through very difficult challenges and mental disorders.
So I can confidently say, you literally have no idea what you are talking about. I rebuke your superficial internet piety, you sound like a Pharisee.
Of course we always ask for the help of the Church first, but many priests will approve of and recommend psychological therapy for members of the church who clearly need professional support. If you are not aware of this then you truly are ignorant.
Also, modern psychological therapy has nothing to do with Jung. Once again, you have no idea what you are talking about.
@@normadaly7506 the great saints also knew nothing of modern medicine. Does that mean going to a doctor is wrong? Obviously not. I would encourage you to delete your comment because you could be harming people by discouraging them from seeking professional mental health support.
@@mrscream2028 OK but I ve had a PhD in clinical psychology express amazement a no of years, ago.... He was asked by consultant psychiatrist to assess me.... I was discharged and allowed to wean of chemical straightjacket so .... I am now a carer, living a fruitful life all because I listened to ancient faith of our father's and followed their advice... Over a no of years, yes and it's ungoing til I fall asleep. Sadly there are so many money cows that take us from Christ...... Id 2 uncles and friends who died tragically..... They were under care of medical professionals..... Like Jobs comforters, you think you know what u are talking about but...... The Almighty has a different view. Self knowledge and repentance are powerful tools for recovery. Maybe you need to fast and pray and meditate on scripture.
@@mrscream2028The Orthodox priest who led my old church was also a licensed clinical social worker. Keep doing what you're doing and God bless.
I am brain injured, I’m lost in cyclic intrusive thoughts and no memory or good feeling. I do not connect with them they really upset me I cry and scream, I pray but there’s no escape. I believe I have a dark attachment or it is just my sinful nature either way I want yo be free and walk on the light of the holyspirit
Those thoughts aren’t you, friend. They’re simply misfirings in your brain. Take comfort.
Repeat the Jesus Prayer- "Oh Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner" when your thoughts are racing and say it with true conviction of heart, He'll clear your mind. God bless ❤️ ☦️
When I say my ROSARY I get the most evil thoughts i become upset but i still PRAY ON KNOWING THAT MY MOTHER MARY IS SEEING EVERYTHING AND I CALL ON HER OR ST JOSEPH AND ST MICHAEL TO HELP ME TO END IT🙏🕊️🙏❤️🔥🙏🕊️
I KNOW WHO IS ATTACKING ME SO I CALL FOR HELP AND I GET HELP SOMETIMES QUICK SOMETIMES IT TAKES LONGER DAYS MAYBE
BUT I'LL ALWAYS SAY MY ROSARY 🙏❤️🔥🙏
Call upon the Lord Himself and He will come help you. Mary and all of the saints were still people just like me and you. Do not be deceived.
Jesus is the truth, the life and the way. We can only get to the Father through Jesus, friend.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Intrusive thoughts almost torture me at times...drives me crazy. I always think to myself where the heck did this come from. I don't ever play them out, but it really hurts me wondering is this me?? Is this my heart and what I really am?
It's not you!!
Thank you father
Amazing. God Bless
We are not alone, God is with us ☦🙏💪
❤🔥🔥❄😍🧎♂️🤲✌👩❤👨💪🕊🙏✝CHRIST IS BORN ☦🙏💒🌟👨👩👧👦☃🫶🎄🥇⛸🚨🙌💯❤
Great topic!
This sounds much alike to” IMBEGGAR” process to fighting temptation
Sometimes saying the Jesus prayer simply does not prevent that second step of happening nor the others. So I was thinking I am doing the right thing in assuming the thought was mine so I feel guilty about it. I guess not then...
A sinful thought is only sinful when it materializes outside your body and thoughts, in the physical world....
How does your assertion complies with the following: "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5, 28)
❤❤❤
Scrupulosity destroys lives. It’s important for us to distinguish “bad thoughts” that are deliberately generated vs intrusive (OCD type thoughts that are unrelated to any temptation or desire).
3% of people have OCD. So 3/100 Christians are at risk of developing intense fear that they are accidentally “blaspheming” the Holy Spirit when they are having intrusive thoughts that are not tied to their temptations at all. People with this mental illness avoid Confession and Liturgy because of this disease.
I think all priests should research the nature of obsessive compulsive disorder so they can delineate in Confession if certain thoughts are deliberately generated or a symptom of brain dysfunction. A priest I know personally has, and has helped many people who struggle with intrusive thoughts.
For me, bad thoughts are tied to passions, intrusive thoughts are not. They are absolutely random and not a cause for moral concern.
This video is going over the former. If anyone understands what I’m talking about, I have links to resources available for those that struggle from the latter type.
Most of these resources are Roman Catholic as their mortal/venial distinction causes the manifestation of OCD. They cause it and deal with it more.
Thanks so much for this! I have OCD and it’s tough to hear people blame people with OCD for something that they can not influence
Do you have a message line where I can ask Father Josiah questions about the faith?
I cannot turn off judgment of other people in my head. Is this not a sin?
It is. YOu should start minding your own business instead, meaning... look after your own spiritual sickness and stop looking after other people's spiritual sicknesses.
Evil thoughts aren't sinful; evil intents/desires are sinful.
So if I did the unforgivable sin in my mind, but didn’t rebuke it at the time, and it was my OWN thought, but I didn’t agree with it, Is it forgivable…?
@@GodIsGood-Fr It depends on your revelation of God. Many people commit the unforgivable sin because they don't really know God and are frustrated by life like Job's wife and often by the hypocrisy of religious people that gives a false representation of God.
So it's between you and God. He alone knows if you have or can be forgiven.
If you genuinely have love for God, then your sin is likely forgivable.
Penitent: Father, i had bad thoughtS
Confessor: Did you entertain them?
Penitent: No, they entertained me!
Confessor: So, you liked those bad thoughts and indirectly approved them thereof.
☦️🇧🇷
Christ himself was subject to the temptations of the devil.
Christ was not internally tempted though. God cannot be tempted. Christ willingly suffered the blameless passions like hunger, thirst, weariness, etc.
Yes bad thoughts sinful.
Only if you dwell on that or those thoughts and give in to the suggestions of those thoughts.
If you reject the bad thoughts rather than giving in to them then that is not sin.
Jesus taught that "All men think evil thoughts continually." He knows, these priests are the blind leading the blind.
So you do not believe Holy Spirit leads The Church.?
@@johnnyd2383 I suppose that you believe that " The Church " is the catholic church. His Church does have The Holy Spirit. The Church that Jesus established is His Church His Church does the " Will of The Father." It is the will of The Father that His hand written 10 Commandments are all obeyed.
@@francissweeney7318 This is Eastern Orthodox channel and I am EO as well. Your claim that our priests are "blind" and that Orthodox laymen are "blind" is direct denial of the Holy Spirit leading Lord's Church. BTW: Decalogue has found it's end in Jesus Christ as He came to fulfill OT law. It is true that we still like to list Decalogue but commandments are greatly uplifted by the Lord Himself. They are in NT held on a much higher regard and level.
@@johnnyd2383 Jesus died on the cross and became the only intercessor between God and man. The office of a priest is specifically eliminated in the new Testament. Revelation 1:5-6 John to the seven churches " And from Jesus Christ ... and made us Kings and Priests unto God even His Father, to Him, I say, be glory, and dominion for evermore, Amen."
@@francissweeney7318 Well... this is typical ignorance Protestants are exhibiting left and right. I will give you some Bible references for your further study. Greek word "presbyters" or "presbyteros" in original NT Bible texts was used to signify church's governing body, either in general (Acts 15, 2; 4; 6; 22), or locally (Acts 14, 23; 16, 4; 20, 17; 1 Timothy 5, 17; Titus 1, 5, etc.). The word "presbyter" has been contracted by later ecclesiastical usage into the title "priest". For a reason unknown to me, in English translations, it has been translated into word "elders" which is now causing a havoc and heavy heresies just like yours.
BTW: You are mixing words "intercession" and "mediation". While we have only one mediator (1 Timothy 2, 5), we are encouraged to pray on behalf of others - to intercede: (1 Timothy 2, 1-2; Matthew 5, 44; James 5, 16; etc.).
Amen, Lord bless you both!