Our new booklet 'FIGHTING FOR PRAYER. Evil Thoughts and Images during Prayer' is now available for pre-sale from our online bookstore: shop.mullmonastery.com/product-category/books/ Dispatch day is Monday, November 16. By purchasing your copy now you are helping the Monastery to pay for its printing, and making sure you receive it before Christmas. It is obvious that this temptation affects many of us, and it is a joy for everyone at the Monastery that we can be of help, by sharing with you what we have learnt from the experience of the Saints of the Church. May we all be blessed, dear ones.
Hello father Seraphim. Just yesterday I found you on yotoobe. I was enjoying it to listening you. Also my father Filip knows you. My name is Nicoleta and I live in Lincoln UK. Please father pray for my father in law wich is very ill on metastasis he is just 62 y. His name is Joseph. Also for my husband and son wich they struggle to believe in God. Please forgive me father, brothers and sisters. God bless you all
Thank you Father for helping me understand how to pray better. I will try to be more aware of what is happening so that I can work on ignoring distractions instead of participating in the thoughts that lead away from the face if God.
Satan is smart, but not very smart. When all else fails in his attempt to subdue you, he will try and put vile thoughts in your mind, hoping God will think such thoughts are your thoughts. However, in his arrogant attempt, Satan overlooks the fact that God sees what he is trying to do. You have nothing to fear, Stay with God. Live for Life Forever...Amen
I'm jumping of insane of my mind ...I know inside my shitty heart I'm not a evil person .when in night I lay down and walk outside .I hate thinking evil thought like murderer someone that I hate ,.I don't listen to myself and call myself stupid ..I hear evil being talking in my ear and hear horse step at night when I walk home from work or my drug end day of drug taking....why do I hear I'm the 88 fallen angel ....I fear Yahweh I fear Yahweh and his anger
Thanks for this. I get the most evil, blasphemous, disgusting thoughts at times and it brings me a lot of grief. Not to say I'm happy this is normal but I'm happy I'm not alone.
"You don't become holy by fighting evil. Let evil be. Look towards Christ and that will save you. What makes a person saintly is love." - St Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia
Thank you so much, my dear brother. This was extremely helpful. I am praying for you right now. I am also giving thanks to our Lord for you. I am 72 years old and have served our Savior for 50 plus years. You have been God's instrument in my life tonight.
Elder Paisos from Mount Athos said: Thoughts are like Airplanes flying in the Air,If you ignore them, there is no Problem. If you pay attention to them, you create an Airport inside your Head, and permit them to Land.
I’m plagued with this same problem every day and I have even been physically attacked. Dearest Father please pray for me. Thanks so very much ! You are always in my prayers too !
I wept tears of joy through this whole video. I have just recently turned to a life of wholehearted prayer and repentance, even though I have been Orthodox for many years. As soon as I started this life, the horrible thoughts came welling up and I was so distraught that I was almost afraid to pray. This video was a message from God to me to not give up and to pray and fast more and to have faith in His saving Grace. Words cannot express my gratitude to you Fr Seraphim. Please pray for, us all living in this wicked world, that we all come to the fullness of Christ and be the children that He calls us to be☦
Dearest Mapia, get your Rosary/s, prayer books Blessed. Keep Holy Water near you when you pray and make the Sign of the Cross with Holy Water before you start your prayers and at the end of your prayers make the Sign of the Cross with Holy Water. Pray especially for Blessings and protection upon your dear family members and yourself and be sure to begin your prayers Thanking God for all the Blessings of your dear family and loved ones and yourself before asking for your requests.
Thank you. There is not enough practical teachings concerning these things. And I have felt as if I am the only one suffering with these attacks during prayer. And also it is almost as if people do not address their evilness or sin within them. But God sees us; we cannot hide from Him. So there is no point of acting, we can be who we are. Only by the Blood of Jesus Christ we can enter to Heaven. God bless you!
I also wondered if I was the only one going through this. This video was so enlightening and easy to understand. I now have new hope. Thank you Almighty God for leading me here.
I have encountered this for years now. I have in recent time, that when the attacks begin, I generally shake my head "no" and continue with my prayer. The attacks generally last one or two seconds. But I always ask my angel for help in this circumstance. I believe that I am defeating the devil this way. I try not to acknowledge the demon in any way. It's like my life, I fall then I get up and continue on my way. Prays be to Jesus. 🙏
Margaret, let me first say, making the sign of the cross changes nothing: the cross is a symbol of trials and sufferings one goes through but it is so much more than that. In Luke 9:23 Jesus told the disciples that they should take up their cross daily and follow him. (NB. He did not say to them that they should make the "sign of the cross to make things vanish)." Instead He was telling them that the "cross" may very well lead to affliction and eventually death. He didn't just tell them but also showed by demonstrations what is meant by the "cross." Hope this helps. Thanks.
Sophia Wilson I respectfully disagree. This may work with your understanding with your relationship with Christ but with some Christians the sign of the cross signifies different meanings for them. I will not tell a Christian what is better than another. Each has their own journey with Christ and also Jesus Christ can read your heart behind your actions whether it’s the sign of the cross or saying a certain prayer etc. Peace be with you.🙏
@@nancysweeney2160 From what I see, we are told at John 4:24, that God is Spirit and as such wants to be worshipped, in spirit and in truth! not with any sort of images from any where in the water, in the earth or in the sky even, which covers all things; and as much as I LOVE this wonderful man of God, I just LOVE him as much as I would my newborn baby, I never could understand the cross wearing myself! Why? since it is the cursed object that hurt him so much, I always thought that to wear it would signify some sort of worship of the very thing that killed him! kind of how I cannot imagine wearing a gun or knife around my neck in order to remember a loved one that might have been killed by it! would I? No, it's the last thing I'd want to remember him or her by! not by the weapon that took him or her away! and that said, I am not about to begin to judge anyone else's opinion on any thing like that, ever again! All I want to owe anyone, is pure agape love! HalleluYah and A mein! Wow! Who is this young monk? We can hear the ring of truth here! I personally never heard a better God-like creation, declare Him so well! speaking about Him, His truth, His ways, offering spiritual tools, from the heart, with such love and passion, as I did, just here, with this young beautiful child of God! and the hypocrites? they'll just want to burn us both at the stake for not doing all things just the way that they want us to! with their myriads of false doctrines, teachings, and ways that lead, straight to hell! Sorry for being so lengthy! My love tank is "over-flowing" for all of you! I truly pray that the truth of all things, will set us all free as a bird! (And I seriously have such a bird... totally free to let me know whenever he wants to go out and back in... what a bird!) and what a wonderful Father of love, wisdom, justice, power, truth, accurate knowledge, peace, joy, etc..
I'm with you Margaret. I've used the sign of the cross daily since I was a child and a great comfort washes over me. Although we don't have the answers to every mystery, my instinct has told me it's the Holy Spirit. It's my way of starting a conversation with the holy trinity, as it's literally saying "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." Do what comes naturally to you to call upon God, and if it brings you peace, then you know instantly that it's the right thing for you.
@@sophiawilson3723 your comments are MOST UN-ORTHODOX and un-Christian! Apparently you are Protestant and have a heretical Protestant phronema (way of thinking).
Mike Shockley i really like that saying...!.....anything to help me to learn to ‘take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ...’. God bless you!
You're not a sinner 💙 you're human & make mistakes. We ALL sin but are not sinners. A sinner never EVER admits he's a sinner. A madman never doubts his sanity 😉
@@akakonoha sorry to say but not correct..one who paints is called a painter, one who writes is called a writer, one who sins (like you say yourself, we ALL sin) is called a sinner. Though through the Grace of God and his death, he sacrifices himself for us, thank you Lord God for all you do for us. www.openbible.info/topics/falling_short_of_gods_glory
@@christineczochara7750 and Jesus wants us not to sin anymore and be holy like him, we won't be able to do this on our own but in Christ we can do all things.
Thank you, Father! I am often attacked during prayer, and I have always struggled to maintain focus. Rather than beat the devil with a stick, just focus on God. You have encouraged me, God bless!
Thank you. I remember thinking the first time the wicked thoughts started happening during prayer, wondering where they came from. I never thought those thoughts before I started taking my Christian prayer life seriously, but now that I am, all of a sudden these these wicked terrible thoughts would come. I thought to myself, wow, I never realized I was so evil. But then I confessed and asked about these random wicked thoughts even during the deepest prayer, and was told I was being attacked and to completely ignore them. Don't fight them. Don't feel self guilt because of them. And as you say, the best thing to do is ignore, don't engage and keep praying. Focus on God, and ask for help from the Theotokos. If you don't engage, the wicked thoughts fade as quickly as they come.
Thank you Father, May GOD richly bless U with more spiritual gifts!!! Recognizing evil thought coming to us during prayer as devil's.... by itself....is a huge victory over our eternal enemy by itself! IN Ethiopia, at the end of our prayers, Holy fathers are teaching us to punish such intruders using various spiritual methods!...I believe that such intruders shouldn't be left unpunished....From Ethiopian Orthodox!
Yes, modernism has wrecked the Church. So many are lost. The saints know how to fight. Thank you for these videos. The power of God is working through you to remind us to turn back to how God worked through the saints and the supernatural power of God.
As a Protestant I would hear about how Martin Luther would make a practice of insulting, spitting, railing at the devil. This practice is intensified in the Charismatic Movement, where actual theatre and dance were directed at mocking the devil rather than the praise of GOD. Thank God that we are now taught better in the one true Orthodox Faith! Thanks Fr Seraphim for reminding us of the wonderful, freeing teaching of the desert fathers.
Gerry Hagen dear Brother! so thankful to hear from a believer in Turkey! I pray often, as does my church, for your country! My daughter has been there twice to share the love of Christ. God bless you and keep you....may His face shine upon you and His countenance be lifted before you...in Christ’s name.🇹🇷🙏🏼♥️. love, nancy, a sister in Texas, U.S.A.
Matthew, I just want to support what you said . I've been to several charismatic churches & experienced exactly what you mentioned. Speaking in tongues stomping on imaginary snakes. The church of eleven 22 gets their sound system cranked up so loud on WE'D nights the hobby Lobby store next door had to start closing early. I've been in quieter dance clubs with live bands. Hobby Lobby moved to a new location. I study online these days. If you pray for biblical knowledge He will always respond. GB
Thank you for this. I stumbled upon the video after an unproductive day of study. The goal was to make progress on my PhD dissertation in the Biblical Studies. Instead, I was plagued by images. I tried the arrow prayers of St. Chrysostom and the prayer rope. The relief was temporary each time. There were some hours of productivity. I will now begin study for today in prayer (from Denver)
If this happens again, and it might happen, before approaching work pray the sequence of the Holy Spirit. The more you pray it the more you will have divine insights to better understand the stuff you are trying to work on. The Virgin Mary Prayer and Saint Michele Archangel prayer is good to cast away bad spirits. One rosary a day keeps the devil away
This is the absolutely best teaching about spiritual warfare which goes hand in hand with prayer that I have heard, and far superior to what is taught by so called Christian televangelists these days especially! You are bona fide Christian teachers of the Word Of Almighty God, and of Christian principles! And thank you for reminders such as this, which are sorely needed!!
I can imagine this is how Daniel was kept safe in the lions den..by keeping his thoughts on God alone and not on the thought of being attacked. Of course God knew Daniel would prevail by His power but what a great testimony it became! Thank you for your wise counsel.
3 short prayer to fight demons off also. 1.Jesus have mercy! 2.Jesus I trust in You! 3.Father Yourr will be done! Thank you Fr.Seraphim for helping us understand more about this reality happening so visibly all around the world especially spreading the errow of communizm even reaching the USA.
Sărut mâna, Părinte! I'm from Romania and I just discovered your video and it was exactly what I needed to hear. I'm writing in English as I hope someone may benefit from this comment. I am being constantly tormented by these attacks and my prayer is so very weak after a life I lived in sins without number. I knew I had to have patience but I was losing it little by little. My mistake is that I was shocked and appalled by those thoughts and images and I got scared that God and The Holy Mother and The Saints will be disgusted by me and my filthy prayers because of those thoughts, since I know they can all see them. So I strated to pray less. This is another trap actually, and I now realize it after the Holy Grace enlightened me to understand your words. Thank you and may Christ our Lord and Savior and God repay your kindness towards us all! Your unworthy sister in Christ, Flavia
Joseph van Haren Thank you for this very good talk. Yes I believe we all get distracted by the evil one , he hates us praying to God , when thoughts come into my mind when praying or any other time ,I call on the name of Jesus and make a sign of the Cross and other times call on the Precious Blood of Jesus , I believe he takes off each time .
I remember struggling with these thoughts at the beginning. I had thought I was losing my mind. It is true that the more you try and fight them directly, the more bigger they get, and the fear grows bigger. My cure At the time was to recognize that they weren't from me. I came across a book that was actually meant for priest in confession. It explained this as blasphemous thoughts. Simply exposing what it is is very helpfull.
I am Advaitayana Buddhist but I believe this is very good advice. We can all be attacked in this way during prayer and meditation, and also in our sleeping states and daily lives. Remaining calm, turning to the Divine, and perhaps later reflecting on why that particular pattern of distraction was used against you is the right way to undo evil. Such attacks can be very unnerving even for a seasoned practitioner and it is easy to get caught up in the ego games around them. Best to focus on the Divine instead of the contractions against the Divine. Thank you for your reminder on this excellent practice.
I receive the help of my Guardian Angel. Before starting prayer I ask Him to keep any thought away from me, and if they come He will "take care" of them.
The fact that this video randomly popped up in my algorithm, as I’m facing some highly challenging evil attacks, the distractions... is proof of the Lovingkindness and Grace of God. You have helped me so much. Thank you for this beautiful knowledge, and sharing your teachings. Thank God for bringing this to me (and the world) at the perfect time. May the supreme eminence of God carry your messages worldwide to all who seek. And may His divine essence, the Holy Spirit, fill the cup of all who listen. The nature of the shaitan may be Wind, but the Holy Spirit is FIRE; I take Comfort in this because I desire to BURN in love, not be scattered by the winds in four directions. I send your monastery love and blessings. I pray that the message spreads like wildfire. Lex Deí Gracia Plena Aeterna.
PROFOUND The fact that we are noticing these attacks- means we need prayer. God Presence union is where our soul rests. The more we are distracted by "the world" the less time we are in the presence with God. Im having to tell myself have the faith GOD is in control first. I have to remind myself everyday- this life is sooo temporary! God is eternal and that is where I want to be. "EVIL has no substance and will just die out." Thank you.
Yes! I even find that if I love my enemy, then the evil tendency shrinks and dissipates quickly. Today, many people are attacking each other based on social media stories and have become aggressive and polarised. I love them all and refuse to be drawn in to it. I love to paint and draw and that helps me focus on God. I used to try to help the lost ones, but now I can not. I focus now always for the lighter option and my life has got more joyful.
Thank you,Father!We are Romanians(myself and my wife)but live in USA for many years.We are blessed to have orthodox Churches close to us,even Romanian ones.We just " discovered" you ,and enjoy every single word,and learned a lot from you!Thank you very much! Please pray for us,Honoriu and Liana.
Feels good to see I’m not the only one! I used to be filled with the worst guilt over these disgusting thoughts! It’s come to my attention, through personal experience; that the evil one loves to use lust, to bring us down. And this goes with what Our Queen Of Heaven told one of the three children of Fatima Portugal; when asked: “What is God most offended by”? Our Mother said, correct me if I’m wrong..... Desires Of The Flesh!!!
Thank you for your helpful counsel. I don't know if what I am going to add is of use. My vocation is to defend the Faith. Before the Mission began I started having violent dreams of being attacked. My dreams are not usually like this at all. At first I ran from the forces attacking me. They could not be outrun or appeased or reasoned with. After a time of these night terrors I managed to turn and face them. In my dream I thrust out my arms so my body formed a cross, and I began saying the Our Father focusing all my attention on God through this blessed prayer. Instantly, the terror ended and never returned. The Mission bore fruit in more ways than I can express, and I learned to hone skills God gave me for the task. I have not seen one of your videos before, but it struck me that I did what you recommend. I stopped any engagement and refocused totally on God. I needed the help of forming a cross with my body and entering a vocal prayer to help me, but the essential thing I was doing was totally refocussing on God, just as you advise. It worked.
What a word! Thank you God for the answer. Was just now in worship and just suddenly thoughts of worry. I rebuke it but it was persistent. I went into singing out loud and it eventually fate away.
This is a very profound practical teaching explained in simple English language that will benefit many if they put it to use daily. They will sooner or later, come to see the results themselves! Amen.
Excellent. Wow 😳 (Later) I had to listen to this twice, and will probably listen again. This brings so much new light to my understanding. It is especially meaningful because this is itself an answer to prayer I prayed early this morning about why I was continuing to fail at needed change in my life which impacts my response to God in prayer. There are several important points, but the huge one for me right now is facing God, reflecting, mirroring Him is the thing that restores His image. My prayers tend to be standing side by side with God while facing situations that need prayer. The “facing God” .... that is huge.
Thank You Father, My God and Saviour for leading me to this video in answer to my prayers. As another poster, Heather noted, this is the first time I heard that evil has no substance without me interacting with it. For instance, flighting thoughts of doubt that creep into my mind as I pray...what would I do...stop praising God, start asking for forgiveness, ask for protection...now my prayer is not focussed on Our Heavenly Father but on me, evil won and separated me from the Holy presence of God. Such wonderful teaching on what to do...ask yourself the 2 questions, if the answer is no, ignore it and refocus on our Life-Giving God. God Bless You All, Amen 🕊️❤️🕊️
Our new booklet 'FIGHTING FOR PRAYER. Evil Thoughts and Images during Prayer' is now available for pre-sale from our online bookstore: shop.mullmonastery.com/product-category/books/
Dispatch day is Monday, November 16. By purchasing your copy now you are helping the Monastery to pay for its printing, and making sure you receive it before Christmas. It is obvious that this temptation affects many of us, and it is a joy for everyone at the Monastery that we can be of help, by sharing with you what we have learnt from the experience of the Saints of the Church. May we all be blessed, dear ones.
Thanks so much Fr.there are times so distractions arise...and you are very right.one has to focus on God.
Hello father Seraphim. Just yesterday I found you on yotoobe. I was enjoying it to listening you. Also my father Filip knows you. My name is Nicoleta and I live in Lincoln UK.
Please father pray for my father in law wich is very ill on metastasis he is just 62 y. His name is Joseph.
Also for my husband and son wich they struggle to believe in God.
Please forgive me father, brothers and sisters. God bless you all
Father I'm from Romania, and I'm so happy to watch your videos. Is like a food for me. Thank you so much.
Thank you Father for helping me understand how to pray better.
I will try to be more aware of what is happening so that I can work on ignoring distractions instead of participating in the thoughts that lead away from the face if God.
Father, will your book can be bought in Amazon Kindle. I'm from California.
God has helped me end my addiction, praise God.
Thanks be to God!
Praise the Lord!
Satan is smart, but not very smart. When all else fails in his attempt to subdue you, he will try and put vile thoughts in your mind, hoping God will think such thoughts are your thoughts. However, in his arrogant attempt, Satan overlooks the fact that God sees what he is trying to do. You have nothing to fear, Stay with God. Live for Life Forever...Amen
Thanks for this
I'm jumping of insane of my mind ...I know inside my shitty heart I'm not a evil person .when in night I lay down and walk outside .I hate thinking evil thought like murderer someone that I hate ,.I don't listen to myself and call myself stupid ..I hear evil being talking in my ear and hear horse step at night when I walk home from work or my drug end day of drug taking....why do I hear I'm the 88 fallen angel ....I fear Yahweh I fear Yahweh and his anger
AMHN
Thanks for this. I get the most evil, blasphemous, disgusting thoughts at times and it brings me a lot of grief. Not to say I'm happy this is normal but I'm happy I'm not alone.
@@poobread8885 Same..
"You don't become holy by fighting evil. Let evil be. Look towards Christ and that will save you. What makes a person saintly is love." - St Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia
"The way to fight him (evil one) is to engage God." Ignore the evil one. Thank you for this reminder, brother. 👍
Remind yourself that God is stronger than evil. Jesus died on the cross. He is the winner. He stood up from death. We have a almighty God!
@@joy-ful852 Hallelujah Praise the Lord of Hosts
@@joy-ful852 ☦✝️
Thank you so much, my dear brother. This was extremely helpful. I am praying for you right now. I am also giving thanks to our Lord for you. I am 72 years old and have served our Savior for 50 plus years. You have been God's instrument in my life tonight.
Elder Paisos from Mount Athos said:
Thoughts are like Airplanes flying in the Air,If you ignore them, there is no Problem.
If you pay attention to them, you create an Airport inside your Head, and permit them to Land.
Amen
Good! I will remember that!
“Evil does not have substance. It will just die out.” Excellent. Got it. 👍🏻
I so needed this. I have been having horrendous thoughts during Mass and Adoration. Things I've never even thought of before.
Same here also during prayer
Oh my this has been happening to me whyyy? Why are these thoughts scaring me? Every tine I’m close to God thee thought come
It happens to me too but I started praying the rosary every morning and it has gone away
I'm glad I'm not the only one.
I’m plagued with this same problem every day and I have even been physically attacked. Dearest Father please pray for me. Thanks so very much ! You are always in my prayers too !
I wept tears of joy through this whole video. I have just recently turned to a life of wholehearted prayer and repentance, even though I have been Orthodox for many years. As soon as I started this life, the horrible thoughts came welling up and I was so distraught that I was almost afraid to pray. This video was a message from God to me to not give up and to pray and fast more and to have faith in His saving Grace. Words cannot express my gratitude to you Fr Seraphim. Please pray for, us all living in this wicked world, that we all come to the fullness of Christ and be the children that He calls us to be☦
Run to the confessional when you can. Surround yourself with the Blood of Mercy Himself.. God is in control
Thank you for sharing. This encourages me alot.
Only a small time and we Jesus face to face with all his children. ✨
Dearest Mapia, get your Rosary/s, prayer books Blessed. Keep Holy Water near you when you pray and make the Sign of the Cross with Holy Water before you start your prayers and at the end of your prayers make the Sign of the Cross with Holy Water. Pray especially for Blessings and protection upon your dear family members and yourself and be sure to begin your prayers Thanking God for all the Blessings of your dear family and loved ones and yourself before asking for your requests.
May the Holy Trinity be always within your heart father Seraphim. Much love from Athens Greece. Our Lord Jesus Christ bless your servant!!!!
Thank you. There is not enough practical teachings concerning these things. And I have felt as if I am the only one suffering with these attacks during prayer. And also it is almost as if people do not address their evilness or sin within them. But God sees us; we cannot hide from Him. So there is no point of acting, we can be who we are. Only by the Blood of Jesus Christ we can enter to Heaven. God bless you!
I did to!
: 2 things are an obstacle for most people, one is fear, the second is hypocratie.
I also wondered if I was the only one going through this. This video was so enlightening and easy to understand. I now have new hope. Thank you Almighty God for leading me here.
Thank you. I feel so much better now. Knowing that I'm not singled out and alone. Praise be to God
I have encountered this for years now. I have in recent time, that when the attacks begin, I generally shake my head "no" and continue with my prayer. The attacks generally last one or two seconds. But I always ask my angel for help in this circumstance. I believe that I am defeating the devil this way. I try not to acknowledge the demon in any way. It's like my life, I fall then I get up and continue on my way. Prays be to Jesus. 🙏
Making the Sign of the Cross during the day/night often and especially when the temptation or bad visitation comes is a sure way of making it vanish.
Margaret, let me first say, making the sign of the cross changes nothing: the cross is a symbol of trials and sufferings one goes through but it is so much more than that. In Luke 9:23 Jesus told the disciples that they should take up their cross daily and follow him. (NB. He did not say to them that they should make the "sign of the cross to make things vanish)." Instead He was telling them that the "cross" may very well lead to affliction and eventually death. He didn't just tell them but also showed by demonstrations what is meant by the "cross."
Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Sophia Wilson I respectfully disagree. This may work with your understanding with your relationship with Christ but with some Christians the sign of the cross signifies different meanings for them. I will not tell a Christian what is better than another. Each has their own journey with Christ and also Jesus Christ can read your heart behind your actions whether it’s the sign of the cross or saying a certain prayer etc. Peace be with you.🙏
@@nancysweeney2160 From what I see, we are told at John 4:24, that God is Spirit and as such wants to be worshipped, in spirit and in truth! not with any sort of images from any where in the water, in the earth or in the sky even, which covers all things; and as much as I LOVE this wonderful man of God, I just LOVE him as much as I would my newborn baby, I never could understand the cross wearing myself! Why? since it is the cursed object that hurt him so much, I always thought that to wear it would signify some sort of worship of the very thing that killed him! kind of how I cannot imagine wearing a gun or knife around my neck in order to remember a loved one that might have been killed by it! would I? No, it's the last thing I'd want to remember him or her by! not by the weapon that took him or her away! and that said, I am not about to begin to judge anyone else's opinion on any thing like that, ever again! All I want to owe anyone, is pure agape love! HalleluYah and A mein!
Wow! Who is this young monk? We can hear the ring of truth here! I personally never heard a better God-like creation, declare Him so well! speaking about Him, His truth, His ways, offering spiritual tools, from the heart, with such love and passion, as I did, just here, with this young beautiful child of God! and the hypocrites? they'll just want to burn us both at the stake for not doing all things just the way that they want us to! with their myriads of false doctrines, teachings, and ways that lead, straight to hell! Sorry for being so lengthy! My love tank is "over-flowing" for all of you! I truly pray that the truth of all things, will set us all free as a bird! (And I seriously have such a bird... totally free to let me know whenever he wants to go out and back in... what a bird!) and what a wonderful Father of love, wisdom, justice, power, truth, accurate knowledge, peace, joy, etc..
I'm with you Margaret. I've used the sign of the cross daily since I was a child and a great comfort washes over me. Although we don't have the answers to every mystery, my instinct has told me it's the Holy Spirit. It's my way of starting a conversation with the holy trinity, as it's literally saying "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." Do what comes naturally to you to call upon God, and if it brings you peace, then you know instantly that it's the right thing for you.
@@sophiawilson3723 your comments are MOST UN-ORTHODOX and un-Christian! Apparently you are Protestant and have a heretical Protestant phronema (way of thinking).
Jesus is Great!!
This is the first time someone explained to me 'evil has no substance without us.
Thank you so much. This channel is beautiful🌹
Yes. I approve of this channel.
Dude this is seriously one of the hardest things ever. I almost never have the terrible thoughts that I do, but when I do they're always during prayer
Same here it just started
Don't let the squawking seagulls distract from the majesty of the ocean. May God bless you all continually.
Mike Shockley i really like that saying...!.....anything to help me to learn to ‘take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ...’. God bless you!
Nice 👍🏻 love 💕 this
✨️
Jesus Christ Son Of God, Have Mercy On Me A Sinner!
☦🙏❤😪
Lord Jesus Son of Living God have mercy on us and the whole world. Amen.
You're not a sinner 💙 you're human & make mistakes. We ALL sin but are not sinners. A sinner never EVER admits he's a sinner. A madman never doubts his sanity 😉
@@akakonoha sorry to say but not correct..one who paints is called a painter, one who writes is called a writer, one who sins (like you say yourself, we ALL sin) is called a sinner. Though through the Grace of God and his death, he sacrifices himself for us, thank you Lord God for all you do for us.
www.openbible.info/topics/falling_short_of_gods_glory
@@christineczochara7750 and Jesus wants us not to sin anymore and be holy like him, we won't be able to do this on our own but in Christ we can do all things.
Thank you, Father! I am often attacked during prayer, and I have always struggled to maintain focus. Rather than beat the devil with a stick, just focus on God. You have encouraged me, God bless!
“As long as we are looking at God, we are slowly being shaped into the image which is naturally ours, the image of God.”
I thought I was the only one being tormented by evil unwanted thoughts.. they make me so depressed
Me to! Your not alone brother
Me too brother! I have been fighting this all my life!💗
You are not alone...
They are NOT your thoughts therefore do NOT own them or make them yours!
No, William. We all suffer the same as Christians.
Amen Amen God blessed you
Thank you. I remember thinking the first time the wicked thoughts started happening during prayer, wondering where they came from. I never thought those thoughts before I started taking my Christian prayer life seriously, but now that I am, all of a sudden these these wicked terrible thoughts would come. I thought to myself, wow, I never realized I was so evil. But then I confessed and asked about these random wicked thoughts even during the deepest prayer, and was told I was being attacked and to completely ignore them. Don't fight them. Don't feel self guilt because of them. And as you say, the best thing to do is ignore, don't engage and keep praying. Focus on God, and ask for help from the Theotokos. If you don't engage, the wicked thoughts fade as quickly as they come.
I agree , think & speak only to God , not anything else
Thank you Father, May GOD richly bless U with more spiritual gifts!!! Recognizing evil thought coming to us during prayer as devil's.... by itself....is a huge victory over our eternal enemy by itself! IN Ethiopia, at the end of our prayers, Holy fathers are teaching us to punish such intruders using various spiritual methods!...I believe that such intruders shouldn't be left unpunished....From Ethiopian Orthodox!
I always have demonic attacks during prayer and I get very scared. Thank you for explaining it. God bless you🙏🏻
Thank You Jesus Christ for everything
God bless You. Jesus Christ is with You.
Yes, modernism has wrecked the Church. So many are lost. The saints know how to fight. Thank you for these videos. The power of God is working through you to remind us to turn back to how God worked through the saints and the supernatural power of God.
Thank you Father you have helped immensely. God Bless❤
Thank you so much father am from Ethiopia ancient Orthodox Church
Thank you father,may god bless you
As a Protestant I would hear about how Martin Luther would make a practice of insulting, spitting, railing at the devil. This practice is intensified in the Charismatic Movement, where actual theatre and dance were directed at mocking the devil rather than the praise of GOD. Thank God that we are now taught better in the one true Orthodox Faith! Thanks Fr Seraphim for reminding us of the wonderful, freeing teaching of the desert fathers.
Gerry Hagen dear Brother! so thankful to hear from a believer in Turkey! I pray often, as does my church, for your country! My daughter has been there twice to share the love of Christ. God bless you and keep you....may His face shine upon you and His countenance be lifted before you...in Christ’s name.🇹🇷🙏🏼♥️. love, nancy, a sister in Texas, U.S.A.
Matthew, I just want to support what you said . I've been to several charismatic churches & experienced exactly what you mentioned. Speaking in tongues stomping on imaginary snakes.
The church of eleven 22 gets their sound system cranked up so loud on WE'D nights the hobby Lobby store next door had to start closing early. I've been in quieter dance clubs with live bands. Hobby Lobby moved to a new location.
I study online these days. If you pray for biblical knowledge He will always respond. GB
Thank you for this. I stumbled upon the video after an unproductive day of study. The goal was to make progress on my PhD dissertation in the Biblical Studies. Instead, I was plagued by images. I tried the arrow prayers of St. Chrysostom and the prayer rope. The relief was temporary each time. There were some hours of productivity. I will now begin study for today in prayer (from Denver)
If this happens again, and it might happen, before approaching work pray the sequence of the Holy Spirit. The more you pray it the more you will have divine insights to better understand the stuff you are trying to work on.
The Virgin Mary Prayer and Saint Michele Archangel prayer is good to cast away bad spirits.
One rosary a day keeps the devil away
Well, I’m relieved 😅 to find out I’m not the only ☝️ and coming across this video has been a Godsend, thank you Father 🙏🏽
Thank you Father.
This is the absolutely best teaching about spiritual warfare which goes hand in hand with prayer that I have heard, and far superior to what is taught by so called Christian televangelists these days especially! You are bona fide
Christian teachers of the Word Of Almighty God, and of Christian principles! And thank you for reminders such as
this, which are sorely needed!!
I can imagine this is how Daniel was kept safe in the lions den..by keeping his thoughts on God alone and not on the thought of being attacked. Of course God knew Daniel would prevail by His power but what a great testimony it became! Thank you for your wise counsel.
The closer I try to get to the God, the more aggressive these thoughts become, but I know its origin and I count on the Lord to fight it off 🙏🏼✝️
Thank you for this honestly intimate account of escaping the devil.
Blessings recieved. Blessings returned.
God bless you 🇳🇱🍺🇳🇱
Thank you, By the Blood of Jesus Amen.
I'm glad I came across this. It is helping me battle my addictions.
Awesome
3 short prayer to fight demons off also.
1.Jesus have mercy!
2.Jesus I trust in You!
3.Father Yourr will
be done!
Thank you Fr.Seraphim for helping us understand more about this reality happening so visibly all around the world especially spreading the errow of communizm even reaching the USA.
Sărut mâna, Părinte!
I'm from Romania and I just discovered your video and it was exactly what I needed to hear. I'm writing in English as I hope someone may benefit from this comment. I am being constantly tormented by these attacks and my prayer is so very weak after a life I lived in sins without number. I knew I had to have patience but I was losing it little by little. My mistake is that I was shocked and appalled by those thoughts and images and I got scared that God and The Holy Mother and The Saints will be disgusted by me and my filthy prayers because of those thoughts, since I know they can all see them. So I strated to pray less. This is another trap actually, and I now realize it after the Holy Grace enlightened me to understand your words. Thank you and may Christ our Lord and Savior and God repay your kindness towards us all!
Your unworthy sister in Christ,
Flavia
Joseph van Haren
Thank you for this very good talk. Yes I believe we all get distracted by the evil one , he hates us praying to God , when thoughts come into my mind when praying or any other time ,I call on the name of Jesus and make a sign of the Cross and other times call on the Precious Blood of Jesus , I believe he takes off each time .
Thank you. 🙏🏼 Amen. Amen. Amen.
I remember struggling with these thoughts at the beginning. I had thought I was losing my mind. It is true that the more you try and fight them directly, the more bigger they get, and the fear grows bigger. My cure At the time was to recognize that they weren't from me. I came across a book that was actually meant for priest in confession. It explained this as blasphemous thoughts. Simply exposing what it is is very helpfull.
Accurate
God only wants you to look for him of your own free will. The devil on the other hand... he comes looking for you.
I am Advaitayana Buddhist but I believe this is very good advice. We can all be attacked in this way during prayer and meditation, and also in our sleeping states and daily lives. Remaining calm, turning to the Divine, and perhaps later reflecting on why that particular pattern of distraction was used against you is the right way to undo evil. Such attacks can be very unnerving even for a seasoned practitioner and it is easy to get caught up in the ego games around them. Best to focus on the Divine instead of the contractions against the Divine.
Thank you for your reminder on this excellent practice.
I receive the help of my Guardian Angel. Before starting prayer I ask Him to keep any thought away from me, and if they come He will "take care" of them.
The fact that this video randomly popped up in my algorithm, as I’m facing some highly challenging evil attacks, the distractions... is proof of the Lovingkindness and Grace of God. You have helped me so much. Thank you for this beautiful knowledge, and sharing your teachings. Thank God for bringing this to me (and the world) at the perfect time. May the supreme eminence of God carry your messages worldwide to all who seek. And may His divine essence, the Holy Spirit, fill the cup of all who listen. The nature of the shaitan may be Wind, but the Holy Spirit is FIRE; I take Comfort in this because I desire to BURN in love, not be scattered by the winds in four directions. I send your monastery love and blessings. I pray that the message spreads like wildfire. Lex Deí Gracia Plena Aeterna.
God is so Good! I’ve been dealing with this for 2 long! 😂🙏🏽 I’m so happy I saw this! 🙌🏽
God Bless you Always ✝️
My God in whom I trust
I do experience evil oppression. That’s why I pray even more.
Get holy water cross yourself with it EVERY
Thanks father
Thank you. I just needed this today. Be blessed.
hello Father.I am from Ethiopia.Your videos are soul searching antidotes for issues we are facing today
PROFOUND The fact that we are noticing these attacks- means we need prayer. God Presence union is where our soul rests. The more we are distracted by "the world" the less time we are in the presence with God. Im having to tell myself have the faith GOD is in control first. I have to remind myself everyday- this life is sooo temporary! God is eternal and that is where I want to be. "EVIL has no substance and will just die out." Thank you.
Thank you for your insight; this has been my ongoing struggle my whole spiritual life. What a great homily!!!
Fr Seraphim thank you this makes me strong in my daily prayers and please continue to give us more knowledge😇😇😇🙏🙏🙏
Yes! I even find that if I love my enemy, then the evil tendency shrinks and dissipates quickly. Today, many people are attacking each other based on social media stories and have become aggressive and polarised. I love them all and refuse to be drawn in to it. I love to paint and draw and that helps me focus on God. I used to try to help the lost ones, but now I can not. I focus now always for the lighter option and my life has got more joyful.
Jesus I trust in you
Engage God Almighty So be it , Thank you.
Thank you for this video and teaching!
Agnus DEI.
Amen to your words on the Desert Fathers that is exactly what I do also.
Thank you this helped a lot. I have been fighting with my addiction to porn and really spoke to me and helped me focus onto Him
I pray for Jesus to heal you!
Well said, Father🙏🙏🙏
Thank you,Father!We are Romanians(myself and my wife)but live in USA for many years.We are blessed to have orthodox Churches close to us,even Romanian ones.We just " discovered" you ,and enjoy every single word,and learned a lot from you!Thank you very much! Please pray for us,Honoriu and Liana.
Amen!
Oh dear Father Seraphim thank you so very much, God bless you, our Holy Mother keep you near to Her loving heart!!!🙏🙏🙏🤗☺️🙌🙌🙌🙏🕯📿🌹🌸🌈❤🌟💐
Father Seraphim your videos are so refreshing.
I visited the Isle of Mull a few years ago. It is beautiful place.
Feels good to see I’m not the only one! I used to be filled with the worst guilt over these disgusting thoughts! It’s come to my attention, through personal experience; that the evil one loves to use lust, to bring us down. And this goes with what Our Queen Of Heaven told one of the three children of Fatima Portugal; when asked: “What is God most offended by”? Our Mother said, correct me if I’m wrong..... Desires Of The Flesh!!!
Thank you for your helpful counsel. I don't know if what I am going to add is of use. My vocation is to defend the Faith. Before the Mission began I started having violent dreams of being attacked. My dreams are not usually like this at all. At first I ran from the forces attacking me. They could not be outrun or appeased or reasoned with. After a time of these night terrors I managed to turn and face them. In my dream I thrust out my arms so my body formed a cross, and I began saying the Our Father focusing all my attention on God through this blessed prayer. Instantly, the terror ended and never returned.
The Mission bore fruit in more ways than I can express, and I learned to hone skills God gave me for the task.
I have not seen one of your videos before, but it struck me that I did what you recommend. I stopped any engagement and refocused totally on God. I needed the help of forming a cross with my body and entering a vocal prayer to help me, but the essential thing I was doing was totally refocussing on God, just as you advise. It worked.
What a word! Thank you God for the answer. Was just now in worship and just suddenly thoughts of worry. I rebuke it but it was persistent. I went into singing out loud and it eventually fate away.
This is a very profound practical teaching explained in simple English language that will benefit many if they put it to use daily.
They will sooner or later, come to see the results themselves! Amen.
AMEN, i pray and Ask god, for this favour'' help and protection Amen
This is very helpful. I have this demonic thoughts and distraction specially while doing the rosary. I pray for forgiveness.
That is right!!! Amen brother!!!
I just want to thank you 😊 God bless you 😇🙏❤
I never knew others suffered with this. Thank you for your advice, it all helps. Bless you.
Amen, father!
NECREDINTA ESTE CULPA FRATE NUTRESTETE CU DUHUL ADEVARULUI ☦️ AL DOMNULUI DUMNEZEU SI A MAICII DOMNULUI AMIN
You are a true warrior
Thank you my friend. You’re right - stay in light n love in Truth. Seek Mother Nature for god/goddess. Peace to you A’ho
GREAT opening
Excellent. Wow 😳
(Later) I had to listen to this twice, and will probably listen again. This brings so much new light to my understanding. It is especially meaningful because this is itself an answer to prayer I prayed early this morning about why I was continuing to fail at needed change in my life which impacts my response to God in prayer. There are several important points, but the huge one for me right now is facing God, reflecting, mirroring Him is the thing that restores His image. My prayers tend to be standing side by side with God while facing situations that need prayer. The “facing God” .... that is huge.
Thank You Father, My God and Saviour for leading me to this video in answer to my prayers. As another poster, Heather noted, this is the first time I heard that evil has no substance without me interacting with it. For instance, flighting thoughts of doubt that creep into my mind as I pray...what would I do...stop praising God, start asking for forgiveness, ask for protection...now my prayer is not focussed on Our Heavenly Father but on me, evil won and separated me from the Holy presence of God. Such wonderful teaching on what to do...ask yourself the 2 questions, if the answer is no, ignore it and refocus on our Life-Giving God. God Bless You All, Amen
🕊️❤️🕊️
Wise words, wose words.
This is exactly what I am going through right now! Thank you so much!
Mulțumiri pioase,Părinte drag!
Pentru fiecare cuvânt pe care ni-l spuneți cu Sufletul , Dumnezeu sa va răsplătească!
Fiți binecuvantat!
Doamne, ajută!
What a privilege, what a blessing to have the Desert Fathers🙏🏽 🙏🏽🙏🏽 Thank you for being faithful to God. Greetings from an Eritrean orthodox.
God bless you father thanks ❤
From Ethiopian Orthodox sister
I'm thankful God led me to your message on Thanksgiving.
Needed this deeply. God Bless.
Thank u so much monk...we love you too....we will pray for you
Jesus Christ, is the name of God. He lives. Praise and Bless God's holy name.
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOD BLESS!!!!!