“Our life depends on the kind of thoughts we nurture. If our
thoughts are peaceful, calm, meek, and kind, then that is what our life
is like. If our attention is turned to the circumstances in which we
live, we are drawn into a whirlpool of thoughts and can have neither
peace nor tranquility.”
Smiljanic, Ana (2011-12-19). Our
Thoughts Determine Our Lives: the Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus
of Vitovnica (Kindle Locations 57-59). St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood.
Kindle Edition.
Oftentimes, when trials come our way, we allow ourselves to be sucked into the negativity of the situation. The right thing to do is to be vigilant in our prayers. To allow God to be with us through the whole ordeal shows how much we trust Him to help us, after all, He is Greater than us.
Elder Thaddeus saw that the only cure for man’s illness was a
return to a life-centered on Christ the God-man, the only One Who can
fulfill all of mankind’s needs.
Smiljanic, Ana (2011-12-19). Our
Thoughts Determine Our Lives: the Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus
of Vitovnica (Kindle Locations 61-62). St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood.
Kindle Edition.
In God we trust.
He is all knowing before we even understand anything.
“If you wish to preserve this gift of Grace, you must pray to God all
the time in order to block oppressive and dark thoughts from your mind
and thus preserve the peace and joy which you feel when you are
illumined by Grace.”
Smiljanic, Ana (2011-12-19). Our Thoughts
Determine Our Lives: the Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of
Vitovnica (Kindle Locations 238-240). St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood.
Kindle Edition.
Prayer has a unique way of calming our thoughts, of making us realize that God is the source of peace.
The fear of God is not the animal-like fear of this world. Our fear is like that, and we must strive to conquer this. Such fear is from hades. Our life is filled with fear. We fear what tomorrow will bring, what the future has in store for us.... That is an animal-like fear. The fear of God is when you love Him, when you truly love Him with all your heart and you strive never to offend or sadden Him—not only with your deeds, actions, and words, but also with your thoughts. You try to please Him in everything you do or say. That is the fear of God—the fear of doing anything that might sadden or offend our Parent.
Smiljanic, Ana (2011-12-19). Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: the Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica (Kindle Locations 1056-1060). St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood. Kindle Edition.
When I first heard the words, "with the fear of God, with Faith and with love, draw near," I was so confused. How can one have the courage to come close to God, if He is feared?
It is only when I read this part of the book that I realized the difference between animal-like fear and having the fear to displease the Father of our actions. This kind of fear involves love... for God.
