Publisher's Synopsis
I will teach you what sort of virtues should surround your prayer, or what sort of prayerful, virtuous life a Christian should plant in himself, not in my own words, but in the words of the holy hierarch Dimitri of Rostov, who briefly lists these things in the following instructions (from Christian Spiritual Instruction, part 1, p. 288):1. When you wake up, let your first thought be about God, your first word be a prayer to God your creator and keeper of your life, Who is always able to give life or destroy it, who can strike with illness and heal, and who can save or destroy.2. Bow and give thanks to God Who raised you from sleep, and Who did not allow you to perish in your sins, but with long-suffering awaited your repentance.3. Make a start for better things, saying with the Psalmist: And I said, This is my infirmity (Ps.77:10) For no one completes the path to heaven except he who makes a good beginning everyday. ...5. Do not waste time any longer. Do only those things which are necessary. ...7. Awaken yourself to the love of God in all things, whenever you are able, especially say to yourself with the Psalmist: while I was musing the fire burned (Ps.39:3). ...15. You must pray about your death, which is the end of all things.See what sort of wonderful life is taught to the praying Christian. ... Let everyone strive in knowledge: standing in prayer and exercising is according to your instruction. How can you stand to pray if you are weighed down with intemperance, or carried away with anger, or if you do not stand in peace, or you are distracted by work and lack of attention and so on?
