Having patience and persist in your praying
A brother who lived in Monidia, often by evil act fell into the sin of onanism,
but remained steadfast and every time he immediately after repented and
begged God with sighs, saying: ‘Lord, whether I want it or not, save me, for as
I am a sinner and made by mud I desire sin, but You that You are our mighty
God please prevent it. If you have mercy on the righteous, it is no great thing.
If you save the pure, it is again no great thing, for they deserve to be saved by
you. Make, O Lord, the wonder of your mercy to be shown in me who does
not deserve it, for I, the poor man, have been abandoned into Your hands."
So, every day he repeated these words whether he fell into sin or not. So, one
time when as it was his habit, he fell into sin again, at night he immediately
got up and began his praying. Then the demon, admiring his hope and his
confidence in God, appeared full in his eyes and said to him: ‘How do you not
blush with shame as you pray and stand before God and call upon His
name?’ The brother answered: ‘My cell is like a blacksmith’s shop; you give a
hammering, and you take one. With patience I will remain steadfast fighting
against you until my death and wherever my last day finds me. And I swear in
the name of Him who came to call sinners to repentance, I will never stop
praying to God against you, until you also cease to fight me, and let us see
who the victor will be, you or God.’
When he heard this, the devil said to him: ‘Truly I will not fight you anymore,
because I do not want to be the cause of you being crowned for your
patience.’ From that day on, the demon departed from him. See how great is
to have patience, and should not despair, and even if we repeatedly fall into
sins and temptations?
From the Sayings of the Desert Fathers
Translated by Dr. Nick Stergiou
