How To Struggle Against Thoughts

[@stevelenores5637]

For the clergy's consideration. What works for me is not to fight the thoughts coming in. It's like trying to not think of an elephant. Doing so will populate your mind with elephants. When a sinful thought come in my mind (usually ones of selfishness), I say "I have enough", and let it go from my thoughts. That usually kills that thought. On other things such as passion I force my thoughts towards Christ "Lord have mercy". On those things of distraction, such as entertainment or click bait, then I say to myself "I still don't know enough about God", and turn to scripture to learn more. In other words I have a plan that turns my thoughts back towards our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. God Bless.

[@eternalbattle1438]

As some who suffers from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, hypothyroidism and tinnitus, this video means the world to me. I am constantly struggling against negative thoughts about my current health situation, and it is difficult and overwhelming. When my health went downhill, it was that exact moment when I started praying to God, as I knew it was something really bad and dangerous coming to me. Before that, I was just an agnostic who did not know much about the faith, though I was baptized as Orthodox. I am going through terrible times right know, though I acknowledge my faith in the Lord Himself might bring me healings and recovery. Once again - thank you both. May the Lord Jesus Christ bring good health, peace and well being to all the people.☦️

[@jawokenn8766]

Hey brother, check out Ray Peat re chronic fatigue and thyroid health.

[@sethtrey]

Thank God for the Jesus Prayer! Thank you, e-bouna!

[@nicp2344]

Thank you Father when i was a teen i never understood why Vhurch was important. I also think that we need to adress some of the problems that this quasi portestant view that is wspoused in the US which basically treats Church as a place to go to, rather than the fact that one goes to Church in order of being in union and receiving the Mysteries of Christ.

[@ProtestantismLeftBehind]

I wish priests were talking like this in every Orthodox Church everywhere. Sadly, my church has no adult classes and teaching.

[@orthodox1717]

Bless Father, thank you!

[@Mark11channel12]

Thanks very much Fr. Peter Heers

[@yourneighbour3309]

Thank you Fr.! ☦️

[@orthodoxboomergrandma3561]

Thank you! 🙏🏻☦️

[@brianmerk8953]

Father here's is right. Great info. I love listening to this guy. Very respectfully Chaplain Brian Merk

[@Clokes_]

I will keep trying but so far nothing has worked from breaking the cycle of alcoholism and lust. Pray for me.

[@HoustonPitts]

I have struggled with the abuse and thoughts We are praying cause I have had a hell of a time but I’m glad I’m home let’s prayers to all I had other issues that possibly triggered this to God thank you for help I pray also minus the caffeine I had to help my day I feel I slightly dealing with attacks that are causing anxiety and proud I work on it praying for you all and glad to be home

[@priceless9650]

Thank you ❤❤

[@taspetrakis6783]

Thank you Father Peter Alban Heers

[@mrpallycapoops]

Thank you for this good advice, always appreciated.

[@TomasCano-z2x]

Amen ☦️

[@henrybarrett1292]

Thank you, Father!!!

[@134-trq]

🙏🏻🔥🔥🔥📿☦️🙏🏻

[@WORKOUTSOLUTIONS]

We are not alone, God is with us ❤☦🙏💪🤗 ❤‍🔥🔥❄😍✌👩‍❤‍👨💪🕊🙏✝GOD BLESS ☦🙏💒🌟👨‍👩‍👧‍👦☃🫶🎄🥇⛸⚠️🚨🙌💯❤

[@AzariahMins]

What can I do with obssesive thoughts? They abuse me sometimes even for 2 days straight, I mean... Let's say I did something wrong towards someone or some other bad situation, the situation is gonna be on repeat on my head, like I tell mysel "OK I won't think about this anymore" but after 30 seconds the thought is abusing me again. These thoughts are so exhausting... When they come I feel so much mental fatigueness and depression. These thoughts are very different sometimes, Right now I'm fighting a thought that is telling me that I did not confess my sins the right way and that the sin is still there. I will get in touch with my priest about this one, but until I will meet him this thought is gonna abuse me and be violent. Sometimes when I have a sinful feeling, these thoughts are telling me that God won't hear me anymore because I did wrong to my fellow brothers. These thoughts even quote sometime scripture like "When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood!" {Not the exact quote, but the idea of the quote that I read, to put even more despair in me" Because my thoughts are impure and evil. When a thought like this comes, I get discouraged even to pray, and I can't focuse and be as sober to say the prayer with my whole heart. Many many thoughts like this, I know some are lies, but the anxiety and the metal fatigue is so exhausting, these thoughts circle around my mind for hours, anything I DO they are abusing me. The thought of vainglory is the one that is abusing me the most. When I pray "You do this only to look good in the eyes of God " or "Look at you, you are praying, these people don't prayer like you" or when I pray for a longer time "Look how long you are praying , I bet few people are doing this" You do it for vainglory" or when I forgive someone "You did not forgive him with your whole heart, you did it just because it is expected of you, you didn;t do it well enough'" , Sometimes I'm afraid to even pray for longer times because they put in my mind that "You are better, look how much time you are praying" Every bad thought that exists I had it in my head and some are easier to put aside, but some are causing me so much abuse Even by writting this comment, the thought of vainglory is whispering stuff about this comment When I talk about Christ , these thoughts are again telling me "Look how much you know about Him" , but after this vainglorious thought , again a thought like " “Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?", Its a circle like this, from vainglory to down in the dumps i confess that I love Christ, but when I remember what I did, thought or felt I alway hear this "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? AND AGAIN IN THE DUMPS and unable to pray

[@hh8222]

Have you read the chapter in Philokalia #1, "St Hesychios the priest"? Keep knocking and the door will open. The Lord hears you and loves you.🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@DohMkay]

I do this also. What really helps is to apologize to God. Remember, Satans job is to accuse you and tempt you, he really wants you to stop praying. I am in a battle right now also, stay strong. And keep yourself busy or read something, try to put Satan on mute. Remember Job and how he was tempted. Even Jesus was tempted. Keep praying and asking forgiveness.

[@DohMkay]

You know when Satan accuses you, become humble and ask Lord for forgiveness, Satan dont know what to do with that, for we will turn his accusation into the Glory of God and will humble ourselves.

[@AzariahMins]

@@DohMkay thank you for your comment. May God help you in your struggle. I still have a question, what can I do when the thoughts won't let me even read or distract myself. The thing that I do to distract myself becomes like a mirage and second thing while the thoughts are the main focus no matter how much I struggle.

[@DohMkay]

@alin8228 Let me tell you something. The Lord is merciful. He will not shut his ears from those who reach out to him with pure intentions. He shuts his ears when people reach out to him who do not have pure intentions. For he reached out to me when I was the sickest, so full of sin and with such a rotten heart. But he called out to me and listened to my prayers. I was a fornicator, a drug addict and had all sort of evil in my heart. He knocked and I answered for my soul was sick and I needed a doctor. Now I am on a journey to cleanse myself and cleanse my thoughts. How much more he will listen to you, a believer in Christ, vs me, who was a horrible rotten person, possessed by demons. Have faith in Lord, for he is the Most Merciful and his Love is everlasting and endless. We need to indure to the end, for Satan will tempt us and try to turn us away from the Lord. We need to indure.

[@mariavlahochristos7756]

Euxaristo Pater

[@laurettevanbrakel234]

❤

[@Biruk-um5rf]

What would you say for people dealing with ocd?

[@cvvgff5677]

What is the name of the chant in the ending?

[@KermitJunior1]

Does anyone know the name of the chant in the end ?

[@christosnikiforos4103]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJisXohtd613qKssi=1_PoOCp4TGWcYT7l

[@coldjello8436]

Algorithm boost.

[@Cyrus_II]

The notion of constant watchfulness seems absurd to me. A human being lives in cycles just like the rest of creation. There's sleeping and being awake. Resting and working. Night and day. Fasting and feasting. Is this not how God created things? How can a man always stay awake? How can a man always work? How can it always be day? How is that possible? I'm not saying a man should fall deeply into the passions when it's "night time", but surely maintaining the same level of watchfulness is impossible.

[@someotherguy43]

Excuses

[@Cyrus_II]

@@someotherguy43I'm not looking for an excuse. I'm trying to understand how it works.

[@hh8222]

Try first at the time of prayer.

[@John-Svanlund]

​@@Cyrus_II"I sleep, but my heart waketh"

[@sprucefan4379]

We're supposed to be watchful 100 percent of the time. We're not to cycle being watchful with not being watchful. The devil always prowls around like a lion looking for someone to devour. If a murderer was prowling around your neighborhood you wouldn't be on the lookout some of the time you'd be on the lookout ALL of the time.

[@grk70s]

Problem these days is many say they are Orthodox but really in practice they are not but just the opposite. especially women.