The war of thoughts

"Until death, during all this time that the soul is in the body, it is impossible for a person not to have thoughts and war. 

The basic cause of thoughts is the war of the devil.

Most of the thoughts are devilish. The devil's goal is to throw a person into sin, either by thought or by deed.

Saint Macarius the Egyptian calls consenting to cunning thoughts spiritual fornication. That is why he says: "Keep your soul pure, for it is the bride of Christ."

Thoughts are like a "stream of water" before which a person often panics. That is why the devils first fight us with thoughts and then with things. If we give in to thoughts, then little by little they push us towards sin in deed."

Hieromonk Benedict the Aghiorite

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