There is no virtue which does not have continual struggle yoked to it.
We should consider the labor of reading the Scriptures to be something extremely elevated, whose importance cannot be exaggerated. For it serves as the gate by which the intellect enters into the divine mysteries, and takes on strength for attaining to luminosity in prayer.
~St Isaac the Syrian
Do not consider a long time spent in worship before God to be wasted.
Give yourself over to the labor of prayer and you will discover something which you cannot hear from another person.
-St Isaac the Syrian
Think nothing and do nothing without a purpose directed to God. For to journey without direction is wasted effort.
-St Mark the AsceticAs for me I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.
-King David
Humility is the robe of divinity: for when God the Word became incarnate He put on humility and thereby communicated with us by means of our human body. Accordingly, everyone who is truly clothed in humility will resemble Him who descended from the height, hiding the radiance of His greatness and covering up His glory by means of His low estate.
Humility, even without ascetic labors, expiates many sins. Ascetic labors that are not accompanied by humility however, are not only of no benefit, but they actually bring upon us much harm.
Our way of life in this world resembles a document that is still in draft form: things can be added or taken out, and alterations can be made, whenever one wants. But life in the world to come resembles the case of completed documents that have the king’s seal already upon them, and no addition or subtraction can be made. While we are still here, where changes can be made, let us take a look at ourselves, and while we still have control over the book of our life, and it is in our hands, let us be eager to add to it by means of a good lifestyle, and delete from it the defects of our former lifestyle.
-St Isaac the Syrian
Our way of life in this world resembles a document that is still in draft form: things can be added or taken out, and alterations can be made, whenever one wants. But life in the world to come resembles the case of completed documents that have the king’s seal already upon them, and no addition or subtraction can be made. While we are still here, where changes can be made, let us take a look at ourselves, and while we still have control over the book of our life, and it is in our hands, let us be eager to add to it by means of a good lifestyle, and delete from it the defects of our former lifestyle.
-St Isaac the Syrian
Love is sweeter than life; but even sweeter than honey and a honeycomb is an insight concerning God out of which love is born.
-St Isaac the Syrian
Remember that Christ died for the wicked, as scripture says (romans 5:6) and not for the good. Consider it a much greater thing to suffer on behalf of evil people and to do good to sinners, than to do this for the righteous.
Even if you are not a peacemaker, at least do not be a troublemaker.
-St Isaac the Syrian
If you give something to someone in need, let a smile together with kind words and encouragement in their suffering, precede your giving.
-St Isaac the Syrian
Divine care surrounds all human beings all the time, but it is only seen by those who have purified themselves from sins and who have God in mind at every moment.
-St Isaac the Syrian
Prayerful Life 