God doesn’t always give us what we want - Saint Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia

When God doesn’t give us something we keep asking for, He has His reasons. God also has His ‘secrets’. 

Let’s not go chasing after what we want but leave it to the will of God.

" Saint Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia "

They’ll use our cannon-balls - Saint Paisios the Athonite

With people who’ve got personal issues with each other, we give our opinion in the presence of both of them, so that neither of them can take what we say for their own benefit and use it as heavy artillery (if what we say carries any weight) in order to blast his opponent, enlisting us to load the cannons, while we’re at it. 

The best thing is, as far as you can, to avoid people like that, in order to preserve your peace and pray for their peace and for the peace of the world in general.

" Saint Saint Paisios the Athonite "

Don’t be afraid - Saint Seraphim of Sarov

We should not be disturbed in our spiritual life by any hostile force. On the contrary. we should have trust in the words of God: 

‘Do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it, for God is with us, the Lord our God. 

He it is you are to regard as holy, he it is you are to fear’ (Cf. Is. 8, 12-13)

" Saint Saint Seraphim of Sarov "

The protection of heaven - Saint Nicholas Velimirovich

There’s a worse inundation than water: if you’re inundated by the passions. 

When the passions start to burn, when they begin to smoke and blacken everything, when they give off their stench and it gets everywhere. 

Where will people go then and who will save them? Only under the hand of God, only under His protection, in the refuge from above.

The flood of the passions almost engulfed David but he fled from them and found refuge in the strong arm of the Lord Most High: 

He escaped the fire, the smoke and the stench of the passions that were pursuing him. He escaped to the protection from above.

" Saint Nicholas Velimirovich"

Few decide - Saint Ignatius Brianchaninoff

Lots of people approach the Lord, but few decide to follow Him. 
There are many people who read the Gospel, who rejoice over its sublime concepts and enthuse over its holy teaching, but only a few decide to live according to the Gospel law.

" Saint Ignatius Brianchaninoff "

Without help - Saint John of Kronstadt

Just as a mother teacher a child to walk, so God teaches us to have living faith in Him. 
The child tries, takes a step and falls. In the same way, God teaches us to have Christian faith in Him. 
Our faith in Him is weak, it’s at the first stage, like a child learning how to walk, so God leaves us alone, without His help, and allows Satan to subject us to trials and sorrows.

" Saint John of Kronstadt "

See the difference - Saint John of Kronstadt

When you have pleasant thoughts in your soul, you feel happy and calm. 

When there’s peace and joy in your heart, then the spirit of good, the Holy Spirit is within you. 

When you’re full of bad thoughts, then you feel out of sorts and troubled. 

The evil and cunning spirit of wickedness is in you then.

" Saint John of Kronstadt "

Ιf you only knew - Saint John of Kronstadt

If you hate your enemy, you show how stupid you are. Because if your enemy’s hunting you, you’re also hunting him inside yourself. 

And tell me, isn’t hunting the worst and most brutal persecution, with hatred for your enemy tormenting you? 

Ah, if only you knew what a triumph and what a blessing it is to love your enemies and to be a benefactor for them.

" Saint John of Kronstadt "

Incredibly short - Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica

Life on earth is very short, unimaginably so. But much has been given to us in the short span of time so that we can turn to God from the depths of our heart. 

He it is Who can transfigure and resurrect our soul. We Christians are really extremely fortunate that we have Our Most Pure Lady, the Mother of God to pray for us before the throne of God.

“Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica”

Never lose heart - Saint Nicodemus the Hagiorite

When you’re wounded because you’ve fallen into some sin or other through your weakness or, sometimes, to your harm, through your own will, don’t lose heart, don’t be upset about it, but turn straight to God and say: ‘You see, Lord, I did the things I did because of who I am. 

You can’t have expected anything different from me, who am so ill-disposed and weak, other than that I would fall and collapse’. And then berate yourself for a good while and be sorry with pain in your heart, for making God sad.

Without becoming upset, be disappointed with your foul passions, especially against the one which caused you to fall, and say: ‘Lord, I wouldn’t have stayed upright even this far had you not held me with your great goodness’.

And render thanks to Him and love Him more than ever, in admiration of His great loving-kindness. For the fact that, although you saddened Him, He still gives you His right hand and assists you, so that you don’t fall into sin again.

“Saint Nicodemus the Hagiorite”