Towards a Fruitful Spiritual Life - From the Conversations of Metropolitan Gregory of Novgorod
The first and foremost reason why our intention to correct
ourselves and lead a holy life remains without result lies in the fact that our
intention is often too vague and indefinite.
A certain sinner, for example, says to himself: "It's
high time for me to stop sinning, time to mend my ways ! I repent! I'll stop
sinning!" The intention is quite indefinite. And because of this, although
it might be sincere, it is unreliable and may not achieve the desired
correction. He who has a sincere desire to amend himself must first of all
determine exactly what it is that must be corrected. He must determine what is
his greatest sin and what means he must use against it, and what dangers he must
avoid so as not to fall into it again, since it has become a habit, a part of
his life. All this thought and self-examination must come first and only then
should a resolve be made, and that resolve should be specific as, for example:
"Enough! with God's help I am no longer going to fall into such-and-such a
sin; I'm going to break this bad habit; I'm no longer going to associate with
those particular people who encourage me in this habit; I'm going to break off
that unhealthy relationship; I'm going to use such-and-such means against this
sin; I'm going to arm myself and muster all my forces against it when it begins
again to tempt me."
