“This is the mark of Christianity: however much a man toils, and however many righteousnesses he performs, to feel that he has done nothing, and in fasting to say, ‘This is not fasting,’ and in praying, ‘This is not prayer,’ and in perseverance at prayer, ‘I have shown no perseverance; I am only just beginning …
“Christ loved us in our unloveliness, in order to make us lovely like Himself.” – St. Augustine #weareHisfamily #obedience #dailyreadings #coptic #orthodox
“Do you see how great His earnestness that the bond should be done away? To wit, we all were under sin and punishment. He Himself, through suffering punishment, did away with both the sin and the punishment, and He was punished on the Cross. To the Cross then He affixed it; as having power, He …
“When you make the beginning of a good deed, first prepare for the temptations that will come to you.” ~ St. Isaac the Syrian . . #dailyreadings #coptic #copticorthodox #orthodoxy #orthodox #temptations #deliverance
“No doubt you have the right to ask God to lift the trial, but you will be more mature spiritually if you accept it with thanksgiving asking Him to grant you grace to bear it in order to obtain blessing, and tell Him, “I am not asking for a lighter burden but stronger shoulders” – …
