The brethren also asked him, ‘Amongst all good works, which is the Virtue which requires the greatest effort?’ He answered, ‘Forgive me, but I think there is no labor greater than that of Prayer to God. For every time a man wants to Pray, his enemies, the demons, want to prevent him, for they know that it is only by turning him from Prayer that they can hinder his journey. Whatever good work a man undertakes, if he perseveres in it, he will attain rest. But Prayer is warfare to the last breath.’
Saint Agathon of Egypt
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“If in Prayer it happens that the mind is caught up by distracting thoughts, then one should bow down to Our Lord God and ask for forgiveness, saying: I have sinned, O Lord, in word, deed and thought, and all my senses.”
Saint Seraphim of Sarov
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“In the hour of Prayer, when our mind wanders to thoughts of bad things, or if these thoughts come without our wanting them, we shouldn’t wage an offensive war against the enemy, because, even if all the lawyers in the world joined together, they wouldn’t make any headway with a little demon. Only through ignoring them can one chase these thoughts away. The same is true for blasphemous thoughts. If you want to grab God’s attention so He’ll hear you during Prayer, turn the dial to humility, for God always works in this frequency; then humbly ask for His mercy.”
Saint Paisios the Athonite
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“When the intellect begins to advance in love for God, the demon of blasphemy starts to tempt it, suggesting thoughts such as no man but only the devil, their father, could invent. He does this out of envy, so that the man of God, in his despair at thinking such thoughts, no longer dares to soar up to God in his accustomed Prayer. But the demon does not further his own ends by this means. On the contrary, he makes us more steadfast. For through his attacks and our retaliation we grow more experienced and genuine in our love for God. May his sword enter into his own heart and may his bows be broken (cf. Ps. 37:15).”
Saint Maximus the Confessor
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“Prayer is difficult because it is opposed by our old self. It is also difficult because the evil one resists a Praying man with all his might. To the devil, Prayer is the foretaste of death, though of course he is already dead Spiritually. However, Prayer strikes him again, and that is why he resists it in every way. Even Saints find Prayer difficult at times, even though you’d think that they would only be comforted by it. Indeed, Prayer brings with it a great comfort, not only to a righteous person, but also to a sinner.”
Saint Barsanuphius of Optina
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“Descend with your attention into the heart, stand there before the Lord and admit nothing sinful to enter there. In this is the entire activity of inner warfare.”
Saint Theophan the Recluse
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“O All-Merciful Lord! Grant me the Divine Gift of Holy Prayer, flowing from the depth of my heart. Gather together the dispersed thoughts of my mind, that it may always strive towards its Creator and Saviour. Destroy the burning arrows of the evil one, which tear me away from Thee. Quench the flame of the passionate thoughts that devour me during Prayer. Cover me with the Grace of Thy Most-Holy Spirit, that to the very end of my sinful life I may love Thee alone with all my heart, all my Soul and mind, and all my strength, and in the hour when my Soul takes leave of my mortal body, O Sweetest Jesus, take into Thy hands my spirit when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom. Amen.”
Saint John of Kronstadt
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“Undistracted Prayer is a sign of love for God; but careless or distracted Prayer is a sign of love for pleasure.”
Saint Mark the Ascetic
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“The beginning of the path toward pure Prayer is the battle against the passions. It is impossible to progress in Prayer as long as the passions still exist. In spite of this, the presence of the Grace of Prayer is not blocked as long as one is not careless or proud.”
Saint Joseph the Hesychast
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“During the Prayer, the enemy always will try to bring into your mind things that may seem extremely important, and then removes these thoughts and leads you further astray. It is vital to instill in your hearts a strong conviction and decisiveness in order to be able to choose God as opposed to anything else, at least during Prayer.”
Saint Theophan the Recluse
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“When you are Praying, watch over yourself so that not only your outward man Prays, but your inward one also. Though you be sinful beyond measure, still Pray. Do not heed the devil’s provocation, craftiness, and despair, but overcome and conquer his wiles. Remember the abyss of the Saviour’s mercy and love to mankind. The devil will represent the Lord’s fact to you as terrible and unmerciful, rejecting your Prayer and repentance; but remember the Saviour’s own words, full of every hope and boldness for us: Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out’; and Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden’ – with sins and iniquities, and wiles and calumnies of the devil – and I will give you rest.’”
Saint John of Kronstadt