No peace until…
In all the paths on which people journey in this world they will find no peace until they draw near to the hope which is in God.
–Saint Isaac of Syria (Seventh Century)
Without temptations…
Without temptations, it is not possible to learn the wisdom of the Spirit. It is not possible that Divine love be strengthened in your soul. Before temptations, a man prays to God as a stranger. When temptations are allowed to come by the love of God, and he does not give in to them, then he stands before God as a sincere friend. For in fulfilling the will of God, he has made war on the enemy of God and conquered him.
–Saint Isaac of Syria (Seventh Century)
If the mind is distracted…
If, at the time when the mind is praying it is distracted by any extraneous thought or worry about anything, then this prayer is not called pure.
–Saint Isaac of Syria (Seventh Century)
Act wisely in prayer…
Do not be foolish in the requests you make to God, otherwise you will insult God through your ignorance. Act wisely in prayer, so that you may become worthy of glorious things. Ask for things that are honorable from Him Who will not hold back, so that you may receive honor from Him as a result of the wise choice your free will had made. Solomon asked for wisdom (3 Kg 3:8-14) – and along with it he also received the earthly kingdom, for he knew how to ask wisely of the heavenly King, that is, for things that are important.
–Saint Isaac of Syria (Seventh Century)
Always remember death…
Let us always remember death, and in this thought draw near to God in our heart– and the pleasures of this world will have our scorn.
–Saint Isaac of Syria (Seventh Century)
God was unwilling…
In his great love, God was unwilling to restrict our freedom, even though he had the power to do so. He has left us to come to him by the love of our heart alone.
–Saint Isaac of Syria (Seventh Century)
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