Watchfulness resembles a full
size axe, which is used to chop down giant trees by striking them at the root.
When the root is struck, the tree no longer grows. Similarly, when a Christian
implements watchfulness with his mind, he successfully guards his heart and the
five senses—both the spiritual senses of the soul and the body. When the mind
is watchful and attentive, when it regulates the various impulses and thoughts
as they emerge, and when it controls the imagination, man in his entirety
remains pure in body and spirit. And when man is cleansed through watchfulness
and spiritual work, his prayers have tremendous boldness before God: they
pierce the sky, surpass the stars, penetrate the heavens, and approach the
Divine Throne of Grace, where they receive God‘s blessings, thus allowing men
to become rich in God‘s grace.
The Watchful Fathers tell us that one single thought
can either raise us to Heaven or plunge us into Hell. “Through our thoughts we
either improve or worsen.” If we are careless when a sinful thought assaults
us, it will poison us, impart sinful pleasure to us, and subsequently, it can
render us worthy of Hell. Conversely, one divine thought, one thought of self
denial, one courageous thought to resist sin, a prayerful thought or spiritual
contemplation renders us worthy of approaching the Divine Throne and tasting
heavenly things. Depending on our thoughts, we will either become defiled or
purified. Sin begins and originates from our thoughts.
Our thoughts spring forth from the five senses— both
the spiritual and the physical senses. If we do not control our sense of
vision, but allow our eyes to roam around carelessly, our inattentiveness will
give rise to a series of impure and sinful images. Once these images enter the
imagination, they subsequently begin to drip the poison of sinful pleasure into
man’s heart. This sinful pleasure serves as a toxin that contaminates the
heart, rendering it unclean and guilty before the sleepless eye of God.
It is similar with the other senses of touch, taste,
hearing, and smell. Each of the five senses generate corresponding sinful
images, which render man and unclean before God. This is what spiritual
philosophy is predicated upon.
-Elder Ephraim of Arizona
The Art of Salvation
Watchfulness, Prayer and Confession
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