What is the danger of pride for an Orthodox person? How is it different from pride? Will prayer help get rid of this condition? How does pride arise and develop? These questions are of interest to many, because in the modern world the rhythm of life is so high, and there are so many temptations that people often do not notice how they lose spirituality and begin to commit unrighteous acts.
What is pride?
Every believer needs a protective prayer from pride. Orthodoxy considers this state to be one of the most dangerous for the soul. It is a grave sin. A person who indulges in pride does not simply admire himself or what he has done. He denies the Lord's involvement in his own life.
People who have fallen into this state experience absolute certainty that everything they possess and have achieved did not happen by God's will, but thanks to their own efforts. This sin, having originated in the human soul, grows and absorbs it. It leaves no room for gratitude, humility, patience, attention to others.
What is the difference from pride?
Pride -this is a different state, but it can become the first step towards sinfulness if it takes on hypertrophied dimensions. Every person is subject to both of these feelings, and therefore prayer is needed from pride and conceit. Orthodoxy endows pride with a demonic beginning, considers it a product of the devil. Pride is a natural feeling given from above. To distinguish which of the states has taken possession of a person is not as difficult as it seems.
Pride is positive, not destructive. It manifests itself as spiritual strength, confidence and dignity. A person who experiences this feeling is endowed with respect both for himself and for others. He rejoices in the successes of others and mourns with them in sorrows, that is, he is capable of empathy.
Pride manifests itself as hypertrophied selfishness. People who indulge in it ex alt and amuse themselves. They are completely unable to be happy for others or sympathize with them. Such people sincerely believe that they are the "center of the universe" and everything around exists only to meet their needs.
How to notice the emerging pride?
A prayer is read from pride, regardless of its presence, because the danger of indulging in this sin always lurks a person. But, of course, if you have a tendency to such a state, prayer is especially necessary.
The first signs of approaching pride are:
- arrogance and arrogance;
- painful resentment;
- selfishness andarrogance;
- sarcastic and cynicism;
- vanity and ambition.
These are the very first "alarm bells" indicating that a person needs prayer from pride. After these feelings comes ignoring moral standards and ridiculing them. A person loses the ability to forgive the actions of others and completely ceases to perceive criticism in his own address.
Who should I pray to?
In Orthodoxy there are a lot of saints to whom a prayer can be addressed from pride. They ask for deliverance from this condition and protection from it:
- Saint Alexei.
- John of Kronstadt.
- Sergius of Radonezh and many others.
Of course, the most powerful prayer from pride and conceit, saving and protecting from these harmful feelings, is addressed to Jesus Christ.
How to pray to Jesus?
You can pray to the Lord both in the temple and outside the church walls. There are no restrictions on what should be the appeal to Him for help. This means that a prayer can be said in one's own words, close and understandable to those who turn to the Lord.
A prayer for humility, depriving pride, cleansing the soul from sin, can be like this:
“Lord Jesus, Savior of the souls of men! A great passion-bearer and a lamb who gave himself up to be tortured for people! Do not leave me, a slave (proper name), alone with temptations, help me overcome demonic machinations. Accept my life, Lord, illumine it and give my soul humility!Enlighten my mind and deliver it from evil thoughts. Do not allow, Lord, to fall into sin and doubt me, a servant (proper name). Don't let me forget that everything comes from You. And returns to you. Forgive me my sins, Lord, involuntary and committed in clouding the mind. Protect my soul from the evil one and from all evil. Save and save my soul, Lord! Amen.”
Although there are no restrictions on where and when you can pray in Orthodoxy, you should ask for deliverance from the sin of pride in the temple. The church atmosphere is conducive to prayer, it helps people tune in to the right mood, cleanse their thoughts of everything superfluous, vain, realize their sins and mistakes.
How to pray to the saints?
Prayer for pride, which is addressed to the saints, is not a magic ritual or magic spell. This is a daily spiritual work of a person, for which sincere repentance, firm faith and a desire to change, get rid of sin and inclination to it are necessary.
A prayer addressed to John of Kronstadt could be:
“Holy Father, patron, resting in human cares and great helper, John! Help me, slave (proper name), for I am sinful and weak. Teach me how to pacify rage and anger, not fall into pride and find true humility, but not false. Do not let me, a slave (proper name), go astray from the path given by the Lord. Help me to gain enlightenment and get rid of the demonic temptations sent by the evil one! Forgive me, Father, my sins and show me the way to redemption, have mercy on me andbless. Amen.”
You can pray to St. Alexei like this:
God's man, the holy saint of the Lord, Alexei! Teach me humility and meekness, show me how to avoid anger and pride, guide and enlighten me on the path of life. Don't let me fall into sin and deliver me from temptation. Help me, Saint Alexis! Amen.”
A prayer addressed to Sergius of Radonezh may sound like this:
“Reverend mentor and saint of the Lord, St. Sergius! Teach me to love my enemies and forgive my neighbors. Direct to the deeds that are pleasing to the Lord, do not allow it to come from the evil one. Help cleanse my soul from the filth of the world, let me know the will of God. Let go of my sins and bless for good deeds. Amen.”
