St. Theophan the Recluse | Whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name

[Acts 20:7–12; John 14:10–21]

And whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, that will I do.
(John 14:13).

What a consoling promise!
But how few make use of it!

People rarely keep this in mind. There are people who do not understand this at all, and do not accept it. Why is this so?
Because they do not love the Lord, and they do not fulfil His commandments. This unfaithfulness of the heart toward the Lord relinquishes any boldness to petition the Lord, just as a lazy servant does not dare ask something of his masters, for he knows that he does not deserve any mercy.

The established prayers are read in their usual course, and they contain very great petitions; but they are merely read, and this, as we well know, is far from prayer and petitioning.

We cannot stand with true prayer before the Lord and extend our petitions to Him until our conscience is clear before Him.


By St. Theophan the Recluse