"If you do not feel like praying, you have to force yourself," the Elder said. "The Holy Fathers say that prayer with force is higher than prayer unforced. You do not want to, but force yourself. The Kingdom of Heaven is taken by force (cf. Matt. 11:12)."
--Elder Ambrose of Optina, p. 250
Posted by Clifton at March 9, 2004 07:01 PM | TrackBack