Do not say , after spending a long time at prayer, that nothing has been
gained, for you have already gained something.
What higher good is there than to cling to the Lord and persevere in unceasing
union with Him .
A convict does not fear his sentence of punishment so much as a fervant
man of prayer fears this duty of prayer.
So if he is wise and shrewd, by remembering this he can avoid every reproach,
anger, worry, and interruption, affliction, satiety, temptation, and distracting
thought.
Prepare yourself for your set times of prayer by unceasing prayer in your soul,
and you will soon make progress. I have seen those who shone in obedience
and who tried, as far as they could, to keep in mind the remembrance of God,
and the moment they stood in prayer they were at once masters of their minds,
and shred stream of tears. They were prepared for this beforehand by holy
obedience.
The Ladder of Divine Ascent- St. John Climacus
