disturbance, gather it away from dispersion, and enlighten it. Prayer and fasting banish from a man unclean spirits and heal those who are tormented by demons, as the Lord said:
This kind (that is, the devils) goeth not out save by prayer and fasting (Matt. 17:21). Prayer and fasting also cleanse the mind in which the devils often cause darkness. Prayer and fasting are
weapons which protect every access of the devils to us. Prayer, like a grace-given spirit, enlightens the mind, and gives fervor. Prayer with sobriety of
heart is the guardian of the mind, extinguishes its forgetfulness as water does fire.
St. Paisius Velichkovsky