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? Many people are interested in these questions, 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 condition one of the most dangerous for the soul. It is a grave sin. A man indulging in pride does not just admire himself or what he has done. He denies the Lord’s participation in his own life.
People who fall into this state are absolutely sure that everything that they possess and what they achieved did not happen according to God's will, but because of their own efforts. This sin, originating in the soul of man, grows and swallows it. There is no room for gratitude, humility, patience, attention to others.
What is the difference from pride?
Pride is another condition, but it can be the first step to sinfulness if it takes on hypertrophied dimensions. Each person is subject to both of these feelings, and therefore prayer is needed from pride and self-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 state has taken possession of a person is not as difficult as it seems.
Pride carries in itself a positive, not destructive, principle. It manifests itself as spiritual strength, confidence and dignity. A person experiencing such a feeling is endowed with respect for both himself and others. He rejoices in the successes of others and grieve with them in sorrows, that is, he is capable of empathy.
Pride is manifested as hypertrophied selfishness. People who surrender to her exalt and amuse themselves. They are completely incapable of being happy for others or sympathizing with them. Such people are sincerely convinced that they are the "center of the Universe" and everything around exists only to satisfy their needs.
How to notice the emerging pride?
A prayer is read from pride, regardless of its presence, because the danger of surrendering to this sin lies in wait for a person. But, of course, in the presence of a tendency to such a state, prayer is especially necessary.
The first signs of arising pride are:
- arrogance and arrogance;
- painful sensitivity;
- selfishness and arrogance;
- sarcasticity and cynicism;
- vanity and ambition.
These are the very first “wake-up calls” indicating that a person needs a prayer of 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 pray?
In Orthodoxy there are many saints to whom prayer from pride can be addressed. They ask about getting rid of this condition and protecting it from it:
- St. Alexei.
- John of Kronstadt.
- Sergius of Radonezh and many others.
Of course, the most powerful prayer from pride and self-conceit, saving and protecting from these destructive feelings, is turned to Jesus Christ.
How to pray to Jesus?
You can pray to the Lord both in the church and outside the church walls. There are no restrictions on how to turn to Him for help. This means that prayer can be delivered in one's own words that are close and understandable to one who addresses the Lord.
A prayer for humility, depriving pride, cleansing the soul of sin, can be this:
“Lord Jesus, Savior of the souls of men!” The great sufferer and lamb, who gave himself up for torture for people! Do not leave me, slave (proper name) alone with temptations, help to overcome demonic machinations. Accept my life, Lord, light it and give my soul humility! Enlighten my mind and deliver it from evil thoughts. God forbid, fall into sin and doubt me, a slave (proper name). Do not let forget that everything comes from You. And comes back to you. Forgive me sins, Lord, involuntary and perfect in the blurred 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 church. The church atmosphere is conducive to prayer, it helps people to tune in the right way, to clear their thoughts of all unnecessary, vain, to realize their sins and mistakes.
How to pray to saints?
Prayer from pride with which the saints are addressed is not a magic ritual or a magic spell. This is a man’s daily spiritual work, which requires sincere repentance, firm faith and a desire to change, get rid of sin and a penchant for it.
A prayer addressed to John of Kronstadt may be:
“The Holy Father, patron saint in the cares of men and a great helper, John! Help me, a slave (proper name), for I am sinful and weak. Teach how to pacify rage and anger, not to fall into pride and find true humility, but not false. Do not let me, the slave (proper name), stray from the path given by the Lord. Help me gain enlightenment and get rid of demonic temptations that are crafted by the evil ones! Forgive me, Father, my sins and show the way to atonement, have mercy on me and bless me. Amen."
You can pray to St. Alexei this way:
“God's man, the blessed saint of the Lord, Alex! Teach me humility and meekness, show me how to avoid anger and pride, and direct and understand the path of life. Do not let me fall into sin and deliver from temptation. Help me, Saint Alexey! Amen."
A prayer addressed to Sergius of Radonezh can sound like this:
"Reverend Mentor and Savior of the Lord, St. Sergius! Teach me to love enemies and forgive others. Direct to the deeds pleasing to the Lord, do not let that come from the evil one. Help cleanse my soul from the filth of the world, let me know the will of God. Forgive my sins and bless me for good deeds. Amen."