Patience is the quality of human nature that people lack most today. The modern rhythm of life, the conditions surrounding the townspeople, the general “race” for material wealth and values - all this and much more leaves no room in the soul for patient expectation. People begin to feel confident that they live here and now, and strive to find everything at once. Nobody wants to wait. This leads to a lot of problems, for example, to the accumulation of debts. Indeed, instead of patiently saving the earned money for something, a modern person simply takes a loan and, without hesitation, spends strangers, not his own money, which then has to be returned.
But not only this lack of patience is expressed. People often lack the mental strength even to care for their elderly parents and young children. They compensate for this by places in nursing homes, hiring nannies, or “elite” kindergartens. People are often not ready to show patience even when waiting for public transport or the need to stand in line from five to six people to the checkout counter in the store. To cope with the lack of humility and worldly wisdom, spiritual callousness will help the prayer for the granting of patience.
Whom to pray to?
Of course, first of all, Christians turn with all their needs to the Lord. But the prayer for the granting of patience can be addressed not only to him, but also to the Theotokos, to the guardian angel, to the holy saints.
Of course, asking for the gift of spiritual strength and patience should be without hesitation and analysis. Need to appeal to the one who first came to mind. If there is confidence that the prayer for the granting of patience, addressed to a particular saint, will help, it is for him to read it. The power of prayer lies in the faith of man, and not in rationality. In other words, going to pray is not the same as going to the store and choosing food for dinner. You can not delve into the lists of holy saints and ponder before whom it will be more effective to put a candle. You need to listen to your heart, not your mind.
How to read such prayers?
A prayer for the granting of patience should be read daily. Often people who are prone to meditation and analysis, compare such prayers with the reading of mantras. Indeed, there are some similarities. However, the daily reading of Orthodox prayers is practiced for other reasons.
Prayer is not a magic spell, after reading which everything around will change immediately and forever. This is a tool given to people for spiritual work on themselves, help in the fight against temptations and temptations that await in life, support and a kind of shield for which you can hide and rest. And since human nature is weak, and various destructive passions, including lack of patience, overtake daily, then you need to pray regularly.
What should be such a prayer?
There are no restrictions on the spoken texts or the place, time for addressing the Lord in the Orthodox Church. You can pray at home, in the temple, even read the text to yourself, while in transport. You can turn to heaven for help both in your own words and with the help of ready-made texts.
Of course, it is better to take time and pray in the temple. There is a special energy in the churches that helps a person get rid of all the vain in thoughts and focus on prayer. But if this is not possible, then you can turn to the Lord at home. The main thing in prayer is concentration on it. If you read the text and think about what to cook for dinner, what mood the boss is in, or something else, there will be no sense.
Prayer Text Examples
A prayer for the gift of strength and patience addressed to the Lord may be:
“Lord God, Almighty and All-Merciful! Grant me, slave (proper name) of strength and patience, teach and reason, guide and save, Lord! Do not allow temptation to me, help in matters of vanity and care, strengthen my spirit. Help resist stupidity and stinginess, do not let greed and anger, weakness and impatience, powerlessness and anger take hold of my heart. Help, Lord, grant me spiritual strength and patience, save me, save and have mercy. ”
A prayer for the granting of patience and humility addressed to the Mother of God may be:
“The Blessed Mother of God, the comforter in all sorrow and our intercessor before the Lord! Grant me, slave (proper name), humility and fill my heart with patience. Do not let yourself be discouraged and do not let reckless things be done, decisions to be made prompt and erroneous. Grant me the strength to take care of those in need. Grant humility with my fate, for it is God's providence. Grant peace to my soul and peace to my heart. Strengthen my faith and give firmness in trusting in the power of the Lord; do not allow my doubts and wickedness into my soul. ”
A prayer for the gift of wisdom and patience addressed to the Lord may be:
“Lord God, the All-Seeing and Omniscient! Grant me strength, patience, and endowed me with wisdom to accept your providence with humility and humility. Grant humility to accept that which is not in the power of mine and above understanding. Grant wisdom to distinguish light from darkness, your providence from human care. Help me gain patience in the affairs of the earth, the vain, and deprive me of grumbling my heart. ”