In the morning, when your soul is not defiled by foreign impressions, pray God to give you wisdom and enter with great heed in the mystery of God’s judgement and you will understand the teaching of the Living God, Who lives eternally through this word.

It’s good to read every day a chapter of the Gospel. It is a lesson of the Holy Church for its children. You need to study… In the morning, when your soul is not defiled by foreign impressions, pray God to give you wisdom and enter with great heed in the mystery of God’s judgement and you will understand the teaching of the Living God, Who lives eternally through what may seem at first sight dead words.

There are people who memorise the thoughts yielded in their heart by the word of God – as sparks that are born through the flint, trusting that they are teachings of the guardian angel. And they are. In need, these thoughts will be the daily bread of your soul. Those who keep them are similar to those who save money for hash times. An elder had all sort of teachings written on the walls. At Saint Sava Monastery near Jerusalem, there can be found many manuscripts with the Fathers’ thoughts, and it is said that they have all the same source. Now you know it too.

(Translation from: Sfântul Teofan Zăvorâtul, Învățături și scrisori despre viața creștină, Editura Sophia, București, 2012, p. 109)