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What you asked about as a lesson to yourself, for this reasoning I will briefly say that without the fear of God and perfect patience it is impossible to succeed in anything and achieve a goal, as the Apostle says: “For I will require patience, that having done the will of God, you may receive the promise” (Heb. 10:36). And the Lord Himself teaches, speaking to His disciples like this: “through your patience you will gain your souls” (Luke 21:19), and also: “he who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22). He did not say that he who endures this or that will be saved, but “he who endures to the end will be saved”; because it is not in the beginning that the end is known, but in the end the fruit is gained. Therefore, connect the beginning with the end, so that, having gained victory in the end, you may receive the promises. Let us also preserve the shrine, because this will be primarily required of those who have taken on the monastic life. Let us not be vain, lest the Lord say to us: “They do all their work so that men may be seen; They enlarge their storehouses, and magnify the drapes of their garments. They love... to be seated before the congregation, and to be kissed in the marketplace, and to be called by men “teacher” (Matthew 23:5–7). Let us therefore be humble in word, in deed and in behavior, so that we may obtain grace from the Lord, because humility pleases the Lord. I knew a brother about the Lord, and he lived in a certain place, silent in great submission. It happened that in that place one brother was tormented by an all-evil demon. And he began to call the silent one by name, to cry out and speak; he was guarded by the younger ones in the house of prayer, and the one whose name the demon called out remained silent in his cell. When the abbot saw the strong beating of the demon, he called that brother to go after the sufferer. And when he arrives, he finds that the sufferer has received a little relief. When he began to talk with him, the one possessed by the unclean suddenly began to cry out and say: “Again you are coming here for evil; your path is not good, your meeting is not good, what you say is not good, and what you hear is not good. And for the first time you kicked me out and bound me with your humility.” And the demon also said to him: “Do not be arrogant, good man, do not be arrogant. And I would have visited you if you had not been covered with humility, because it still torments and struggles with me.” So, if the demons themselves involuntarily admit that they are powerless against humility and even fear and tremble at it, then why do we neglect this dignity of it? A spiritual sign shines in him, which proud demons cannot tolerate. The Lord said: “Learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29). Let us also say to Him: “Thanks be to You, Lord, God of All, because You have become the path of salvation for us. And You bridle the demons, O Lord, and You deliver those who trust in You from all evil.” Do not cease to pray for me, so that I may find mercy from the Lord when this struggle and the languor of death befall me, and so as not to be put to shame when the Lord reveals the secrets of darkness and reveals the counsels of the heart. Woe to the one who is put to shame at that hour. May the Lord God and Almighty, who tests every word, according to the multitude of His mercies, reward you and me and make the name of each of us written in the Kingdom of Heaven. Glory to him forever and ever! Amen. You might be interested in: