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Don’t ask for anything worldly, but for everything spiritual – and you will certainly receive. So, Solomon, when he asked for what he owed, look how quickly he received it. So, the one who prays must observe two rules: the first is to ask forcefully; the second is to ask for what is due. And you, says the Savior, being fathers, wait for requests from your children; and if they ask you for something useless, then you refuse; When they ask for something useful, you deign and give. Therefore, when you imagine this, do not retreat until you receive it, do not retreat until you find it, do not put off your diligence until the door is opened. If you approach with such a thought and say: I will not retreat until I receive, then you will certainly receive, if only what you ask is appropriate for Him from whom you are asking, and useful for you, the one asking. What would it be? That is, to ask for everything spiritual, to begin to ask for the remission of one’s sins, after the remission of the sins of others, without anger and doubt, to raise clean hands (see 1 Tim. 2:8). If we ask like this, we will receive. But now our petitions are worthy of laughter and are more characteristic of drunken people than sober ones. Why, you say, do I not receive even when I ask for spiritual things? Of course, because you either do not knock on doors carefully, or have made yourself unworthy to accept what you ask, or have soon stopped asking (6). You often ask for what you consider useful, when it is not useful. God pays attention not to your tears, but to misfortune. Likewise, a child often asks his mother for bread, but if [he asks for] something harmful that he should not ask for, then the mother does not give it to him, not paying attention to his sadness, but only to the benefit. Likewise, a person suffering from fever constantly pesters the doctor to give him something cold, but the doctor does not give it to him, because he does not pay attention to his desire, which is harmful in his present situation, but beneficial for his health in the future (9). We will rise during the night; if you don’t read many prayers, then read one with attention - and that’s enough, I don’t ask for anything more; if not in the middle of the night, then at least around the morning. Show that night is not only for the body, but also for the soul; do not let it pass in inaction, but give this reward to the Lord, or, better yet, it will return to you again. Tell me: when we fall into a difficult situation, then whom do we not ask? And if we quickly receive what we ask for, we feel relieved. Where will you find that the one you ask is ready to thank you for what you ask? Where will you find it so that you don’t have to go and look for someone to ask, but always have it ready? Or not need others to ask through them? What could be more than this? He then especially fulfills [our requests] when we do not resort to others, just as a sincere friend then especially reproaches us for being distrustful of his friendship when we ask him through others. This is what we do to those who ask us; then we are especially favorable to them when they themselves turn to us, and not through others. But what do you say if I insulted Him? Stop insulting, approach Him with tears - and He will soon have mercy on you for your previous deeds. Just say that you offended Him, say it from the soul and from the depths of your heart - and you will receive forgiveness in everything. It is not so much that you desire that your sins be forgiven, but that He desires to forgive your sins. And that you have little desire for this, understand from the fact that you do not want to either stay awake or give away from your property; but He, in order to forgive us our sins, did not spare His only begotten, true and co-throne Son. Do you see that He desires to forgive your sins much more than you? Let us not be careless and let us not put off this matter. He is philanthropic and good; Let us only give Him a reason; and even this (He demands) only so that we do not remain obscene; otherwise He would have had mercy on us even without this. Just as we invent and use thousands of means for the good of our servants, so He cares about our salvation. “Let us come before His face with praise” that He is good and merciful (Ps. 94:2). If you do not call on Him in truth and do not cry out from your heart: forgive me, but only with your lips, then what will He do? What does it mean to call in truth? With good will, with zeal, from a pure heart. Just as they say about the world that it is true when nothing is mixed into it, so it is exactly the same here. He who truly calls Him and truly asks Him asks unceasingly and does not leave until he receives; and whoever does this hypocritically and wants only to fulfill the law does not call on Him in truth. Anyone, whoever it is, do not just say: I am a sinner, but also try to rid yourself of this glory; don’t just talk, but also lament. If you are distressed, then make an effort; if you don’t try, then you don’t grieve; if you do not lament, then you mock. Who, realizing that he is sick, does not do everything to get rid of the disease? Prayer is a great weapon. “If you,” says [Christ], “know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall the Heavenly Father” (Luke 11:13). Why don't you want to resort to Him? He loves you, can do more than anyone else, and is willing and able: what is stopping you? Nothing. So, let us approach Him with faith, approach Him, bringing gifts pleasing to Him: unforgettable malice, forbearance, meekness (10). You might be interested in: