Saint Anne Orthodox Church

After understanding how important is to develop a rule of life, and why the Holy Fathers always stressed the importance of order and of the typicon, we shall consider today the most important aspect of our spiritual becoming, namely, understanding and following the will of God. St Siluan the Anthonite is teaching us that the most precious thing in the world is to know God and understand His will. But how should one recognize the divine will? We know that the divine will is known in general terms through the Scriptures, and the whole of divine revelation, however the detail which governs the divine law in certain circumstances is unknown. ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord?’ (Rom 11:34); and again the judgment of the Lord are a great abyss (Ps 36:6). The divine law, is teaching Elder Joseph the Hesychast, is not differentiated only by time, but also by place, persons and things, as also by quantity, manner, and circumstance. In this light, it is not enough to know the general expression of the divine will; one needs to know the specific verdict on the subject in question, whether yes or no, and only thus is the success assured. St Nilus the Calabrian prayed that he might be granted ‘to think and speak according to the divine will and this is teaching us that we should look for God’s will, first of all in prayer. We notice that the Holy Fathers never embarked on anything without first praying. It is therefore important to understand that when we want to find out the will of God, we need to abandon our own will completely together with every other thought or plan, and with all humility ask for this knowledge in prayer. And whatever takes shape or carries weight in our hearts, will be according to God’s will. Another very important way of discovering the will of God, which the Church uses generally, is through the advice of spiritual fathers and confessors. (Will continue)