Common pitfalls in prayer

Evagrius of Pontus

Try to make your spiritual intellect deaf and dumb during the time of prayer, for then you will really be able to pray.

'Do not be inept in the requests you make to God, otherwise you will insult God through your ignorance.' (The Wisdom of St Isaac the Syrian, 3; ed. S. Brock, p. 1.)
'When someone asks a human prince for a load of dung, not only will that person be despised as a result of his despicable request, but he has also offered an insult to the prince by means of his stupid request. Exactly the same applies when someone asks for the things of the body in prayer.' (ibid., 4; p. 1.)

'Take care when you pray not to overdo your intercessions for the other sex, so as not to be tricked from the right side.' (The Ladder to Paradise, Step 28.57; ed. Archimandrite Lazarus, p. 257.)

Note: Archimandrite Lazarus notes that the shield was worn traditionally on the left arm; to 'the right side' was the soldier's unguarded side.

'Do not let the time of prayer be an hour for considering necessary things or even spiritual tasts, otherwise you will lose the better part.' (ibid., 28.59; p. 257.)