Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

55 Maxims for Christian Living by Fr. Thomas Hopko
http://ohtasteandsee.blogspot.com ^ | Fr. Thomas Hopko

Posted on 01/18/2012 4:30:23 PM PST by bad company

1. Be always with Christ.

2. Pray as you can, not as you want.

3. Have a keepable rule of prayer that you do by discipline.

4. Say the Lord’s Prayer several times a day.

5. Have a short prayer that you constantly repeat when your mind is not occupied with other things.

6. Make some prostrations when you pray.

7. Eat good foods in moderation.

8. Keep the Church’s fasting rules.

9. Spend some time in silence every day.

10. Do acts of mercy in secret.

11. Go to liturgical services regularly.

12. Go to confession and communion regularly.

13. Do not engage intrusive thoughts and feelings. Cut them off at the start.

14. Reveal all your thoughts and feelings regularly to a trusted person.

15. Read the scriptures regularly.

16. Read good books a little at a time.

17. Cultivate communion with the saints.

18. Be an ordinary person.

19. Be polite with everyone.

20. Maintain cleanliness and order in your home.

21. Have a healthy, wholesome hobby.

22. Exercise regularly.

23. Live a day, and a part of a day, at a time.

24. Be totally honest, first of all, with yourself.

25. Be faithful in little things.

26. Do your work, and then forget it.

27. Do the most difficult and painful things first.

28. Face reality.

29. Be grateful in all things.

30. Be cheerful.

31. Be simple, hidden, quiet and small.

32. Never bring attention to yourself.

33. Listen when people talk to you.

34. Be awake and be attentive.

35. Think and talk about things no more than necessary.

36. Speak simply, clearly, firmly and directly.

37. Flee imagination, analysis, figuring things out.

38. Flee carnal, sexual things at their first appearance.

39. Don’t complain, mumble, murmur or whine.

40. Don’t compare yourself with anyone.

41. Don’t seek or expect praise or pity from anyone.

42. We don’t judge anyone for anything.

43. Don’t try to convince anyone of anything.

44. Don’t defend or justify yourself.

45. Be defined and bound by God alone.

46. Accept criticism gratefully but test it critically.

47. Give advice to others only when asked or obligated to do so.

48. Do nothing for anyone that they can and should do for themselves.

49. Have a daily schedule of activities, avoiding whim and caprice.

50. Be merciful with yourself and with others.

51. Have no expectations except to be fiercely tempted to your last breath.

52. Focus exclusively on God and light, not on sin and darkness.

53. Endure the trial of yourself and your own faults and sins peacefully, serenely, because you know that God’s mercy is greater than your wretchedness.

54. When you fall, get up immediately and start over.

55. Get help when you need it, without fear and without shame.


TOPICS: Orthodox Christian
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 01/18/2012 4:30:30 PM PST by bad company
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: bad company

I find your screen name ironic for this posting topic. Excellent post. Thank you for sharing it.


2 posted on 01/18/2012 5:25:13 PM PST by tired&retired
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bad company

thanks for posting this


3 posted on 01/18/2012 5:29:54 PM PST by FrdmLvr (culture, language, borders)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tired&retired
I find your screen name ironic for this posting topic.

Gotta be honest.

4 posted on 01/18/2012 5:55:22 PM PST by bad company (There are no illegal guns, just undocumented firearms.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: bad company
Cool list.

But what's up with #37? (Flee imagination, analysis, figuring things out. ) I create revenue by doing exactly those things!
5 posted on 01/18/2012 9:43:01 PM PST by rpierce (We have taglines now? :)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bad company

Sound and wise advice. We would all benefit from heeding it.


6 posted on 01/19/2012 10:51:57 AM PST by tjd1454
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson