"The gift of tears and the banishment of the enemy" (Saint Ephraim the Syrian)

The gift of tears and the banishment of the enemy

ord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Our Savior! Grant me, Thy servant, contrition and enlightenment of heart, that with an enlightened heart, tears of sweetness might spring forth in pure prayer, that it might not take many of my tears for Thee to erase the record of my sins, and that for the sake of brief lamentation Thou mightest extinguish the fire kindled in me. For if, O Master, Thou allowest me to weep here, then wilt Thou free me from inextinguishable fire.

I know, O long-suffering and man-befriending Lord, that every day and hour I embitter and anger Thee greatly, but the kindness of Thine endurance will vanquish my malice and bitterness.

O Lord, Who lovest good and art a God of mercy and compassion! Save me from the terrible corrupt enemy, who hourly fetters and persecutes my soul with evil and corrupt thoughts.

Ineffable is Thy strength, O Christ, for it rebuked the waves of the sea. May it rebuke him, may it render him ineffectual, and may it banish him far from me Thy servant.

Every day he renews his treachery against me and he hastens to take possession of my crippled mind and to distance me from Thee and from Thy divine commandments.

But, O Master, O most merciful Lord, quickly send Thy strength and chase from me, Thy worthless servant, this mighty serpent with all of his cunning and shameful thoughts, that I might in purity praise Thee with Thine eternal Father and Thine all-holy and good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

From A Spiritual Psalter or Reflections on God, compiled from the works of Saint Ephraim the Syrian