The concept of grace is known in the tradition of the Christian church. According to canonical interpretations, grace is the Divine energy given by Jesus Christ to his Church. It is by the grace of the Holy Spirit that the ascent of a Christian on his difficult path to God is accomplished.
Instructions
Step 1
With Divine energy, in one form or another, the Christian meets very often. When a priest sanctifies water, grace changes its properties, making ordinary water holy. Well-known in the Christian world, miraculous healings are also carried out through the action of grace. She can manifest herself in the life of a Christian in different ways, including very clearly. A vivid example of the operation of grace is described in the famous conversation of St. Seraphim Sarovsky and N. A. Motovilov.
Step 2
How is grace found? First of all, by a righteous life, but not only by it. Keeping God's commandments is necessary, but not the only condition. Moreover, the very desire to find grace is already a mistake, since grace is not a goal, but a reward on the path of serving God. Striving for grace, a person falls into the net of pride, arrogance, a priori considering himself worthy of this divine gift.
Step 3
The main qualities, in the presence of which a person gets a chance to feel the grace of the Holy Spirit, are humility and meekness. But this is only the background against which grace can manifest itself, its necessary conditions. Before the Holy Spirit touches a person's heart, it must be cleansed of dirt, which is achieved by meekness, humility, and gentleness.
Step 4
The heart is cleansed at least to the minimum extent that the Holy Spirit can touch it. But you have to call him, having opened yourself. And this, in turn, is achieved by constant remembrance of God. One of the ways of such remembrance is the Jesus Prayer. Remember that in the Jesus Prayer, not only the repeated phrase is important, but also the pause between its pronouncements. It is the pause, the moment of silence in which you stand before God without a single thought, and is the time when you approach the Holy Spirit.
Step 5
Gradually increase the pause, it should happen naturally, organically. The criterion that the pause is too long is the appearance of extraneous thoughts. Silence should only last as long as you can stand before God. To stand is to turn to the Almighty with all your being without a single thought.
Step 6
It is in such seconds that a person can feel grace as a very specific energy, a specific feeling. It comes suddenly, filling the body and mind with indescribable bliss and sweetness. It cannot be confused with anything, the feeling of grace is divine and indescribable. It is no coincidence that Saint Isaac the Syrian said that the one who drank this wine would never forget it.
Step 7
Grace comes very unexpectedly and just as suddenly leaves. Its appearance can be regarded as a kind of advance - God makes it clear to a person that he sees his efforts, that he is on the right path. But the next manifestation of grace must be earned. The grave mistake at this moment is the craving for grace, the desire to experience it again. A prayer with a request to get rid of wrong thoughts, to keep on the right path will help here. Rely on God in everything, for it is through his power that your ascent is carried out.
