Water and Prayer and Thought

In the Holy Gospels, we realize the power of faith (belief) when we are told that a mountain can be moved from point A to point B, if we have Faith as of a mustard seed. This is indeed inspiring, when we see the power of prayer in action, and it helps us to understand that thoughts carry a transforming power, if only we believe.

The voice of the Lord thunders over the waters, saying: "Come, all, receive the Holy Spirit of wisdom, the Holy Spirit of understanding, the Holy Spirit of the fear of God, of Christ revealed."

Today the nature of the waters is sanctified, and the Jordan splits asunder, and it reverses the flow of its stream as it sees its Master cleased.

Christ King, You came to the river as a man, hastening to receive the baptism of a servant at the hands of the Forerunner, for our sins, O Loving Lord. Hearkening to the voice of the one crying in the wilderness, "Prepare the way of the Lord," You came, Lord, assuming the form of a servant, asking to be baptized, though having known no sin. The waters saw You and were afraid. The Forerunner was shaken and cried out, saying, "How shall the lamp give light to the light? How shall the servant lay hand on the Master? Sanctify me and the waters, Savior, Who takes away the sin of the world."

Be careful of your thoughts, because they carry seeds, the significance, which are unknown to you. Some thoughts are good, and others are evil. We must, therefore, be alert to our thoughts and manifestly control them for the benefit of all our brothers and sisters in the Lord and also for ourselves. If an evil thought enters our mind, we must push it away with strength. Otherwise, we let in an agent, whose name we shall call Agent 006. Now, Agent 006 will attempt to light a fire in us that urges us to act on the evil thought. If that fire takes hold then we allow a new agent to come into us, who we shall call Agent 066. Agent 066 lights another fire within us that causes us to think that the action is not too terrible, so we think nothing of repeating the evil action. If we accept this new fire, then we allow another agent to come into us and reside in us, who is called Agent 666. Now, this new agent causes us to commit the evil act repeatedly in a delerium of passion. Some would say this is an uncontrollable habit that cannot be broken. Yet, it is possible to break such a stronghold and expel Agent 666 from our bodies. It happens when we go to confession and receive healing from God for our physical and spiritual ailments. Furthermore, the way to conquer this malady is by performing Divine Liturgy and crowding out Agent 666 from us with a desire for something else.

We replace Agent 666 with Agent 007. Agent 007 gives us new thoughts which are good. When we accept these good thoughts, then we are propelling them into good actions. When we do this, we invite a new agent into us, who is called Agent 077. Agent 077 will illuminate our bodies to well forth, within us, a good deed based upon the seed of the good thought. When we act upon Agent 077, we invite a new agent into us, who is called Agent 777. Now, we are able to well forth a series of good thoughts, deeds, and agape towards our surroundings, our brothers and sisters, and God. In this parable, Agent 777 is none other than our Lord Jesus Christ, who cleanses us from our state of sin and who causes us to repent of our sins. By this mechanism, we can achieve victory over our sins that we think can never be put away.

It is important to always believe. I am thinking of a nice Korean hymn, titled "Only Believe". Its lyrics are:

1. Fear not, little flock, from the cross, the throne, from death into life, He went for His own; All power in earth, all power above, is given to Him for the flock of His agape (love). Only believe. Only believe. All things are possible. Only believe. Only believe. Only believe. All things are possible. Only believe.

2. Fear not, little flock, from the cross, the throne, He put the oil of green land, He drank dirty water for us, then He cleansed the dirty rivers of flowing water for us. Only believe. Only believe. All things are possible. Only believe. Only believe. Only believe. All things are possible. Only believe.