Demonic attacks during prayer. What the Fathers teach us about fighting against them. 

Our new booklet 'FIGHTING FOR PRAYER. Evil Thoughts and Images during Prayer' is now available for pre-sale from our online bookstore: shop.mullmonastery.com/product-category/books/ Dispatch day is Monday, November 16. By purchasing your copy now you are helping the Monastery to pay for its printing, and making sure you receive it before Christmas. It is obvious that this temptation affects many of us, and it is a joy for everyone at the Monastery that we can be of help, by sharing with you what we have learnt from the experience of the Saints of the Church. May we all be blessed, dear ones.

God has helped me end my addiction, praise God.

Don't let the squawking seagulls distract from the majesty of the ocean. May God bless you all continually.

May the Holy Trinity be always within your heart father Seraphim. Much love from Athens Greece. Our Lord Jesus Christ bless your servant!!!!

“Evil does not have substance. It will just die out.” Excellent. Got it. 👍🏻

As a Protestant I would hear about how Martin Luther would make a practice of insulting, spitting, railing at the devil. This practice is intensified in the Charismatic Movement, where actual theatre and dance were directed at mocking the devil rather than the praise of GOD. Thank God that we are now taught better in the one true Orthodox Faith! Thanks Fr Seraphim for reminding us of the wonderful, freeing teaching of the desert fathers.

God bless You. Jesus Christ is with You.

God is so Good! I’ve been dealing with this for 2 long! 😂🙏🏽 I’m so happy I saw this! 🙌🏽 God Bless you Always ✝️

Thank you. I needed to hear this badly. I'm a recently confirmed Catholic and i was not prepared for this. It seems as if I was doing better before I was Baptised and Confirmed. Since then, every day has been a struggle of shame and doubt. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you

Thank you this helped a lot. I have been fighting with my addiction to porn and really spoke to me and helped me focus onto Him

This came up when I started getting my first attacks needed this focus on God he is greater than anything that has been or will be praise him in all ur ways even if u are dying Jesus said we should take up our cross and follow him blessed are those who read this good logical discernment greater is he that is in us than he who is in the world keep the good fight of faith brothers n sisters in christ glory to God

I'm thankful God led me to your message on Thanksgiving.

Thanks for the teaching. I struggle most often with such pop ups during times of Meditation and prayers

I am so glad I found this guy, he's better to watch/listen than mainstream garbage that leaves you with the impression that you're ill, will always be ill and there's no escape from the illness because it's everywhere you look in the world so might as well join ranks with the devolving culture embracing the illness. These preachings/teachings are from the heart of a flawed man that is a conduit for a pure, Holy Spirit that's why we can resonate with what he's saying. It's absolutely beautiful and appreciated. Keep doing Gods work!

Discernment is such a wonderful blessing

Kiss your crucifix numerous times. Offer up the precious Blood to the Eternal Father . Kiss your crucifix, repeat the name of Jesus.

Thank you for the truth, it's excellent, I find when I'm trying to do God's divine will, heroic virtues, I get attacked, mocked through other people. The evil one wants be to get caught up in fights, distractions and pull me away from God. I do my best to avoid this, avoid the person's, react with charity and always pray for them. It's a constant.

The rebellious really cannot defeat and stand the almighty power of the creator of all period✝️🙏🙇‍♂🙏✝️

Thank you Father, for the reminder we are standing before God in prayer! I have not realized that evil has no substance! Our human minds bring to life. I have struggle for some time in my prayer life. Your video is a blessing for me! May God continue to bless you & everyone at monastery 🙏☦️

Thank you for this information, as I have been alarmed at the thoughts/images when I am trying to start my Rosary.. blessings and Grace's you shall surely gain from God for helping so many of us..I thank God for letting me stumble upon you at this time of my dark night..

Thank you so much Father May God bless you🙏🙏

your explanation is soooo clear!! thank you! I'm a catholic, a late convert, and distractions happen so often. I love the Jesus prayer that I learned from you guys and I want to read on the life of Orthodox Saints as well

This is an incredibly important topic and comes at just the right time for me. I was afraid that all the evil thoughts during prayer were coming from me, but I realize they are not mine. Now I can ignore them and not care about them. Thank you so much for this incredible video!!!

Thank you Fr. Seraphim for teaching us how to battle against demonic thoughts during prayer. 🙏🙏🙏👌❤️😘👍

Thank you father, may God have blessing on your heart

What a word! Thank you God for the answer. Was just now in worship and just suddenly thoughts of worry. I rebuke it but it was persistent. I went into singing out loud and it eventually fate away.

About 2 years ago, I became interested on Eastern Orthodoxy, I had not intentionally gone to church (I grew up a roman catholic) in years, but I began going to the catechumen liturgy once a month. The week after the first time I went, I had a horrific nightmare, I was on a party with my wife and son in my old house, they were just chilling and this beautiful woman was teasing me with her eyes, I conciously did what I would do in real life, I ignored her and climbed upstairs to my old room in a concious effort to avoid temptation, so I heard steps behind me and it was my son screaming with a broken arm, and I suddenly woke up in tears, that was NOT a normal nightmare, it had to do with my change of heart, then, a few weeks later, I came to the conviction that I wanted to be babtized, so I verbally said it to my spiritual father after the liturgy, we drove back home and as I was cooking lunch I accidentaly cut off the tip of my finger. A cople of months later I was praying with some candles on and all of the sudden I got sleepy for a second and my hands landed on the candle and got mildly burned with the wax. These are all signs your conversion is an actual threat to the forces of evil, one should never stop praying and ask for protection agains all of these attacks, they usually come when you least expect them.

Thank you so much! The timing of this message for me was perfect. Praise be to Jesus Christ!

Thank you thank you and thank you again for this video god bless you!

The gratitude I have for this video is inexpressible. Glory to God.

Amen Amen God blessed you

God bless you Father! This was a blessing to me. Thank you for your instruction and vocation. I look forward to more God willing.

Thank you so much, praise be to God ❤

Thank you Father, this is very very helpful.

The Bible says to “ ignore the devil and he will flee”. Thank you for giving a substantial explanation for equipping ourselves against these distractions! God bless you for all your sharing and caring!!!

Thank You Father, My God and Saviour for leading me to this video in answer to my prayers. As another poster, Heather noted, this is the first time I heard that evil has no substance without me interacting with it. For instance, flighting thoughts of doubt that creep into my mind as I pray...what would I do...stop praising God, start asking for forgiveness, ask for protection...now my prayer is not focussed on Our Heavenly Father but on me, evil won and separated me from the Holy presence of God. Such wonderful teaching on what to do...ask yourself the 2 questions, if the answer is no, ignore it and refocus on our Life-Giving God. God Bless You All, Amen 🕊️❤️🕊️

Father, God bless you, can you tell us about the attacks on dreams?

Thank you father for your wise instruction. I have been struggling for many years to concentrate during my prayers yours is the best advice I have received.God bless you and keep you

Dearest Father. I started praying at night, because terrible things were happening during the day- and the night was the only relatively quiet time- I could focus on praying to the Lord. However, I soon was attacked through my dreams, when I would finally sleep. I am currently under attack both night and day- to stop my prayers. But, I don't. Things happen to stop me, and hurt my family and me when I keep praying. But, I keep praying. So, I completely agree with you. Too much for this space. Recently, a Danish that I bought was made with salt instead of sugar- in the grocery store- huge amounts of blood appeared on my hands( I had no wounds. Scared everyone), driving to the store at dusk- a man jumped in front of my car from the,side of the road to try and make me crash.....3 150 lb dogs came out of the woods to attack my dog and me on a walk on a path at the college. There is more- in just weeks. I continue to pray...... for my family and myself. I cannot speak to people, because these incidents are unbelievable. But, they happened. I am so grateful that the Lord IS protecting us and granting us Grace. And I am grateful to you for your gift of insight and understanding. This has truly helped me.

Joseph van Haren Thank you for this very good talk. Yes I believe we all get distracted by the evil one , he hates us praying to God , when thoughts come into my mind when praying or any other time ,I call on the name of Jesus and make a sign of the Cross and other times call on the Precious Blood of Jesus , I believe he takes off each time .

Thank you Fr. Seraphim for this wonderful talk. I think all Christians can benefit from those who struggle with their sins.

Thank you for the clarification. Such a blessing, such a blessing. Blessed Lord Jesus my Father please bless each brother and sister working at Mull monastery, guide them protect them, give them peace and strength in Your love. Help them daily as they follow in Your footsteps. Amen

This is a very profound practical teaching explained in simple English language that will benefit many if they put it to use daily. They will sooner or later, come to see the results themselves! Amen.

Thank you Father- I learn so much. This has helped me.

So helpful!! Glad he made the second video. God bless this priest!

We All are interrupted during our prayers by the evil one. This happens to everyone. This Father is very correct, keep your focus on God during your prayers, pay no heed to distractions. Continue and continue to refocus back on your prayers to God. Amen

Excellent talk, thanks. I also suggest blessing yourself with Holy Water before going to bed.

Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom . Be blessed.

Great insight you made it real, thank God for the wisdom of His word that lives in you.

Thank You Jesus Christ for everything

Best advice EVER, Brother! Thank you!

I was even getting so many distractions in my mind while listening to this message. I keep having to rewind and listen again over and over in a few parts. Thank You for helping us and telling us truth! Thank You for being on RU-vid so that we may all hear you and learn.

Thank you! I needed this, and I will now apply this wisdom into my prayer life. God bless you Brother!

Thank u so much monk...we love you too....we will pray for you

Thank you.

I agree , think & speak only to God , not anything else

Common understandings for the desert fathers, yet deep wisdom for these times. If I could only share this video to those caught up in the “Deep State” & “Deep Church” games...

I just want to thank you 😊 God bless you 😇🙏❤

Thank you for making this channel

Thank you Fr. Seraphim for this talk. I thought I was going mad and I felt thoroughly ashamed. I couldn't understand what was happening; the horrid thoughts were not mine. This talk of yours has now explained and helped me to understand many things and I'm now going to be better equipped to ignore these attacks and keep focusing on my prayer and God.

Amen. I've been dealing with intrusive thoughts towards Our Lady . In Rosary. This is helpful . Thank you Lord

"Were not our hearts burning within us?..." Thank you!!!!

Thank you for another very helpful insight. I appreciate this.

PROFOUND The fact that we are noticing these attacks- means we need prayer. God Presence union is where our soul rests. The more we are distracted by "the world" the less time we are in the presence with God. Im having to tell myself have the faith GOD is in control first. I have to remind myself everyday- this life is sooo temporary! God is eternal and that is where I want to be. "EVIL has no substance and will just die out." Thank you.

God bless you so much! Great and blessed timing as i battle this issue in my spiritual life as well.

Thank you Father.

Thanks Father Seraphim. I have been following these series for about 2 months now and I it's awesome. Greetings from a Roman Catholic in Nigeria

Thank you so much!! i have been tortured so much by this very thing. I needed this very badly.

Thank you ❤️ so much for answering my prayers 🙏🙏 I find the rosary very powerful pray peace be with you God bless you all Amen

This is so helpful thank you and may God bless you.

Thank you, By the Blood of Jesus Amen.

Thank you father Seraphim for your lovely chat on the beautiful isle of Mull.

Thank you so much Father Seraphim. I am new to this spiritual journey & already experiencing this & in dreams. So I talk to God when ever this occurs. I ask Him for his guidance. And then today your videos came up. 😁

Amen. God bless you all at the Mull Monastery.

Thank you,Fr. Seraphim,for sharing this

From Russia with prayer and love!

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!😭🙏🙏🙏

THANK YOU for this wonderful advice, dear Fr Seraphim. God bless you and sustain you always.

Oh my goodness you have no idea how timely and helpful this is for me. Satan will use anything and everything to distract us from God. I'm grateful to learn not to interact with any evil even if it seems we are succeeding! WOW, such great wisdom! Thank you, God bless you. Please pray for me, specifically my health and safety. 🙏

Thank you, Fr. Seraphim❣️I needed to hear this❣️

I am looking forward to receiving my books from you. God blessings to you all.

Thank you so much for this encounter with God....... ❤️👀. Breathing easy .... now. Bless You dear One. 🍁🤗🍁

What an amazing lesson to keep us focused on God in times of thoughts from the evil one during prayer. It works in all situations (keeping focused on God) it should be a no-brainer, and yet we can fall in the trap so easily. Thank you for this very important reminder to always focus on and be with God only.

Dear Father thank you for this teaching I and others are in great need of this kind of teaching about work of enemy in prayer time please teach us more we are very grateful love Donna USA

great advice! thank you

Wonderful clear flowing teaching of how to deal with ourself in prayers.

Your video has help me understand why these thoughts are there. Thanks be to Jesus for making me stronger. GOD’S GRACE IS SUFFICIENT 🙏🏻

Amazing Father.So well explained. I have been struggling with this problem the more intense my prayer time becomes. God Bless you.

I found he's given me all authority and by repeating his name in my head to interrupt the thought before it even forms and if it's real bad I'll say it loud, if I'm under attack I'll speak in tongues... Jesus Yahushua Jesus Yahushua Jesus Yahushua.......

Thank you.❤

Thanks father

Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7 KJV.

Love you so much! I messaged you on Facebook. God bless you and your holy work!

Thank you Father for the explanation. God bless.

Thank you. I needed to hear this advice because this something I've struggled with for years.

Thank you for this strategy.

Thank you for this video and teaching! Agnus DEI.

Thank you, dear brother! Thank you! Be blessed.

My God in whom I trust

Thank you Father Seraphim