The thoughts – those are “demons” (demonic energy). If there are already such people that it is not possible to convince them into something, the more so the demons. Talking to the thoughts, opposing them, in the best case you will get them to step back for a short time, and then they again propose their own – persistently, perseveringly, endlessly, foolishly repeating the same thing, until they compel the man to sin. Achieving success in one, they continue to further confuse the man until they kill him. Therefore, you do it exactly as the holy Fathers teach us. Surrender to the will of God and do not enter into any conversation with your thoughts. Any thought that sow discord in the soul and disturbs the peace of the heart – is from the Devil.
Elder Sophrony Sakharov
