Spiritual Decline Through Neglect of Worship
Laziness towards God's service and prayer is considered the primary cause of the onset of spiritual darkness of the mind. The refusal to regularly participate in worship and the lack of devoted prayer weaken spiritual protection, making the soul vulnerable to deceptions and the influence of opponents. In other words, when a person loses the desire for communion with God, they are deprived of the source of spiritual support, which leads to further weakening of the mind and a departure from true spiritual zeal—zeal that is capable of awakening courage, inner strength, and diligence in the battle against temptations.As noted in one source:"The beginning of the darkening of the mind (when its signs begin to appear in the soul) is primarily seen in laziness toward God's service and prayer. For if the soul does not first forsake these, there is no other path to spiritual deception; once it is deprived of God's help, it easily falls into the hands of its adversaries." (source: link txt)This idea is also confirmed in another material, which emphasizes that along with the loss of zeal and spiritual fervor—qualities that fuel the strength to combat demonic influence—a state of inner quiet is reached, one that facilitates the penetration of doubt and despondency:"Let us also be zealous for the will of Jesus, and every carelessness that breeds gloom in our thoughts will be driven away; because zeal gives rise to courage, inner strength, and bodily diligence... THE DARKENING OF THE MIND. The beginning of the darkening of the mind (when its signs begin to appear in the soul) is primarily seen in laziness toward God's service and prayer. For if the soul does not first forsake these, there is no other path to spiritual deception; once it is deprived of God's help, it easily falls into the hands of its adversaries." (source: link txt, page: 221-223)Thus, the loss of the desire for God's service and prayer becomes a turning point for spiritual weakening, for it is through active participation in worship that a person receives the strength to resist spiritual temptations and deceptions. Without this primary connection to God, the mind begins to darken, paving the way for further spiritual decline.Supporting citation(s):"The beginning of the darkening of the mind (when its signs begin to appear in the soul) is primarily seen in laziness toward God's service and prayer. For if the soul does not first forsake these, there is no other path to spiritual deception; once it is deprived of God's help, it easily falls into the hands of its adversaries." (source: link txt)"Let us also be zealous for the will of Jesus, ... THE DARKENING OF THE MIND. The beginning of the darkening of the mind (when its signs begin to appear in the soul) is primarily seen in laziness toward God's service and prayer. For if the soul does not first forsake these, there is no other path to spiritual deception; once it is deprived of God's help, it easily falls into the hands of its adversaries." (source: link txt, page: 221-223)