Sense its the beginning of November i would like to remind you of this

A habit initially fiercely resists one who wants to overthrow its yoke, seeming invincible at first; but in time, with constant battle against it, and with every act of disobedience to it, it grows weaker and weaker. . . If in the course of battle it should happen to you that, due to some unexpected circumstance, you are defeated, do not be troubled, do not fall into hopelessness, but begin the battle anew.

-Archbishop Averky Taushev

A certain geronda who had the gift of discernment said,"I saw a brother reflecting on spiritual subjects in his cell and a demon was standing outside. As long as the brother was reflecting, the demon was not able to enter, but as soon as the brother stopped, the demon would go into his cell and do battle with him".

-Sayings of the desert fathers

Repentance is not just to be sorry. It’s a much deeper feeling. It means broken and contrite heart. It’s like broken vessel cleaning out from all filthiness. God restores this vessel in the Confession and fills it with His grace in the Communion. That is why the Confession before the Communion is certainly needed.
“God is loving to man, and loving in no small measure. For say not, I have committed fornication and adultery: I have done dreadful things, and not once only, but often: will He forgive? Will He grant pardon? Hear what the Psalmist says: How great is the multitude of Your goodness, O Lord!
Your accumulated offenses surpass not the multitude of God’s mercies: your wounds surpass not the great Physician’s skill. Only give yourself up in faith: tell the Physician your ailment: say thou also, like David: I said, I will confess me my sin unto the Lord: and the same shall be done in your case, which he says immediately: And you forgave the wickedness of my heart.”
- St. Cyril of Jerusalem

“Even if you are not what you should be, you should not despair. It is bad enough that you have sinned; why in addition do you wrong God by regarding Him in your ignorance as powerless? Is He, who for your sake created the great universe that you behold, incapable of saving your soul?
And if you say that this fact, as well as His incarnation, only makes your condemnation worse, then repent; and He will receive your repentance, as He accepted that of the prodigal son (Luke 15:20) and the prostitute (Luke 7:37-50). But if repentance is too much for you, and you sin out of habit even when you do not want to, show humility like the publican (Luke 18:13): this is enough to ensure your salvation. For he who sins without repenting, yet does not despair, must of necessity regard himself as the lowest of creatures, and will not dare to judge or censure anyone. Rather, he will marvel at God’s compassion.”
- St. Peter of Damaskos

It is important to trust God, to believe He is able to help you, to heal to forgive. We often see it from the Scruptire. Everyone who came to Jesus Christ truly believed He could save. And He always noted it separately , so that everyone knew how important it was.
"When you pray that your sins may be forgiven, strengthen yourself always by faith, and trust in God’s mercy, Who is ever ready to forgive our sins after sincere prayer, and fear lest despair should fall on your heart — that despair which declares itself by deep despondency and forced tears. What are your sins in comparison to God’s mercy, whatever they be, if only you truly repent of them? But it often happens that when a man prays, he does not, in his heart, inwardly hope that his sins will be forgiven, counting them as though they were above God’s mercy. Therefore, he certainly will not obtain forgiveness, even should he shed fountains of involuntary tears; and with a sorrowful, straitened heart he will depart from the Gracious God: which is only what he deserves. ‘Believe that ye receive them,’ says the Lord, ‘and ye shall have them.’ Not to be sure of receiving what you ask God for, is a blasphemy against God.”
Saint John of Kronstadt

“Young man, do not forget to say your prayers. If your prayer is sincere, there will be every time you pray a new feeling containing an idea in it, an idea that you did not know before, which will give you courage. Then you will understand that prayer is an education […]” (Dostoevsky). Prayer is a teacher. By praying, we are taught of God by God Himself. And one of the things that we learn is itself how to pray. “O Lord, teach me to pray: pray Thou Thyself in me”

Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow

However hard I try, I find it impossible to construct anything greater than these three words, "Love one another" —only to the end, and without exceptions: then all is justified and life is illumined, whereas otherwise it is an abomination and a burden.

-Mother Maria of Paris

Love going to God's church, and prepare a temple of your own selves for God: Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 2:5). Let parents, teachers, and relatives take or send their children to church often, every Sunday and feast day without fail, and not to the theatre, where they will only learn what the young should not know.
In church, they will hear the name of the Lord more frequently; they will learn the great truth of the creation of the world and mankind; they will come to know the Savior, the Mother of God, and the names of the saints. They will learn about the resurrection of the dead, the future judgment, the future life, and the eternal torments of sinners. They will learn from the Spirit of God to be good Christians; and that is more valuable than anything in the world.

+St. John of Kronstadt

Abba Epiphanios used to say that the Canaanite woman cried and was heard, the woman with the issue of blood approached in silence and was praised, the publican did not open his mouth at all and his prayer was heard by God, the pharisee shouted and was condemned.
The evergetinos

Have a blessed lent lads and lasses