Many factors play a fundamental role in the success of spiritual struggle and making it on the right path. We can contemplate it from the book of Joshua, chapter six, as Joshua was able to enter Jericho, the first city in the Promised Land, and triumph over the evil inherent in it.
HG Bishop Pachomius, former acting Patriarch and Archbishop of Behirah, Matrouh and North Africa, in his article "The walls of Jericho and the spiritual struggle" explained to us several factors that help us in our spiritual struggle, first: to work hard, for the Lord commanded Joshua that the priests carry the Ark of the Covenant and circulate with the people around the city for six days, and the number six in the Bible symbolizes the perfection of life and the six days refer to our whole life, this life that needs hard working in order to triumph over evil just as Joshua triumphed over Jericho (which symbolizes evil) and without struggle we cannot be victorious.
Secondly: Belief is in God s powerful hand. Jericho needed the help of God along with the hard work. So the Lord commanded Joshua that the people turn around the wall seven times, then they shouted, and with the power of the Lord the city walls have fallen. Third: Repentance and return to God. Jericho, with its king and its inhabitants, was a symbol of the sins and weaknesses that dominate human life, so we need to repent and return to God who helps us and gives us victory over the weaknesses facing our lives.
Fourth: Continuing the spiritual struggle, the people marched around the walls once every day for six days with the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant, and this indicates the seriousness of strife, continuation and lack of spiritual relaxation that God warns against in the Holy Bible.
Fifth: Self-control, a person must control himself, as St. Paul said "I suppress my body and enslave him". Our seriousness in spiritual struggle must suppress the body and its desires. Strive and do not despair, whatever your weaknesses and sins are, trust that God helps and gives you victory over the battles of Satan, with seriousness, repentance, continuity, and faith in God s help, inevitably you will succeed in your spiritual struggle.
