Illusions in Prayer - Feeling of Warmth

There are many who say that when you are in true prayer you will feel a warmth.  This is a common experience.  Again we need to beware as this too can be an illusion working out of our pride.


Elder Macarius says,

Once more I repeat myself: your facile assumption that sensations of bodily warmth, experienced during prayer, are sure signs of special grace, is wrong.  they are nothing of the kind, and the assumption that they are is a temptation of the devil.  Accept what comes your way with abandonment, and leave it at that, and to not jump to conclusions.

Reference: Russian Letters of Spiritual Direction, p 103