How should we deal with thoughts that creep into our minds?

St. Mark the Ascetic says, “The appearance of a thought is, in itself, neither evil nor good, but rather a test of our free will. Whoever adheres to the commandment will be rewarded with the crown (of victory) as a reward for his faith. Whoever tends to laxity is

819 St. Aphraphat, Aphrahat: Demonstrations I , trans., Kuriakose Valavan (St. Ephrem Ecumenical Research Institute, 2005) Demonstration 4: pp. 77–78.

reveals himself as deserving of judgment as the reward for his unbelief. However, you must know that we are not judged immediately for every action, whether it makes us appear to be doing well or worthy of rebuke. Rather, only when we have completed our whole life — during which we are tempted in our thoughts, being at times victorious and at other times defeated, falling and rising, losing our way and returning to it — … All of this together is what we are held accountable for when we leave this life, and accordingly are we either judged or justified.”