The old man is an athlete in prayer, a fool for God, and often enters and demolishes the territory of the devil (with Christ's grace). His heart, extremely sensitive through prayer, recognises the cunning tactics of satan and drives him out; thus bearing the Holy Spirit.
He proceeds in humility, the greatest treasure of all virtues, as pride in prayer is foolishness. He is diligent in avoiding pride, especially when it is vainglory. He knows that vainglory can appear in every virtue - when fasting, when chanting in the Divine Liturgy, and even when praying - opening the soul to the enemy whose aim is to separate us from God's love. The old man illustrates this by saying "sin is a beggar receiving bread and feels proud because he got it".
The narrow path leads to salvation, which is entered "by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction" (Matt 7:13). The narrow path is mourning and obedience, which are closely connected with prayer. The old man is constantly aware of his sinfulness and insignificance, and the hope in the Merciful Christ - he is never deluded by the cliché "once saved always saved". This awareness develops when coming close to God and is illustrated throughout the Old Testament. For example, Abraham called himself "dust and ashes" (Gen 18:27), Job despised himself and repented "in dust and ashes" (Job 42:5), and Isaiah exclaimed "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips" (Is 6:5).
The old man starts prayer with love towards God, and obedience to His Holy will remembering the Theotokos who was most obedient to God's will, as it is possible for the devil, disguised as an "angel of light" (2 Cor 11:14), to trick us that we have reached perfection. The greatest danger is to think yourself worthy of the Holy Spirit. Paradoxically, the Holy Spirit brings calm, peace, humility, and the awareness of our wretchedness. Yet, how many people say "I am born-again" without understanding what 'repentance' means?
The old man strives to be like the Theotokos who, with great humility, said to the angel Gabriel "I am the handmaid of the Lord ... let what you have said be done to me" (Luke 1:38); knowing the high cost she must pay to do the will of God. That is why it is said in the litanies, "Remembering our most holy, most pure, most blessed, most glorious Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commit ourselves and each other and all our lives unto Christ our God". This is how we should live, in conformity to Christ's example, with the will and grace of God, and with faith (cf. Eph 2:10); unlike the Pharisee who prayed, "I thank you, God, that I am not grasping, unjust, adulterous like the rest of mankind, and particularly that I am not like this tax collector here. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes on all I get". We should also have the modesty of the same tax collector who, with a contrite heart, said "God, be merciful to me, a sinner" (Luke 18:11-13).
The fool for God knows that prayer in combination with repentance, abstinence, communion and the reading of God's Word combats evil in the acquisition of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The humble man understands that he can do nothing without the grace of God, and that all good things come from Him. He does not trust in his own strength or wisdom, but only in the mercy and love of God. He knows that the law of God is not a burden but a guide to life, and he strives to keep it not out of fear but out of love. He does not judge others, but judges himself, knowing that he is the greatest of sinners. He does not seek honour or glory from men, but only to please God. He is meek, gentle, and patient, bearing all things with joy and gratitude. This is the humility of the old man, which is the foundation of all virtue and the key to the Kingdom of Heaven.