Rabbi Yisrael, I want to share with you a powerful Rabbeinu Bachya, a Rishon, one of the main commentators we have in the Torah. I’m asking you to please take these words to heart and not take them lightly, because I’m quoting you a Rishon, one of the main commentators. Rabbeinu Bachya says in the Hakdamah (introduction) to Parashat Kedoshim: One who overcomes a desire, one who succeeds in beating a test that comes his way, is now on a Madregah, on a level that’s even higher than a Malach, an angel. Listen to those words. One who overcomes his desires, his ta’avot, is at that moment at a status that’s higher than an angel. That means that at that moment you are full of Kedushah, of holiness. You have tremendous kochot, tremendous strength at that time, which is why Ben Ish Chai writes an unbelievable segulah (spiritual practice).
At that moment when you overcome a test that comes your way, and you overcome desires that are being thrown at you, because you overcame it there, you’re now even higher than an angel, says the Ben Ish Chai, and at that moment you’re considered to be at the level of a Gadol Hador (great one of the generation), and you can give berachot (blessings) and daven to Hashem for Yeshuah (salvation). So if you know a married couple with no children, at that moment, that’s an opportune time to daven for them. If you know somebody who’s not married just yet, at that time when you overcome a test, when it’s only you and Hashem, daven to HaKadosh Baruch Hu, because you have the status of a Gadol Hador. At that time you’re full of Kedushah, you’re full of holiness. Rabbeinu Bachya is saying you’re greater than a Malach at that moment. Don’t take those words lightly: greater than an angel. So at that moment you have an opportunity to daven for whatever you need. Daven for one another; at that time you’re full of holiness when you control your desires.