When the intellect begins to advance in love for God, the demon of blasphemy starts to tempt it, suggesting thoughts such as no man but only the devil, their father, could invent. He does this out of envy, so that the man of God, in his despair at thinking such thoughts, no longer dares to soar up to God in his accustomed prayer. But the demon does not further his own ends by this means. On the contrary, he makes us more steadfast. For through his attacks and our retaliation we grow more experienced and genuine in our love for God. May his sword enter into his own heart and may his bows be broken. (Maximos the Confessor)

It is not in soaring that we are closest to God; it is usually in despair. When we recognize our relationship with God... or with our neighbor... or with our self is broken, we may be motivated to reconciliation. Too often we are out of right relationship, but do not notice. The origin of blasphemy is the Greek meaning to injure (blaptein) the reputation (pheme). The Greek Bible employs blasphemare to condemn abusive language against peoples (e.g. 2 Samuel 21:21) or individuals (e.g. 1 Corinthians 10:30) as well as against God. In anger I will blaspheme myself. Given what I understand is my true self, such blasphemy is as destructive as that against God.