When You Don’t Know How to Pray
The average person has 6,000 thoughts a day, according to a 2020 study out of Queens University in Canada. According to a prior study, 85% of those thoughts are negative and 95% are repetitive.
What we think matters. It shapes our views of ourselves, others and the world around us.
What if we were intentional about our thoughts? What difference would that make in my life and yours?
I want to introduce you to a prayer I recently learned, that will help you direct your thoughts and experience more peace.
Way of the Pilgrim
There is a 19th century Russian classic called the “Way of the Pilgrim”, that follows the journey of a poor, lonely and depressed man’s discovery on how to pray. In the early 1800s, he stumbles into a church and hears a sermon on St. Paul’s famous words, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
He is immediately gripped by a desire to live this out but does not know how. After unsuccessful attempts asking local preachers and a nobleman how to pray, he eventually meets an elderly monk who introduces him to the Jesus Prayer.
The monk tells him, “The ceaseless Jesus Prayer is a continuous, uninterrupted call on the holy name of Jesus Christ with the lips, mind, and heart; and in the awareness of His abiding presence it is a plea for His blessing in all undertakings, in all places, at all times, even in sleep.
The words of the Prayer are: ‘Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me!’ Anyone who becomes accustomed to this Prayer will experience great comfort as well as the need to say it continuously. He will become accustomed to it as such a degree that he will not be able to do without it and eventually the Prayer will of itself flow in him” (The Way of the Pilgrim, pg. 7-9).
The Jesus Prayer
The Jesus Prayer is a combination of the words of the Tax Collector who is ashamed even to look up at God while praying in the temple, as well as a blind man who calls out to Jesus as He passes by. The Tax Collector prays, “Be merciful to me a sinner,” (Luke 18:13), while the blind man cries out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me” and is ultimately healed. Later documented in the early 6th century, this prayer with many variations is a staple in the Eastern Orthodox Church. One longer variation is, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.”
I first learned about this prayer a few weeks ago and was encouraged by its’ simplicity and richness.
“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.”
I could pray it while doing the dishes, driving, or when I recognized myself beginning to lose patience with someone. It is helping me become more aware of my thoughts and to choose what I wish to dwell on. Praying it throughout my day is also reminding me of God’s constant presence and attentiveness.
Meaning of Mercy
I recently read this quote on the St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary page about the Jesus Prayer, “…The Holy Name, when repeated quietly, penetrates the soul rather like a drop of oil, spreading out and impregnating a cloth.”
It continues, explaining that our modern translation of the word ‘mercy’ is limited and insufficient.
"Have mercy" means to have "healing oil" on my soul…The Jesus Prayer functions as therapy, much like healing oil, transforming our personality from overstrain to joy, and by continuing to pray, these changes become permanent.”
When to Pray It
If you do not know how to pray or wish to redirect and turn down the noise in your mind, I highly recommend the Jesus Prayer.
“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.”
You don’t have to imagine anything or anyone as you pray (it is actually recommended that you do not), and you can say it vocally or internally.
Some church writers recommend praying it for 10 minutes out loud when you wake up in the morning and your mind is naturally calmer. Others say to pray it throughout the day.
Whichever way you choose, I trust that it will bless you like it is blessing me.
With love,
Valentina
“For when we say ‘Yes’ to God, we change the world”!
ps. For more information about this prayer, check out this video by Matt Fradd.