Yesterday we spoke about keeping
prayer alive in our hearts through the repetition of a religious phrase or
word. If you remember, I mentioned that if we make it a habit to use our prayer
word (or words) regularly, especially during times when we would be prone to
dwell on vain and useless thoughts, that the prayer would eventually arise from
within us and be on our lips without any conscious effort on our part.
When I write about these things,
I am writing from personal experience rather than from someone else’s
reflections on prayer. Nonetheless, I continue to be inspired by a little-known
work called The Art of Prayer: an
orthodox anthology. From time to time I will share with you some of the
most inspiring lines from this beautiful work.
Today’s selection comes from Bishop
Theophan the Recluse (1815-1894), whose writings comprise most of The Art of Prayer.
Our whole object is to acquire the habit of
keeping our attention always on the Lord, who is omnipresent and sees
everything, who desires the salvation of all and is ready to help us towards
it.
Theophan goes on to speak about
the process that takes place when we gradually move away from prayer. He
calls it “lukewarmness.”
This is how lukewarmness arises: it begins
with forgetfulness. God’s gifts are forgotten, and so are God Himself, and our
salvation in Him, and the danger of being without God; and the remembrance of
death disappears—in a word, the whole spiritual realm is closed to us. This is
due to the enemy, or to the dispersion of thought by business cares and
excessive social contacts. When all is forgotten the heart grows cool, and its
sensitivity to spiritual things is interrupted. . . .
spiritual occupations are postponed for a
time, and afterwards abandoned completely. And then we begin again our old way
of life . . . It will be an empty life.
If you do not want to fall into this abyss,
beware of the first step—that is, forgetfulness. Therefore walk always in godly
recollections—in remembrance of God and divine things. . . . And here will be
life indeed.
Christ is alive! May we always be
alive in Him. God bless you.
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