Praying/Prayer

[Elijah]

This issue may have been raised before this time; however, I think it may not be a bad idea discuss about this. What do you folks here use for praying on a regular basis, privately I mean? Do you use like a specific book/s for prayer? If that is the case, what do you use?
I guess praying privately is something that we do on individual basis, and there fore it may be true that it  may evolve with time. some times I have a hard time what to use for praying, or when to pray? So, if some one has any suggestions/ idea, I will be grateful.

[chatelaa]

I use the 'Old Believer's' Prayerbook for my morning as well as evening prayers (without all the bowing, because I'm disabled---I can't bow!):-)

Then after my morning prayers, I recite (outloud) the Biblical passages for the day (according to the Calendar).

But what I love doing is the Jesus Prayer.  One of the great things--and yes, blessings, in the 1960's (in my opinion)was the publication in English of the WAY OF THE PILGRIM.  In it, as you know, are instructions on how to pray the Prayer of the Heart, or as it's frequently referred to, as the Jesus Prayer.  I've been praying it now for over 40 years.   It is such a love to do because whenever I have a nasty or prejudical/judgemental thought, I can now easily revert my mind and attention back to the Jesus Prayer, with love. And that settles my spirit.

I also like to go outside this time of year and when I pass by plants, I touch their leaves and concentrate on Love and I thank God for His gifts like the leaf I'm touching. Or the sky.  Or clouds.

[Salpy]

A very helpful prayer is this set of 24 short prayers by St. Nerses Shnorhali:

http://books.google.com/books?id=cq09AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA195&lpg=PA195&dq=shnorhali+'I+confess+with+faith%22&source=bl&ots=XogPcd5BD1&sig=3AItCfnjBu6aaCdpqjIxuL9AmCc&hl=en&ei=nF4KTJ3jLJLEM8Xj2LUE&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CCYQ6AEwBDgK#v=onepage&q&f=false

Of course, the Jesus Prayer is always appropriate and helpful in private devotions.

Ask your priest, though.  He should have good suggestions for you.   

[Miro]

A very helpful prayer is this set of 24 short prayers by St. Nerses Shnorhali:

http://books.google.com/books?id=cq09AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA195&lpg=PA195&dq=shnorhali+'I+confess+with+faith%22&source=bl&ots=XogPcd5BD1&sig=3AItCfnjBu6aaCdpqjIxuL9AmCc&hl=en&ei=nF4KTJ3jLJLEM8Xj2LUE&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CCYQ6AEwBDgK#v=onepage&q&f=false

Of course, the Jesus Prayer is always appropriate and helpful in private devotions.

Ask your priest, though.  He should have good suggestions for you.   

what is the jesus prayer?? you mean our father in haven..?

[Father Peter]

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me (a sinner)

It is described in simple terms in the book Way of the Pilgrim" which describes the travels and spiritual development of a Russian Christian in the 19th century. Highly recommended.

Father Peter

[Miro]

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me (a sinner)

It is described in simple terms in the book Way of the Pilgrim" which describes the travels and spiritual development of a Russian Christian in the 19th century. Highly recommended.

Father Peter

i see! thanks

[Miro]

psalm 38 -awsome prayer in times of GUILT OR NEED or incapability

A Psalm of David. To bring to remembrance. O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure! For Your arrows pierce me deeply, And Your hand presses me down. There is no soundness in my flesh Because of Your anger, Nor any health in my bones Because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; Like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me. My wounds are foul and festering Because of my foolishness. I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. For my loins are full of inflammation, And there is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and severely broken; I groan because of the turmoil of my heart. Lord, all my desire is before You; And my sighing is not hidden from You. My heart pants, my strength fails me; As for the light of my eyes, it also has gone from me. My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague, And my relatives stand afar off.

Those also who seek my life lay snares for me; Those who seek my hurt speak of destruction, And plan deception all the day long. But I, like a deaf man, do not hear; And I am like a mute who does not open his mouth. Thus I am like a man who does not hear, And in whose mouth is no response. For in You, O Lord, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God. For I said, "Hear me, lest they rejoice over me, Lest, when my foot slips, they exalt themselves against me." For I am ready to fall, And my sorrow is continually before me. For I will declare my iniquity; I will be in anguish over my sin. But my enemies are vigorous, and they are strong; And those who hate me wrongfully have multiplied. Those also who render evil for good, They are my adversaries, because I follow what is good. Do not forsake me, O Lord; O my God, be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!

[coptickev]

This issue may have been raised before this time; however, I think it may not be a bad idea discuss about this. What do you folks here use for praying on a regular basis, privately I mean? Do you use like a specific book/s for prayer? If that is the case, what do you use?
I guess praying privately is something that we do on individual basis, and there fore it may be true that it  may evolve with time. some times I have a hard time what to use for praying, or when to pray? So, if some one has any suggestions/ idea, I will be grateful.

I use the Agpeya, the Coptic Book of the Hours. It has a rule of prayer for the whole day, and it's the same prayers we use in Church. I add a private ad-hoc prayer at the beginning and end of each set of hours. I also use the Jesus Prayer and say the Our Father first thing upon awakening.

[Miro]

This issue may have been raised before this time; however, I think it may not be a bad idea discuss about this. What do you folks here use for praying on a regular basis, privately I mean? Do you use like a specific book/s for prayer? If that is the case, what do you use?
I guess praying privately is something that we do on individual basis, and there fore it may be true that it  may evolve with time. some times I have a hard time what to use for praying, or when to pray? So, if some one has any suggestions/ idea, I will be grateful.

I use the Agpeya, the Coptic Book of the Hours. It has a rule of prayer for the whole day, and it's the same prayers we use in Church. I add a private ad-hoc prayer at the beginning and end of each set of hours. I also use the Jesus Prayer and say the Our Father first thing upon awakening.

u read all teh agpeya ? for example for morning prayer? u read it all? or  just the " thanking prayer " ?

[coptickev]

This issue may have been raised before this time; however, I think it may not be a bad idea discuss about this. What do you folks here use for praying on a regular basis, privately I mean? Do you use like a specific book/s for prayer? If that is the case, what do you use?
I guess praying privately is something that we do on individual basis, and there fore it may be true that it  may evolve with time. some times I have a hard time what to use for praying, or when to pray? So, if some one has any suggestions/ idea, I will be grateful.

I use the Agpeya, the Coptic Book of the Hours. It has a rule of prayer for the whole day, and it's the same prayers we use in Church. I add a private ad-hoc prayer at the beginning and end of each set of hours. I also use the Jesus Prayer and say the Our Father first thing upon awakening.

u read all teh agpeya ? for example for morning prayer? u read it all? or  just the " thanking prayer " ?

I do three psalms per hour when by myself. I read all the rest.

[Miro]

[/quote]
I do three psalms per hour when by myself. I read all the rest.
[/quote]
keep it up !

[Elijah]

Thank you all; sorry for the late response, however.

I use the 'Old Believer's' Prayerbook for my morning as well as evening prayers (without all the bowing, because I'm disabled---I can't bow!):-)

Then after my morning prayers, I recite (outloud) the Biblical passages for the day (according to the Calendar).

But what I love doing is the Jesus Prayer.  One of the great things--and yes, blessings, in the 1960's (in my opinion)was the publication in English of the WAY OF THE PILGRIM.  In it, as you know, are instructions on how to pray the Prayer of the Heart, or as it's frequently referred to, as the Jesus Prayer.  I've been praying it now for over 40 years.   It is such a love to do because whenever I have a nasty or prejudical/judgemental thought, I can now easily revert my mind and attention back to the Jesus Prayer, with love. And that settles my spirit.

I also like to go outside this time of year and when I pass by plants, I touch their leaves and concentrate on Love and I thank God for His gifts like the leaf I'm touching. Or the sky.  Or clouds.

Chatelaa, thank you for the response. I did not know what 'Old believer's' prayer book is before this. I am trying to Google it;  do you have any resources/link that may help me know more about the prayer book? The same for 'WAY OF THE PILGRIM'.

Salpy, thank you for the link; I will try to talk to a priest as well.

Miro, psalms are nice for praying; it is just that some times I feel I need to have consistency when praying. Coptickev, Agepya could be long when you have to work; thank you for the link though. 

[Salpy]

Agepya could be long when you have to work; thank you for the link though. 

I know what you mean about having to rush off to work in the morning.  It's very hard to take even a few minutes to pray in the morning before work.  

You may want to look at the "arrow prayers" on Erkohet.com:

http://www.erkohet.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75:aselection&catid=40:smnufasting&Itemid=16

These are not only quick, but they are the sort of prayers that can be repeated throughout the day.  Also, look at some of the other prayers on the same website:

http://www.erkohet.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=8&Itemid=22

Some of these are pretty short and can be used when you are in a hurry.



The eleventh of the prayers of St. Nerses Shnorhali, which I linked above, is a quick but good prayer to say before you go to work:

Jesus, Wisdom of the Father,
Grant me wisdom
That I may, at all times,
Think, speak and do before Thee
That which is good in Thy sight.
And save me from evil thoughts, words and deeds.
Have mercy upon Thy creatures,
And upon me, a great sinner.

[Elijah]

Agepya could be long when you have to work; thank you for the link though. 

I know what you mean about having to rush off to work in the morning.  It's very hard to take even a few minutes to pray in the morning before work.  

You may want to look at the "arrow prayers" on Erkohet.com:

http://www.erkohet.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75:aselection&catid=40:smnufasting&Itemid=16

These are not only quick, but they are the sort of prayers that can be repeated throughout the day.  Also, look at some of the other prayers on the same website:

http://www.erkohet.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=8&Itemid=22

Some of these are pretty short and can be used when you are in a hurry.



The eleventh of the prayers of St. Nerses Shnorhali, which I linked above, is a quick but good prayer to say before you go to work:

Jesus, Wisdom of the Father,
Grant me wisdom
That I may, at all times,
Think, speak and do before Thee
That which is good in Thy sight.
And save me from evil thoughts, words and deeds.
Have mercy upon Thy creatures,
And upon me, a great sinner.

Thank you, Salpy; I will look in to that.

[Elijah]

This could be helpful, I guess.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG_3pZvMQ4g

[Elijah]

This could also help:
http://aggreen.net/praying/orthpray.html

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