I need Help concentrating on prayer.

Orthodox spirituality is not an individualistic experience but one that is lead by those who know us on a spiritually intimate level. The Jesus Prayer itself is a noetic practice that some may not be ready for. Obedience to a spiritual father is part of the process. I hope that makes sense.

noetic????

I checked with my monk friend about this. \'noetic\' means pertaining to the \'nous\' - which is Greek - a term which (I gather) means the entrance to the heart. A noetic discipline is to show you the REAL you. Finding our true selves without the guidance of a spiritual father can be a dangerous thing - in that we are masters of self delusion. As introverted as I am, I know that I do not know myself well. If I did, I wouldn\'t get lost inside of myself as often as I do. It\'s that prickly pear of pride. I am proud when I do something right. I am proud when I admit that I fall.

That being said... I like praying the Jesus prayer. Sometimes, I feel as if there is no other prayer I can dare to utter.

Good idea, thank you.

I have a 100 knot prayer rope. I want to get a 33 knot prayer rope that can be worn like a bracelet. I say the Jesus prayer one time for each knot. If I have to I go around a second or third time. I drive 2 hours each way to work with horrible traffic and I use the Jesus prayer sometimes to keep from getting a mild case of road rage. I also use it to clear my mind at night and before church.

elder Paisios said: \" Whether we pray for ourselves or for others, the prayer must be from the heart. The problems of others should become our problems. You have to prepare for prayer. Read a bit of the Gospel or the Gerontiko and then pray. It requires an attempt to take the mind to the divine space. Study is like a gift which God gives us to direct us to greater spirituality. With study the soul is warmed.\" and : \" It\'s not only that we become accustomed to saying the prayer. The purpose is for the person to know himself and sense his sinfulness. If he only slapped someone, he\'s a sinner because he shouldn\'t have done it. We are all sinners. Consider what God did for us and what we do for God. After thinking of that, even if the heart is granite it will soften. Let\'s think a little logically. God could have made me a mule and given me into an undiscerning hand which would load me with 150 kilos of wood and beat me. Finally I would fall into a pit and the dogs would open my belly and those who pass by would cover their noses for the stink on the road. Just for that should I give thanks to God? I don\'t thank Him. God could have made me a snake or a scorpion. But His love made me a human being. God was sacrificed for me. With one drop of divine blood He washes away all the sins of the world. If a person thinks of all this; on one side the good work of God and on the other his own sinfulness and ingratitude, even if the heart were granite it would soften. And then he senses the mercy of God. The heart must gain rest with \"Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me.\" The prayer refreshes, not wearies. When we do not proceed in this manner, we acquire only the habit although the elder, the old self, remains within and we follow the way of delusion.\"

Get rid of all the thoughts and images in your head and clear your mind. Put your mind into the words. Read slower as well, because it helps to get rid of any thoughts once they come, as well as putting, as I said, your mind into the words. Sometimes, if you know prayers by heart, it is easier if you close your eyes. Sometimes the old rite tradition of crossing your arms also helps. Anyway I am the last person that should be giving advices, but none of these are my words. I suggest you getting a book by St. Ignatius Brianchaninov \"On Jesus Prayer\", which you can find on Amazon.

Prayer helps me the most when I\'m not attentive during my prayers, especially saying the Jesus Prayer while fixing the eyes on an Icon.

Maria, I\'m confused... prayer helps you when you\'re not attentive in prayer??? wow... i dunno how you do it. :P

Good question, Anthony! I\'ve asked the same thing of my spiritual father, and his answer would be much like the advice given by Bishop Ignatius in his book \"The Arena\" (subtitled \"An Offering to Contemporary Monasticism\"). This is one of many practical questions he addresses in regards to prayer, so here\'s a portion of his answer from Ch. 19, \"On Attention at Prayer\": \"The rapt attention which keeps prayer completely free from irrelevant thoughts and images is a gift of God\'s grace. We evince a sincere desire to receive the gift of grace - the soul-saving gift of attention - by forcing ourselves to pray with attention whenever we pray. Artificial attention, as we may call our own unaided attention unassisted by grace, consists in enclosing our mind in the words of the prayer, according to the advice of St. John of the Ladder. If the mind, on account of its newness to the work of prayer, gets out of its enclosure in the words, it must be led back into them again. The mind in its fallen state is naturally unstable and inclined to wander everywhere. But God can give it stability and will do so in His own time in return for perseverance and patience in the practice of prayer. \"Specially helpful in holding the attention during prayer is an extremely unhurried pronunciation of the words of the prayer. Pronounce the words without hurrying so that the mind may quite easily stay enclosed in the words of the prayer, and not slip away from a single word. Say the words in an audible voice when you pray alone; this also helps to hold the attention...\" \"...At first we must force ourselves to pray. Soon prayer begins to afford consolation, and this consolation lightens the coercion and encourages us to force ourselves. But we need to force ourselves to pray throughout our life, and few indeed are the ascetics who, on account of the abundant consolation of grace, never need to force themselves.\" When I\'ve taken the time and careful discipline to apply this advice, it\'s been invaluable. Lord have mercy upon me! but I don\'t always pay heed to it. Hopefully we all join you, Anthony, in sincerely asking the same question and then embracing the answers given by our wise and God-bearing Fathers.

I\'ve been at this for many years and I still fight distractions. Inexplicably, I seem to be able to speak one set of words while my mind chases a rabbit down a completely different trail. Part of it is just how my mind works. The other part is the Evil One trying to get me frustrated. I keep plugging along, ask for forgiveness...sometimes I\'ll start a particular prayer over. And sometimes I\'ll stop and write down what it is that\'s bothering me and then pick up where I left off. You just have to work with yourself and your spiritual father and see what is best for you.

THanks that\'s good advice.

There\'s no end to the problems faced by Christians when, and while they pray. Begin simply for where you are with Jesus. There\'s nothing we can do in the spiritual life apart from the grace and mercy of God. Tell Jesus of your desire to pray and, the problems you have with concentrating on the words. then ask His help. Begin simply, lest you become discouraged and quit.

Well Anthoney your 13 yrs old,so I would ask this . Do you say your morning and evening prayers ? you don\'t have to spend an hour praying. Whatever prayer book you use ,say the morning and evening prayers . Pray for your Mom and Dad your brothers and sisters. For the protection of your guardian angel and your patron saint. Ask the Theotokos to keep you mind and heart pure, and ask for her help and intercession in your life. Your not a monastic , your a 13 yr old boy with lots of energy and lotys of hormones racing through your blood. Love the Lord God with all your heart and all your mind and your your essence. Love Jesus and The Holy Sprit. Bless you Anthoney. Elias : )