![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thefount.church\/church\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Pastor_Glen.jpg\")
<\/a>There have been many attempts to solve this dilemma over the centuries. Most notably, the \u201cJesus Prayer.\u201d Developed in the 5th<\/sup> century A.D. in the Egyptian desert, but made more popular in the Eastern Orthodox Church in Russia, it is a short prayer consisting of \u201cLord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.\u201d The idea is to pray this \u201cJesus Prayer\u201d over and over, hundreds and thousands of times a day, at first with your breath and then under your breath, until it becomes an undergirding drone, like a basso continuo in music, upon which one\u2019s life is anchored. A more modern version of this prayer, called a \u201cbreath prayer\u201d has also come about, where you construct your own prayer based on your spiritual needs. A simple breath prayer might be something like, \u201cLord Jesus, fill me with Your love.\u201d You speak the \u201dLord Jesus\u201d part as you take in a breath, and then the \u201cfill me with Your love\u201d part as you exhale. I\u2019ve taught the breath prayer to people in hospitals to help them focus on God\u2019s healing power.<\/p>\nBut another way to \u201cpray without ceasing\u201d is a rather radical shift in one\u2019s thinking. Since we all know that God hears all of our thoughts, why don\u2019t we turn our thoughts, all of them, into prayer? If in our thinking we acknowledge God\u2019s presence, and shift our mind to thinking in God\u2019s presence, it could absolutely change not only how we think about things, but also create a pattern of prayer without ceasing (at least while we are awake)! This is a spiritual practice that I have tried to incorporate in my life for many years. I have been moderately successful, especially when I work on it during a retreat or in my devotions. But then I find that life creeps back in, and I\u2019m back to my thinking-but-not-praying practice in short order! I keep trying, and I believe it is possible to achieve, but it is hard work.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t know if this is what Paul is talking about when he says to \u201cpray without ceasing\u201d or not, but combined with frequent use of a \u201cbreath prayer\u201d or even the \u201cJesus prayer\u201d, I think it puts me closer to that ideal. I know that it deepens my spiritual walk. So, I commend the spiritual practice to you. See if you find yourself closer to fulfilling Paul\u2019s instruction by practicing.<\/p>\n
Prayerfully,<\/p>\n