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The Jesus Prayer - how to do it
The Jesus prayer is simple. The concept is to pick a meaningful phrase and repeat it until it becomes part of your being. Some match it to the rhythm of their breathing, some match it to the sound of a machine they are around at work, or the rhythm of their footsteps. Try a phrase and see how it fits with you.
Here are some suggestions:
- Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me! (from the book The way of a pilgrim)
- Lord Jesus, have mercy on me!
- Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!
- Lord Jesus, I trust in You!
- Lord Jesus, I give myself to you.
- Lord Jesus, transform me.
- Have mercy on us, Son of David! (Matt 9:27)
- Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! (Mark 10:48)
- My lord and my God!
- Jesus, my light and my love.
- Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in thee!
- My Jesus, Mercy!
Any prayerful phrase will do. Pick one from the scripture. I believe that having the name Jesus in your prayer is important, for there is power in the name of Jesus. The word mercy does not just mean the pardon of one's sins, but is a term for God's graciousness and loving kindness. Note that “have mercy on me, a sinner” is partially taken from the gospel of Luke 18:9-14:
"He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others: "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
In the Book, “The way of the Pilgrim” the pilgrim slowly increases his repetition of the phrase “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me” to 12,000 times in a day! This was to “learn” the prayer. Because of this, the prayer would come to this thoughts even when he wasn’t consciously praying. The goal for this pilgrim was to say it enough so that the prayer would incorporate itself into the heart, when his heart beat the prayer, would flow with it. The prayer takes on a life of its own, inside you. This seems very strange to most of us, but the prayer works, even without saying it that often. Make the effort over one month to recite the prayer. Then you will have it with you always. You may notice many subtle things. Your overall prayer life may improve. Your relationship with Jesus may rise to a new level. You may notice yourself being less upset by life’s tribulations.
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