# 97 - Jesus Prayer

Developed in the Russian Orthodox tradition the Jesus Prayer is a prayer that can be practiced not only in a monastic cell, but in the busyness of a lay person’s active, demanding life. The prayer consists of the following words: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.” To pray this prayer speak it aloud and repeatedly, aware of the resonance of the sounds in your throat. Engage the lips, the mind, and the heart, while imagining the face of Jesus and opening yourself totally to the constant flow of his abundant grace. It is a passive prayer whereby our faith is stirred, our sin is forgiven, our needs are provided for by God’s mercy, and without our specific asking. (from Doug Rumford’s book, SoulShaping, pp 176-7.)