"Lord, Teach us to Pray"

Being spiritually alive is a constant process. A machine will work perfect while it is been used and maintained. If not, it will degrade and rust will form leading to its destruction. Finally, it will not be able to be used even after trying to maintain it. Spiritual life is similar to this. If the good will to follow God, one has in his or her mind is not replenished by the Word of God on a constant basis, the mind will start rusting, and finally will lead to death. Who can work with a partly working rusted machine? Is it better to choose one which is functioning correctly and efficiently?

When Christ choose us, he needed us to be efficient and awake in the Word of God. To be awake doesn't mean one should not sleep, but it means even if your body is sleeping because of tiredness, the heart and spirit should be still in the presence of God. The monks who have dedicated their lives to God testifies that continuous prayer while awake will teach the spirit to continually rely on to the shoulders of Christ even when the intellect and body is sleeping. For the same reason, St. Paul says, "Pray continually". But is it possible? How can a common man who has a lot of other responsibilities pray continually?

The answer for this also comes from the experienced monks who are spiritual teachers for the common people. In Eastern tradition, we read about the Jesus Prayer, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy of me the sinner", which is recited continuously by the monks and the faithful to have a constant relationship with God. Some consider this as meaningless repetition, but is it so, if one prays from the heart? Any prayer can be babbling if one is not praying from the heart. Prayers from the heart shows ones honesty towards the creator, and He will judge according to each persons righteousness. 'Kurielayison', a term which is constantly repeated during the Indian Orthodox Church worship means 'have mercy on me'.

The monks say to continuously repeat the prayer as we do breathing. Breathing sustains ones life. Inability to breath is terrifying for those who have experienced it. Similar is the situation when prayer which is the oxygen for the spirit is blocked, or not given enough. It will lead to the destruction of the person gradually, as the light from God which is transmitted to Him through the link of prayer is not there anymore. Only through prayer, one will be able to be connected to God. Prayers are of various kinds, personal, family, group etc. One should converse with God as Christ did in loneliness, and people should get together to Praise and Worship Him, as two or more people in His name gives the assurance that He is in the midst.

Whatever options are available, the effort of the person is very necessary to keep the link of prayer alive. It is through constant effort only that one can be with God, conversing with Him on every minute and second he lives, and on every heartbeat. In the modern world, there are many distractions. The mid is directed in to a hundred different areas which will lead to loosing focus from one particular point of work. Thus many often forget to pray, knowingly or unknowingly. Running around in many directions also lead to loosing focus from prayer. Thus many, including me, forgets to pray even before sleep, or while waking up. This continues, and becomes a habit, and one disregards the need of prayer, as everything else is going in the correct direction(in his eyes). Unfortunately, the person is unaware of the spiritual damage received due to the lack of prayer. Therefore, what options does one have to continue in prayer? What should one do to have a strong relationship with God? How can one remember to pray continually, and to praise the creator often?

Understanding their helplessness, the Apostles in humility, prayed to Christ, "Lord teach us to pray". Only if we ask our Lord to help us pray, we will be able to pray continually. Because prayer is not an intellectual exercise, but spiritual exercise. We should pray so that the adversary cannot tempt us in to 100 different directions leading to a life without prayer. It is human nature to get used to the situations surrounding us, and a day without prayer will lead to another day without prayer, gradually taking prayer away from our lives. That is why the Psalmist prayed, "grant me a willing spirit". Because only with His help, we will be able to wrestle with the thoughts that prevent us from having the relationship with God, no matter what kind it is, ranging from a simple email to a terrible sin. With His help, we can have the connection link between God and us, replenished and reestablished, so that we will not be rusted and damaged. Be ready to receive Christ in His Second Coming. "Lord, teach us to pray".

Mr. J