Several years ago my pastor introduced me to Orthodox theology, the Jesus Prayer, and Frederica’s writings. I am profoundly grateful since they have all shaped me significantly. Although I am not currently intentionally saying the Jesus Prayer, I find myself frequently praying the Jesus Prayer without even thinking about it.
I also recommend Frederica’s book “The Illumined Heart” which does a marvelous job at understanding the Orthodox concept of transformation.

I love this Orthodox prayer as a Catholic and find more peace and truth and grace in it than in many, many others. I think it is important to point out to Protestants that it is not a prayer that continually asks for forgiveness (as if God is reluctant to forgive), but is a prayer that declares our constant need of God, and our constant need of communion with God.

I know this is going to sound like the Prayer of Jabez–say these magic words and all your dreams will come true–but sometimes when I’m really worried about the day, or if I’m so distraught I can’t express what I’m feeling, I’ll say some variation of the Jesus Prayer. And then things go well.

This is a powerful prayer. It has become a half-unconscious rhythm for me.
Our church’s worship leader wrote a musical interpretation of The Jesus Prayer. The words repeat, but the music slowly moves from a theme of mourning and confession into celebration. It is powerful in gathered worship. You can listen to it (and more) here: http://www.reverbnation.com/emmausway

I have used the Jesus Prayer often, and I like repeating it emphasizing a different word in the short prayer each time.

An essential prayer, I think. The type of prayer one can meditate on as means to a deeper spiritual connection.
My sense is that our first responses to God, and to one another, are not as honest or as humble as they should be. The self needs to be quieted, to be more truthfully self aware. It is then that the self speaks more as it should; gets closer to the truth of things.
The type of prayer we should spend several minutes contemplating before praying any other prayer.

i had a colleague at Vanderbilt Divinity who was orthodox.
he was deeply offended that i prayed with icons and said the Jesus Prayer.
he believed that there was no way i could properly understand/deploy such practices.
when pressed as to “why”, his only answer was “You’re not orthodox”.
i wonder what everyone thinks about this?
how do we engage orthodox communities if they are offended by our enthusiasm for their rich heritage?

nathan,
I don’t know. But people acting as if they (or their tradition) has spiritual practices copyrighted is deeply annoying.
I guess it could be worse. If he were a Scientologist he would really have sued you.

I enjoyed and have been greatly encouraged by Frederica’s writings on Orthodoxy, especially Facing East and At the Corner of East and Now. After reading her description of the Jesus Prayer I prayed it for several months and found a definite increase in my level of awareness throughout the day, of God and my reliance upon his mercy. Not because it was some magic incantation but because it was a useful and beautiful tool. I haven’t read her more recent books on spiritual disciplines and practices, but would like to.

I’ve used the Jesus Prayer and have much enjoyed it. I recently read some John Wesley and have altered the traditional Jesus Prayer to fit my Wesleyan heritage:
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, please fill me with perfect love.”
I find this wording more active and meaningful in my own prayer life.

Nathan @7,
I’m sorry a fellow Orthodox treated you unkindly.
There are plenty of Orthodox Christians who think the way he does. On one level, he may have been reacting to the “cafeteria mentality” that is prevalent nowadays. However, my experience with other Orthodox folks has been more on the order of, “That’s great- as long as you’re reverent and respectfully try to understand what we believe about those things.”
One of the things that attracted me to Orthodoxy was the seamlessness of it all- doctrine and praxis and “mindset” and physicality/materiality are all interconnected. No one “element” is really meant to “stand alone”. I don’t believe it’s wrong for sincere non-Orthodox to pray with icons. What I’ve found is that the meaning and depth are richer when all “elements” are viewed with reference to one another. I hope that makes sense.
Dana

I really like N.T. Wright’s Trinitarian version of the Jesus Prayer, which I have adapted and added a fourth couplet:
Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
Set up your kingdom among us.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God:
Have mercy on me, a sinner.
Holy Spirit, Breath of the living God:
Renew me and all creation.
Eternal God, Trinity of holy love:
We praise you for your boundless grace. Amen.

I too appreciate NT Wright’s variation and have used it many times in our worship services. I have prayed with the Jesus Prayer for many years, discovering EO Spirituality through Rachmaninof’s Vespers and then dozens of volumes on theology and prayer. Ancient Faith Radio podcasts, and interviews with many Orthodox folks.
I too have found some EO priests who infer the inappropriateness or limited efficacyof non-Orthodox using Orthodox practices, but I sense a more “Generous Orthodoxy” (apologies to Brian McLaren) from others like Brother Nassif who welcome more evangelicals entering the “Great Tradition!” We have prayed with icons and the Jesus Prayer on our Elders retreats and I routinely recommend practicing it to many in pastoral counseling. I use it on prayer walks for intercession – “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have mercy on _____.” John Tavener wrote a musical version for singer, using Greek, Coptic, and English that is beautiful. The Prayer has simplified my prayer life in a wonderful way and has truly become the background music of my days.
This is a review I did when Frederica’s book came out that I put on a blogpost for any interested. http://lylemook.wordpress.com/2009/10/08/constant-connection-to-god-the-jesus-prayer/

I’m surprised no one has pointed out that the so-called “Jesus prayer” is basically from the parable of the tax collector and the pharisee in Luke 18 (the difference being “Lord Jesus” rather than “God” as the addressee). A non-theological book I recently read in which the Jesus prayer is a central character is J.D. Salinger’s “Franny and Zooey.” Take and read.

I find as I pray it, adding one phrase at a time I focus on different things.
Jesus (focusing on the humanity of Christ)
Lord Jesus (focusing on his kingship)
Lord Jesus Christ (focusing on his power to save)
Lord Jesus Christ have mercy (thinking about God’s mercy for the world)
Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me (my need for confession)
Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me a sinner (remembering my depravity)
Then going backward again I’m brought back to Jesus. I find this prayer very helpful in starting or ending my prayer time to center and focus.

Salinger’s “Franny and Zooey” is a terrific book on this subject.

If you haven’t read it check out “the way of a pilgrim” which is one of the primary ways the Prayer has been found in the West.
I love praying this prayer… It’s part of my daily prayer practices

@ travis,
scientology! hilarious!
@ dana,
thanks for your kind words. as someone who identifies with anglican theology, i think there is much more commonality between my “stream” and the “EO stream”….
besides, there’s a rebellious streak that inheres in anglicanism so as soon as someone gets a little bossy, we end up just smiling, and doing whatever we want.
it’s a blessing and a curse…

Nathan,
I get the smiling and doing what we want, oh yes I do.
At one point I was dipping my toe into the Anglican stream, not a little because of N.T. Wright. I find it so very interesting that as a very “evangelical” Anglican, it was Wright more than anyone else whose work opened up Orthodoxy to me and gave be a boat to launch out into that stream.
May you find more blessings than curses
Dana

The Jesus Prayer, mediated to me through some Orthodox friends, has been a very special part of my life for some time now. It’s so basic and serves the purpose of realigning my focus every day. I also enjoy being in prayer with all those who have gone before … not unlike the Lord’s Prayer, I find myself “praying with the church” when praying the Lord’s Prayer.