Practicing Prayer: A Daily Workbook by Ancient Faith Publishing

PRACTICING

PRAYER A Daily Workbook

A l e x a n der G ous set is

ancient faith publishingâ&#x20AC;&#x192; chesterton, indiana

Practicing Prayer: A Daily Workbook Formerly published by Light & Life Publishing as Renewed Day by Day Copyright ©1997 Alexander Goussetis Revised edition copyright ©2020 Alexander Goussetis All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Publisher. Published by: Ancient Faith Publishing A Division of Ancient Faith Ministries P.O. Box 748 Chesterton, IN 46304 Scripture quotations are from the Revised Standard Version unless otherwise indicated. ISBN: 978-1-944967-99-4 Library of Congress Control Number: 2020952493 Printed in the United States of America

Contents Acknowledgments 5 Preface 7 Introduction 9 DAY 1 Creating a Sacred Place 19 DAY 2

Practicing a Posture for Prayer

DAY 3 Silence/Stillness/Breathing, part 1

DAY 4 Silence/Stillness/Breathing, part 2

Journaling and Spiritual Growth, part 1

DAY 6 Journaling and Spiritual Growth, part 2

DAY 5 DAY 7

A Look Back

DAY 8 Praying the Scriptures, part 1

DAY 9 Praying the Scriptures, part 2

DAY 10 Praying the Scriptures, part 3

DAY 11 Praying the Scriptures, part 4

DAY 12 Praying the Scriptures, part 5

DAY 13 A Look Back

DAY 14 The Jesus Prayer, part 1

DAY 15 The Jesus Prayer, part 2

DAY 16 Drawing on the Churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wisdom, part 1

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DAY 17 Drawing on the Church’s Wisdom, part 2

DAY 18 A Song of Praise

DAY 19 Exploring Your Past, part 1

DAY 20 Exploring Your Past, part 2

DAY 21 A Look Back

DAY 22 Living in the Present

DAY 23 Intercession, part 1

DAY 24 Intercession, part 2

DAY 25 Intercession, part 3

DAY 26 Preparation for Confession

DAY 27 Preparation for the Eucharist

DAY 28 A Look Ahead

Appendix I: The Daily Hours

Appendix II: Annotated Bibliography

100

Appendix III: Putting It All Together

104

Bibliography 107 Endnotes

108

About the Author

111

Dedicated to the current and former members of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Center for Family Care. I have been privileged to serve with these devout and committed Christians: Presvytera Melanie DiStefano Angie Giallourakis Presvytera Cori Katinas Maria McMullen Presvytera Kerry Pappas Fr. Costas Sitaras George Tsongranis Melissa Tsongranis Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58

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Preface

erving as a parish priest for many years, I’ve often been asked by both cradle and convert parishioners, “How do I grow in my spiritual life?” This earnest question would arise in confession, in counseling, in study groups, in personal conversations. Fortunately, the spiritual tradition of the Orthodox Christian faith offers proven resources for establishing and cultivating a relationship with God. The challenge became how to guide someone through the various expressions of prayer that the Church has developed over the centuries. Through trial and error, I developed a format that introduces many dimensions of the Orthodox spiritual life. The effectiveness of this workbook lies in the interactive arrangement of the material. This book is not about prayer—it is an invitation to participate in a personal and dynamic relationship with God. Many people provided input and overall support in the publication of this book—mentors, parishioners, friends, coworkers in the vineyard. I especially wish to acknowledge the gifted staff at Ancient Faith Publishing for their expertise throughout this project: Katherine Hyde, Melinda Johnson, Lynnette Horner, and Matthew Dorning. May this modest publication bring glory and praise to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

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Introduction Through the grace of God and our disciplined efforts prayer lifts us up from our isolation to a conscious, loving communion with God in which everything is experienced in a new light. Prayer becomes a personal dialogue with God, a spiritual breathing of the soul, a foretaste of the bliss of God’s kingdom. —Fr. Theodore Stylianopoulos1

onsistent prayer, cultivated over time, changes and enriches our lives. A mutual relationship with God depends on an active and ongoing dialogue between ourselves and God. This dialogue and relationship is so personal and intimate that we must experience it for ourselves—not secondhand. Like any healthy relationship, this dialogue needs to be practiced regularly so that the relationship will continue to blossom. However, for many Orthodox Christians, prayer can be a frustrating, misunderstood, and empty experience. I often hear from people who desire a personal prayer life but do not know where to begin or how to sustain such a relationship with the living God. Common concerns or complaints I have heard include: » “Prayer is more like an obligation than something I enjoy doing.” » “Should I feel something when I pray?” » “I’m too busy to pray. I wouldn’t even know where to begin.”

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» “I attend the Divine Liturgy on Sunday. Isn’t that enough?” » “When is a good time to pray and how long should I pray?” These types of statements and questions are valuable and can become an important starting point in the journey called prayer. Only two prerequisites are required to begin this journey: 1. a willingness and a desire to know God and to know ourselves, and 2. a sense of adventure, trusting that God will guide our steps. A story is told of a fourth-century Christian who was traveling on a pilgrimage to Rome. He learned of a celebrated recluse, a woman who lived in a small room and rarely went out. Skeptical about her way of life, since he was a great wanderer, he visited her and asked, “Why are you sitting here?” To this she replied, “I am not sitting. I am on a journey.” For Christians who seek to develop a life of prayer, these are words to embrace. Bishop Kallistos Ware writes, “We are on a journey through the inward space of the heart. . . . We must step out upon this path, commit ourselves to this way of life, and then we shall begin to see for ourselves.” What is it that we shall see? Truly, it is not only what we shall see, but whom we will encounter. Prayer is experiencing the grace and love and healing presence of God in a personal and unique way. Prayer is not a reward for how “good” we have been, nor do we pursue it for our own gratification. It is an effect of being literally “in love” with God at the deepest level of relationship for which we were created. Prayer shapes our actions, our decisions, our emotions, our habits, and our hearts as we move toward the love of God and the love of God’s living icons, other people. Prayer, like love, is a way of life and is not something that comes quickly or easily. We learn it with the help of the Holy Spirit over a lifetime of practice.

How Best to Use This Workbook With reverence, faith, and the love of God, draw near! —from the Divine Liturgy

The main body of this workbook is composed of a series of spiritual exercises divided over a twenty-eight–day period. The exercises are designed to introduce different facets of the Orthodox prayer tradition in a concise and digestible format. The material for each day is further divided into three sections: 1. a purpose statement, 2. quotations from Holy Scripture or various Orthodox writings on the topic of the day, and 3. the spiritual exercise for that day. For example, on Day 1—Creating a Sacred Place, the top of the page offers a purpose statement for that day’s exercise: “To prepare a place in your home that will provide an atmosphere conducive to daily prayer.” The second section, Wisdom from the Ages, includes relevant quotations from St. John of Kronstadt on the importance of a sacred place. The third section introduces the task of creating your place for prayer. No prior preparation is necessary for each day’s exercise. You may, however, wish to scan the next day’s exercise ahead of time in order to prepare your thoughts accordingly. Complete the workbook in the chronological order in which it appears, since certain tasks that are practiced in the first few days will be called upon later in another exercise. The opportunity to practice and revisit certain prayer disciplines will be helpful as we attempt to build on a sturdy foundation. Feel free to repeat exercises you are drawn to. In the repetition you may gain access to deeper levels or break the outer crust of an exercise that, when first attempted, proved resistant and unyielding. 11 Sample pages only. Purchase the full book at http://store.ancientfaith.com/practicing-prayer/

Though primarily geared toward individual use, this workbook can also be a valuable resource in a parish setting. An instructional class on personal prayer might be an attractive offering for parishioners. Small groups have the ability to create communal sharing and accountability to one another. Parish priests may also consider this workbook for use in spiritual direction. In any case, it is important to note that this workbook is not an exhaustive study of Orthodox prayer. The spiritual life of the Orthodox Church is too rich and varied to be included in any one volume. Consider these exercises as an introduction and as only one expression of the wonderful treasure of Orthodox spirituality. The rest of this introduction discusses some basic points on the role of personal prayer in the life of the Church. By integrating these elementary teachings, you will set a firm foundation as you begin to move into the exercise material.

A Rule of Prayer Disciples of Jesus must be disciplined people since it is only when we set ourselves firmly to do the will of God that God’s grace finds an opening into our life. —Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh 2

The best way to establish a consistent and fruitful prayer life is to follow a rule of prayer. A rule of prayer is a framework that guides us regularly in the course of our prayer life. Metropolitan Anthony notes that prayer is an art to be acquired through disciplined practice—we must learn to pray! Because we are all different, our rules will vary somewhat. For example, Scripture reading or other set prayers may speak vividly to you. Possibly you will find spiritual strength in regular

Creating a Sacred Place

DAY 1 Pu r pose

To prepare a place in your home that will provide an atmosphere conducive to daily prayer.

W isdom from t h e Age s Icons in houses or in the temple are not intended for show, but for prayer before them, for reverence, for instruction. The images of the saints ought to be our teachers at home and in church. Study their lives, engrave them upon your heart, and endeavor to bring your life into conformity with theirs. —St. John of Kronstadt 6 Images or symbols are a necessity of human nature in our present spiritually sensual condition . . . in order that we may conform our lives, all our thoughts, words and deeds, to the image of the thoughts, words and deeds of the Lord and His saints. —St. John of Kronstadt 7

E x ercise

our place of prayer does not have to be fancy, but it does have to be special. Your task this day is to identify some place in your home that will provide you with privacy when you need it, and then to arrange your prayer area in a way that promotes a prayerful attitude. While each prayer area will be unique, most share certain common characteristics. Keep the following suggestions in mind as you create your sacred place: » Usually the prayer area is placed on an eastern wall or corner. From ancient times Christians have prayed toward

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the east and have seen in the rising of the sun a symbolic representation of the coming of Christ. The prayer area can consist of a simple shelf mounted on a wall, perhaps with icons hung above it; or the various items may be placed on a small table covered with a tablecloth or on top of another piece of furniture. Arrange your prayer area with many of the prayer tools the Orthodox faith has used for centuries, including icons, a small incense burner, candles, a Bible, prayer books, a bottle of holy water, a prayer rope, or any other item that has spiritual significance for you (see details below). Be cautious in preparing a place for prayer in front of or near a window. A view of a peaceful, natural setting may be beneficial, but a view of a busy street will likely be distracting. Offer a short prayer to God seeking encouragement, enlightenment, and guidance for this new prayer journey you are undertaking.

W h at to K eep i n You r Pr ay er A r e a Icons: Icons can play an essential role in both community and private worship. They point beyond the appearances of this world to the spiritual reality and truth of the holy person or event depicted in the icon. Icons become a “window to heaven” and help us direct our attention to divine things. For your home, consider displaying an icon of Jesus, the Theotokos, your patron saint, and/or any other icon that has significance for you. Candles: Candles help to remind us that Jesus is “the light of the world” (John 8:12). A candle is a symbol of Christ’s victory over sin, evil, and death. 20 Copyright ©2020 by Alexander Goussetis. All Rights Reserved. Published by Ancient Faith Publishing

Incense: The use of incense during worship services can be traced back to both the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures. Incense symbolizes our prayers rising heavenward to God; it both represents and inspires them. In Psalm 140/141:2 we read, “Let my prayer be counted as incense before thee, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.” Bible and Prayer Books: Much more will be said about these aids to holiness as we proceed through the daily exercises. Holy Water: A water blessing service, while most often associated with the Feast of Theophany on January 6, can be conducted at any time of the year. Holy water can be used for drinking or for sprinkling and is often kept in the home prayer area for use throughout the year. The water blessing service reminds us, “All who draw from it and partake of it may have it for the cleansing of their soul and body, for the healing of their passions, for the sanctification of their dwelling, and for every purpose that is expedient.” Prayer Rope: Similar in appearance to the Western rosary, the prayer rope is used when reciting the Jesus Prayer (see Day 14 & 15). Commonly made of knotted wool, the prayer rope is intended not so much to measure the number of times the prayer is said as to ensure a regular, rhythmic invocation. Many believe it is easier to concentrate in prayer if the hands also have their part to play. The prayer rope is not to be worn as jewelry, but to be used purposefully as an aid to prayer.

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