Beginner course on The Jesus Prayer

Welcome to the Jesus Prayer

Welcome to the practice of the Jesus Prayer, also called the Prayer of the Heart. This is an ancient way of praying that began at the very start of Christianity. The goal of the Jesus Prayer is to bring our hearts closer to God.

Why Quiet Prayer Matters

The word "prayer" means talking to God. The Bible teaches that God speaks to us in quiet moments. When we calm our hearts and focus on Jesus, we can hear His voice more clearly and feel a deep peace.

In this lesson, I will tell you a little about the history of the Jesus Prayer so you can understand where it comes from. Then, we will practice it together.

The History of the Jesus Prayer

From the beginning of Christianity, people have wanted to follow God’s greatest commandment: to love Him with all their heart, soul, strength, and mind, and to love their neighbors as themselves. In the Bible, St. Paul tells Christians to “pray without stopping.” Some early Christians took this very seriously. They went to live in the desert so they could spend their lives praying and thinking about God.

The Jesus Prayer began in the desert with these simple words: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.” These words come from the Bible. In the Gospel of Luke, two blind men called out, “Jesus, have mercy on me.” In another story, a tax collector prayed, “God, have mercy on me.” When we repeat the words, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me,” we are saying a prayer that comes from the heart of the Gospel message.

How the Jesus Prayer Can Help You

Over the next few weeks, you will learn how to pray the Jesus Prayer and find stillness in your heart. We will talk about what the name Jesus means and how God’s mercy can change our lives. You will also learn how to let go of thoughts and feelings that pull you away from God and how to bring them to Him in prayer.

Talking to a Living God

Before we begin, it is important to understand something about prayer. For Christians, God is a person, not just a powerful force or idea. God is alive, intelligent, and loving. That means when we say, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me,” we are not just repeating words like a chant. We are speaking to God and asking for divine mercy.

The name “Jesus” means “God saves.” This means that when we say His name with love and faith, we are praying. Just saying “Jesus” from the heart can be a powerful prayer that reminds us that God is our Savior.

What Others Have Learned About the Prayer

Over time, Christians wrote down what they learned about the Jesus Prayer. They shared their experiences and gave advice to help others grow in prayer. One of the most famous books about this kind of prayer is called the Philokalia, which means “love of beauty.” It was put together by monks living in Greece and has been passed down for hundreds of years.

Bringing Prayer into the Heart

This prayer is sometimes called the Prayer of the Heart because it helps bring our thoughts down into our hearts. Our minds are often full of thoughts that jump from one thing to another. But when we pray the Jesus Prayer, we try to quiet our thoughts and focus only on God. This kind of prayer is not about thinking about God—it is about experiencing the Holy Spirit in a real way.

Some people find that connecting their prayer with their breathing helps them focus. A monk named Saint Nikephoros once said that breathing can help lead our minds into our hearts. Some Christians use this method, but it is not required. We will learn more about this technique as we move through the course. As we do, you can try it and see if it helps you pray with more focus.

Overcoming Challenges in Prayer

At first, it may feel difficult to sit in silence and pray. That is normal. If your mind starts to wander, just gently bring your attention back to the prayer. Sometimes, when we enter into deeper prayer, we may notice feelings like worry, sadness, or anger that we usually try to ignore. This is part of the process. Prayer helps bring everything in our hearts to the surface, even things we might not expect. But remember, God is always ready to help us.

The Jesus Prayer as a Lifelong Journey

This is the beginning of a special journey—one that can bring you peace and joy. Many people who practice the Jesus Prayer feel like they have discovered a deep well of living water inside their hearts. But this prayer is not just about feeling calm or peaceful. It is about drawing closer to Jesus. The goal is to experience His love and mercy in a real way.

Some people who have prayed in this way for a long time have even described feeling God’s presence in their hearts and bodies in ways that are hard to put into words. The Bible says that when we are close to God, we become “partakers of the divine nature,” meaning we share in His love and grace. If you have any special experiences while practicing this prayer, you may want to write them down so you can remember them.

Looking Ahead

Over the next few lessons, we will learn more about how to practice the Jesus Prayer. We will talk about how to handle distracting thoughts, how to focus our attention on God, and how to enter deeper into prayer.

Practicing the Jesus Prayer

Now, let’s take a moment to practice the Jesus Prayer together. Find a comfortable place to sit with your back straight and your feet on the floor. Take a deep breath and calm your thoughts. When you are ready, say these words quietly in your heart: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.”