Three Powers of the Soul Are Necessary for Unceasing Prayer

A brother said: “What then must I do, father, so that my mind might be constantly occupied with God?” The elder answered: “The mind cannot be constantly occupied with God unless it first acquires the following three virtues: love, temperance, and prayer. Love tames anger, temperance extinguishes lust, and prayer frees the mind from all earthly thoughts and, stripped of all things, presents it to God. These three virtues embrace all others, and without them it is impossible to remain constantly in God.” (18, 72–73)

Let the Jesus Prayer be on the tongue, a vision of the Lord before you in the mind, and a hunger for God, or communion with the Lord, in the heart. When all this is constant, then the Lord, seeing how you press yourself, will give what is asked. (13, 94)

The essence of the matter is conscious standing in the presence of the Lord with fear, faith, and love. This disposition is possible even without words. This is what must be restored in the heart first of all. Then words will come, to maintain attention on this one thing and to deepen those feelings and dispositions. (7, 194–195)

I give you a comprehensive remedy. Its essence is this: remembrance of God, remembrance of death, and fear of God. When these take root in the heart, prayer and everything else will proceed well. (11, 29)

Fear of God is paramount. When it comes, it arranges everything in the soul like a good master… From fear of God comes its first fruit—a contrite spirit, a broken and humble heart… To maintain fear of God, you must keep an unfailing remembrance of death and judgment… Add to this awareness of the Lord’s presence near you and within you, so that He sees all things, even what is most hidden. This awareness—united with remembrance of death—inseparably holds fear of God. When this trinity dwells in your heart, then prayer will come from your heart with unceasing cries to the Lord your Savior. (8, 251–252)