Any Rule is Good That Keeps the Soul in Reverence Before God

Regarding the rule, I think this way: whatever rule one chooses for oneself, every rule is good—as long as it keeps the soul in reverence before God. Again: read prayers and psalms until the soul is stirred, then pray oneself, pouring out one’s own needs or asking simply, “God, be merciful…” Again: sometimes the entire time set aside for the rule can be spent in reading one psalm by heart, making from every verse your own prayer. Again: sometimes the entire rule can be spent in the Jesus Prayer with prostrations… Or take a little from this, a little from that, and a little from something else. God desires the heart (Prov. 23:26), and as long as it stands in reverence before Him, that is enough. Unceasing prayer consists precisely in this: to stand always in reverence before God. And in this, the rule is only a kindling or a throwing of wood on the fire. (6, 8–9)