Chapter 135

Beginning to Pray in Your Own Words

While learning to pray from ready-made prayers, you should gradually begin to pray also in your own words, according to your needs—spiritual or external. As soon as spiritual needs awaken, they at once turn toward God. Sometimes the impulse to turn to God comes without a defined need, but simply from a longing for God. Whatever form and measure this impulse takes, you should never leave it unsatisfied, and pray in whatever state the impulse found you: if at work—then work and pray, if at reading—then amid your reading pray, if while walking—then as you walk pray. But of course it is better and more fruitful to stand in your prayer place and take a prayer position, if possible.

The more earnestly these turns to God are fulfilled, the more often they will appear and the longer they will last and the deeper they will take root. Don’t forget this point. This method is the best of all for perfecting prayer. And prayer is the main thing in our work. Don’t begrudge effort especially for this. If during prayer reading this impulse arises, stop reading your prayer and pray according to your impulse, with your own words or without words. God will see how ardently you desire and seek prayer—and will give you prayer that will not be interrupted. May God bless you, Lord, for this work!

(Letter 187. Vol. 1, p. 219–220)