Chapter 105

On Learning Noetic Prayer

^105.2.1 May the mercy of God be with you!

^105.3.1 It has been so long since I last wrote to you. I’m at fault! I grew slack, and the work suffered.

^105.4.1 I think you’ve grown accustomed by now to the work of your obedience, and the work itself is flowing along reasonably well with you. Grant, Lord, that all may go better and better. There’s no great wisdom in it! Don’t make a fuss, endure, and gradually advance everything forward little by little.[1] The Lord desires this, and in these works He is always the all-powerful Helper. Only you must never allow yourself to say, ‘I want to,’ but rather, ‘the circumstances require it;’ I am your servant”.

^105.5.1 You wanted to learn noetic prayer. Good! But what kind of prayer did you have before?! Prayer is by its very nature a noetic activity, and if you have not prayed noetically, then you have not truly prayed at all. But I tell you, there is no one who does not pray noetically. Everyone prays noetically. When everyone prays, they mentally represent God as present and speak their needs to Him. Even when they recite prayers, everyone strives to lift their mind to God. If anything needs to be said, it’s that people do this imperfectly—not continuously, even during the recitation of their prayer rule—and above all, without genuine feeling.[2] So your desire will be: how to attain perfection in prayer—noetic prayer offered to God? The answer to this: Ask, and you will receive.

^105.6.1 How did you learn to write? Through the labor of writing, with the desire to write correctly according to models. Do the same in prayer—and you will learn. It will not come by itself; You must learn.

^105.7.1 1. Accustom yourselves to walk in the presence of God, before the eyes of God, with feelings that correspond to this.

^105.8.1 2. Whenever you have the freedom, make prostrations with feelings of contrition and humility.

^105.9.1 3. Read all the books on prayer, and reflect on it.

^105.10.1 4. But above all: strive with all your strength to conduct the church service in remembrance of God, and then your home rule as well.

^105.11.1 You must rub the soul, and it will grow warm.[3] When warmth comes, then the thoughts will settle, and prayer will become pure.

^105.12.1 Yet all things are from the grace of God. That’s why we must pray to the Lord to give us prayer.

^105.13.1 The Lord bless you!

^105.14.1 Be saved!

^105.15.1 Your intercessor, Bishop Theophan.