Chapter 111
On Surrendering Yourself to God and Unceasing Prayer
111.2.1 May the mercy of God be with you!
111.3.1 There’s that old worry of yours again: but how am I to manage, and how am I to arrange things?[1] A worry not without foundation; But what else can you do? Entrust everything to God. Let His holy will be done. Indeed, such a lot is the very best for you! And receive it with gratitude. A soul is never poor.[2] Settle this property business as quickly as you can, and then it will be clear what to do next. Perhaps everything will work out so that you’ll have a secure existence without want... Then you can simply let it all go. A little corner somewhere, a task, and the labor for the salvation of the soul – and that’s all there is to it.
111.4.1 The season of the fast has come – and here is a wide field for the labors of prayer. Labor on; but still with wisdom. Above all, avoid turning your prayer into mere form or into a rote recitation of a prayer rule. Every time you approach prayer, compel your soul to pray itself—that is, to pray with your own words, your own feeling, and your own thought. And do this every time—so that the read prayer comes as an aid, as a support, and not as the main work. Direct all your labor, or turn it, toward walking unceasingly before God, with your thought on God, on His omnipresence and all-knowing nature. And frequently from your heart direct your cries to Him. This kind of practice finally forms unceasing prayer, accomplished in the heart by the intellect. Make that your goal, the one you must strive toward. Some use a mechanical method of saying the Jesus Prayer for this purpose. You too can do this. Do it this way. Bring your intellect down from your head into your heart and remain there in attention, and say: “Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner”—as though pouring it directly into your heart.[3] While doing this, constrict your breathing somewhat and keep your whole body in tension. You can do this sitting down, but standing is better. Say the prayer slowly, as if you were savoring every word. Direct your attention to the left of the heart—inwardly.[4] Say the prayer as a prayer rule. And you can even say it all day long, standing with the same attention. Then, let your attention never depart from the heart, whatever you may be doing. Whether you’re reading, walking, or working—be present in all of it. There’s your law! When the burning of the heart begins to show itself, then the interior life will begin! And that’s everything!
111.5.1 The 101st psalm, which you ask about—how it applies to your circumstances![5] Prayer of the poor. This is everyone who is afflicted, distressed, and suffering! Up to verse 12, the feelings of the one who is afflicted are depicted. Then the thought shifts to the restoration, as it were, of Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity. The commentators understand it this way: that the thoughts of the psalm can be applied to everyone who is afflicted—to the sinner soul turning to God, to the Jewish people awaiting deliverance from the Babylonian captivity, and to the building of the Church of Christ. Interpret the particular passages however you like. And verse 6... from the voice of my groaning my bone clings to my flesh. – The affliction is so strong, and the sighs from it, that my skin has clung to my bones from exhaustion.
111.6.1 Verse 13 – But You, O Lord... – is clear in itself. Here there’s a turn to other thoughts that give hope. Everything passes, only God is unchanging and His word – the Jews who were in captivity took comfort in that. Everything is lost, as it were, and we are exhausted – but You, our Lord, abide forever... and Your word will be fulfilled... – the promise about the restoration of Jerusalem and the return from captivity. – A sinful soul – at this word, repenting, can also encourage itself with hope that the Lord will restore and rebuild it too, devastated by sin... Likewise pagan humanity could turn with hope to the Lord, that finally it too would be called to the knowledge of God... and all nations with their kings will begin to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ (verse 23).
111.7.1 To ‘enrich with mercy’ means to overwhelm with mercies, or with merciful gifts. Mercy and love—the word ‘enrich with mercy’ can mean, therefore, the verse ‘they enrich the dust’ means they love the dust.[6] The prophet says: and the stones, and the very dust of Zion—or Jerusalem—are precious to the Israelites. You have risen—having risen, that is, having awakened, having stirred, having turned your attention—as in verses 19 and 20.[7] Now you, apply all of this to yourselves—either to your outward condition or, better still, to your soul. Take each verse separately and, having thought about it, determine what it might mean for you. And if anything is unclear, ask me—I’ll answer you. You can’t figure it out on your own—you won’t know exactly what’s needed—so ask about everything, all your thoughts.[8]
111.8.1 May the Lord Saviour save you and have mercy on you. May the Lord grant you to keep a salvific fast in a way that is salvific for the soul.[9] Practice prayer as I have instructed you.
111.9.1 I wish you every good thing from the Lord.
111.10.1 Your intercessor, Bishop Theophan.
111.11.1 March 11.