Chapter 89

On the Essence of the Jesus Prayer and the Grace of God

^89.2.1 May the mercy of God be with you!

^89.3.1 The power lies not in the words of the Jesus Prayer, but in spiritual disposition, fear of God, and devotion to God, and in constant attention to God and noetic standing before Him.[1]

^89.4.1 The Jesus Prayer is only an aid, not the very essence of the work itself. Make it your aim to live in the remembrance of God and to walk in the presence of God, and this alone will lead you to a good end. All of this is from the grace of God. Without the grace of God, you cannot acquire anything spiritual in any other way.

^89.5.1 Once grace enters the heart, then everything will proceed as it should.

^89.6.1 We have the Lord Saviour, who desires all to be saved; you must importune Him—and He will give. Receive humble self-renunciation, knowledge of your own failings, faults, and omissions, and the cry of prayer from your heart: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” And the grace of God will never withdraw its overshadowing and protection from you.