Chapter 92
On the Jesus Prayer and Attention of the Heart
92.2.1 May the mercy of God be with you!
92.3.1 How pleasant it was to read that the emptiness of your soul drew you to prayer, and you turned to the very best one—to the Jesus Prayer—and began to say it with such success. May the Lord bless you to make progress in it, and in such a way that nothing can distract you from it any longer. You ask what is needed… The way you’re saying it is good. Remember this and do it. Let me remind you of one thing: you must descend with attention into the heart and stand there before the face of the Lord, who is omnipresent – in you too – and all-seeing – in you too... This is how you thought – upward to the throne of God, and downward to yourself, a sinner.
92.4.1 Standing before the face of the Lord, don’t let in other thoughts... but only gaze upon the Lord with the feelings due to Him, knowing that He sees, hears, is ready to attend and to fulfil. – Don’t leave the word without thoughts about the Lord and about what He is for us, but have simple thoughts: that He is near, guards, upholds, teaches, guides...
92.5.1 When you begin, specific needs will reveal themselves concerning this prayer... and you can ask. Look to the end of the matter... Thought and feeling will become so united with the Lord that they will be inseparable – there will be an unceasing feeling toward the Lord – warm and sweet... Everything else will stand outside, as something foreign.
92.6.1 When you are humble, the grace of God will quickly bring this prayer to power.
92.7.1 The Lord bless you!
92.8.1 In the book ‘What is the spiritual life?...’ there is something about this prayer, I think...
92.9.1 Take care that everything comes from the heart. Don’t think about external postures.
92.10.1 What you thought at first: it seemed to you that it had become established... but then everything flew apart... this will happen often... So, as soon as such a thought arises, know in advance that it’s lying – and don’t dwell on it.
92.11.1 Stability will begin when a little flame forms in the heart.
92.12.1 May the Lord bless you and all your loved ones who are with you!
92.13.1 You didn’t stop in Kozelshchino on the way, did you?
92.14.1 That would be a sin if you didn’t. There lives now an elderly woman of high spiritual life—almost immobilized by illness, yet abiding in the Lord![1]
92.15.1 Be saved!
92.16.1 Your well-wisher, Bishop Theophan.
92.17.1