Chapter 170

What You Must Remember and Do

You ask what is needed... Remember it and do it thus... With attention you must descend into the heart and stand before the face of the Lord, the Omnipresent—in you and All-seeing—in you...

Standing before the face of the Lord, admit no other thoughts... but only gaze upon the Lord with the proper feelings toward Him: seeing, hearing, ready to listen and obey. Do not leave the word (of the Jesus Prayer) without thoughts of the Lord and of what He is for us, but have simple thoughts: that He is near, protects, sustains, teaches, guides...

When you begin, certain specific needs will become clear regarding this prayer... and you will ask.

Look to the goal of the matter... Your thought and feeling will become so united with the Lord that they will become inseparable—there will be a feeling toward the Lord that is constant, warm and sweet... All else will fall away as foreign.

When you become humble, God’s grace will soon bring this prayer into power...

Be concerned that everything comes from the heart. Do not think about external postures...

...As soon as such a thought arises (that the prayer is established), know beforehand that it lies—and do not stop at it.

Stability will begin when a small fire arises in the heart.