Prayer

Why does being around certain people wreck my prayer life?

Because when our soul is disrupted, our prayer becomes disrupted. Inadvertently, these people are not just attacking our emotional well-being.

Why do I feel less close to God than I used to?

There are two types of prayer. There is praying when we are walking, praying when we are driving, even sometimes praying when we are talking with somebody, praying when we are doing...

What should a beginner's daily prayer rule look like?

This really needs to be talked about with your priest, but a general guideline is somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 to 25 minutes in the morning and the same in the evening.

How do I say the Jesus Prayer?

Saying the Jesus Prayer is very simple. I personally prefer the Greek style on Mount Athos, which is simply, Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.

Why don't I feel anything when I pray?

The beginning stages of prayer are us reaching out to God, and sometimes that may feel like reaching out into a void. That's okay. That's just the beginning.

How do I stop living in the past and worrying about the future?

We are so detached from reality in so many ways. We live in the past, what happened. We live in the future, what could happen.

Should you talk about your prayer life and spiritual experiences?

Everything about our inner life is between us and God and our spiritual father, and that's it.

What should a Christian man prioritize in his twenties?

I really started to give my life to Christ when I was 18 years old. I had no plan for life. When I was 16, a teacher pulled me out of class and asked, where do you see yourself when...

Why do I keep burning out even though I have faith?

Twenty-odd years ago my spiritual mother told me, burnout is the sure sign of a lack of reliance upon God.

What does the sign of the cross mean and why do Orthodox make it?

The sign of the cross comprises a couple of elements. The two fingers tucked into your palm are the two natures of Christ, divine and human.

How do you live spiritually instead of being ruled by your emotions?

Living life in a spiritual manner has to transcend emotions. That does not mean emotions do not happen, or that we are not plagued by them, or that they do not come.

How do you find stillness in a world full of distraction?

Real spiritual living is transcending emotions: to be present, to be prayerful, to be stable, and not to be trying to hold on to, chase after, or correct every emotional thought or...

How do I stop rushing through my prayers?

What I would say to anyone about prayer is: really focus on the words. Don't just read the words, pay attention to the words.

Should my spiritual life really come before everything else?

Being dedicated to God and having a healthy spiritual life, a life of prayer, a life of fasting, regular church attendance, participation in the sacraments, and making that your...

How long should I pray every day as a beginner?

If you are anything like me, you probably started at a point in your life where you had no idea how to pray. That was me at 18, 19 years old.

How do I stay focused when I pray?

Number two, you need to have focus when you pray. It does not matter how long you are praying for. What matters is that you are focusing on the words of prayer.

How do I actually get better at praying?

When you pray, you are devoting and giving your time to God in the best possible way you know how. That does not mean you are a master of prayer.

What does 'Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me' actually mean?

The purpose of prayer is to humble ourselves before God. When we say the words, Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, his name scrubs the inside of our soul, because that name, Jesus...

Why does prayer feel dry even when I'm faithful?

Last but not least, there are two types of prayer. There is the prayer that we offer God, and then there is the type of prayer that the saints experienced, where God prayed with them...

Is God angry or disappointed with me when I drift away from him?

God doesn't sit there and manipulate us. He's not codependent. He's not emotionally fragile. He's not saying, you haven't called me in two weeks, where have you been, just checking in.