History

The exact date of, and circumstances surrounding, the origin of the Jesus Prayer are unknown. However, it is typically associated with the Eastern Orthodox Church, and its current form was most likely standardized during the 8th century. It is believed to have its roots in “hesychasm”¹. The term hesychasm generally refers to the interior silence a believer undertakes in order to focus on God.

It is thought the Jesus Prayer was taken from the story of the tax collector in Luke 18:9-14. The original form was most likely the exact words we find in Luke 18:14, but over time the word “God” was replaced by “Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God.” The words “a sinner” are sometimes included at the end of the prayer.

The practice of repeating this prayer throughout one’s day also developed within the Eastern Orthodox tradition.³ The Way of the Pilgrim, a nineteenth-century Russian treatise, offers the most detailed account of the Jesus Prayer, and it is there that we find the suggestion to use the Jesus Prayer as a way of “praying without ceasing” throughout one’s day.⁴ The idea of this prayer being used as a way of praying without ceasing was likely not Jesus’ original intent, but nonetheless it seems that, as the prayer found its grounding in church history, this focus was established. Since it is suggested to coordinate the prayer with one’s breathing or even one’s heartbeat, and in so doing to habituate oneself in the prayer, we can see how it could be a means of praying without ceasing.

For many in the evangelical tradition, the idea of repetitive prayer is uncomfortable and perhaps even scary. We often associate these types of practices with Catholicism, which many evangelicals consider “bad.” However, while many Catholics could probably learn from evangelicals when it comes to using more fluid and spontaneous forms of prayer, many evangelicals could learn from Catholics the value of repetitive prayer. Repetitive prayers may also feel like chanting or like mantras, which leaves many evangelical Christians uncomfortable as well. “Repeatedly invoking the name of Jesus may seem similar to chanting a mantra in Hinduism, but its intention and content are wholly different. The aim of praying the Jesus Prayer is not to induce a certain psychological state, which is the aim of chanting in Hinduism, but to bring one closer to the person of Jesus.” ⁵

Practice

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.

We encourage you to coordinate the rhythm of the prayer with your breathing. Stating, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God” as you exhale, and then “have mercy on me” as you inhale. The goal is not to focus on one’s breathing, but rather to coordinate the prayer with one’s breathing in order to more deeply internalize the prayer. By coordinating the prayer with our breathing, the prayer begins to attach itself as a part of our very order of existence. We encourage this practice to be done intentionally in a moment of solitude and silence at first but, as the prayer becomes more natural, we encourage you to say the prayer throughout your day. You will find it can be a very helpful way of centering ourselves on Jesus as we go about our daily routine. It is important, however, to not allow this consistency to erode the meaning of the prayer itself. We must not forget that we are addressing our “Lord Jesus Christ” who is the “Son of God” and asking Him to “have mercy on us.”

Please reflect on the Jesus Prayer in light of these questions.

• Was this a new discipline for you and if so was it uncomfortable?
• Did you feel God’s nearness during your time in the prayer, or did you find yourself feeling bored and distant from the Lord?
• Is the Lord possibly calling you to spend more time in this spiritual discipline?