What practical steps can one take to practice the Jesus Prayer?

First: Concentrate all your thoughts on our Lord Jesus Himself. Remember the name of Jesus slowly, gently, and calmly.

Second: Let the recitation of the name be from the soul’s inner depths, without loudness or violence, even internally. When Elijah was commanded to stand before the Lord and

prepare to encounter Him, he was told, “‘Stand on the mountain’ … and behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire, And after the fire a small voice. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him and said, ‘What are you doing here Elijah?’” (1 Kings 19:1–13).

Third: Recite your prayer in serenity and simplicity, or more specifically, with gentleness. As a bird that flies up to the height it intends and then gently glides, flapping its wings only from time to time to maintain its altitude, so the soul, if it flies up to glide upon the thought of Christ Jesus and is sated by remembering Him, can cease to repeat the holy name and instead rest in other thoughts; namely, thinking about Jesus. It is natural for moments of lukewarmness to intrude upon this practice. But if at any time you begin your recitation once more, you find the name of Jesus upon your lips spontaneously, and returning to your thoughts continually, silently, and internally. Thus, you will experience the verse: “I sleep but my heart is awake” (Song 5:2). However, this prayer cannot be prayed inattentively: “Because of the fragrance of your ointment, the virgins love you. Draw me away; the daughters of Jerusalem will run after you” (Song 1:3–4).

Fourth: We should be drawn toward the name of Jesus by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, so that calling on the name of Jesus becomes in our lives one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit Himself.

Fifth: We should be careful not to despise other forms of prayer.

Sixth: We must forget ourselves and put our egos to death while the name of the Holy God comes alive in our spirits: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

Seventh: Repetition of the Jesus Prayer should not lessen our participation in the divine liturgy or in other Church rites such as the Midnight Praises.

Eighth: The best kind of prayer is that which is prayed when we are moved by the Holy Spirit.

Ninth: The goal of the Jesus Prayer is to praise Him, crying out with Thomas the apostle: “My Lord and God!” (John 20:28). We should be concerned most of all with the Lord of glory, Jesus, being present in our lives.

Tenth: Calling on the name of Jesus grants us salvation in every kind of need in our lives.

Eleventh: Through the name of Jesus, we receive more than we ask: “Whatever you ask the father in my name, He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask and you will receive” (John 16:23–24). He is both the one who grants the gift and the gift itself, satisfying all our needs. “He became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30).