Spirituality and Prayer Life in the Ancient Faithਨਮੂਨਾ

Day 7: Living a Life of Prayer: Sanctifying Every Moment

Orthodox Christian spirituality isn't just about formal prayer times, but about living a life infused with prayer. As St. Clement of Alexandria wrote: "The whole life of the spiritual man is a holy festival" (195 A.D., Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 2, page 537). This concept of making our entire life a prayer is both profound and practical, challenging us to bring God into every aspect of our day.

St. Basil the Great, in his Homily on Praying Without Ceasing, encourages, “Pray without ceasing…unite yourself to God through all the course of life so that your life be made one ceaseless and uninterrupted prayer” (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:17). This doesn't mean we're constantly reciting formal prayers, but rather that we maintain a constant awareness of God's presence and align our thoughts, words, and actions with His will.

To begin living a life of prayer, start by establishing regular times for formal prayer throughout your day. This creates a rhythm that can help sanctify all your activities. The traditional Orthodox Christian practice includes morning prayers upon waking, prayers before and after meals, and evening prayers before sleeping. These set times serve as anchors, reminding us to turn our attention to God throughout the day.

Beyond these set times, look for opportunities to offer short prayers or arrow prayers throughout your day. These can be as simple as "Lord, have mercy" or "Thank you, Jesus." When you wake up, immediately thank God for the new day. As you go about your tasks, periodically pause to ask for God's help and guidance. When you encounter difficulties or frustrations, turn to God in prayer rather than giving in to anxiety or anger.

Make a habit of blessing others in your thoughts and quick prayers as you interact with them. Pray for your family members as you see them off to work or school. Say a quick prayer for your coworkers as you greet them. Ask God to bless the cashier as you check out at the store. These micro-prayers help maintain an attitude of prayer and cultivate love for others.

Use everyday sights and experiences as reminders to pray. When you see a beautiful sunset, praise God for His creation. When you hear a siren, pray for those in danger or distress. When you pass a church, make the sign of the cross. Let daily life itself become a catalyst for prayer.

Work on cultivating inner stillness and watchfulness, what the Orthodox Christian tradition calls nepsis. This inner attentiveness allows you to be more aware of God's presence and promptings throughout the day. It helps you pray more spontaneously and sincerely in the moment. Practice the Jesus Prayer ("Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner") throughout the day, letting it become a background rhythm to all your activities.

Remember that all of life can be offered to God as a prayer. Your work, your relationships, your leisure…all of it can be sanctified through prayer. Before beginning a task, offer it to God. Thank Him when you complete something. Ask for His blessing on your activities and interactions. The Apostle St. Paul encourages us to do everything "in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Colossians 3:17 NKJV). The Coptic lectionary and Agpeya (Book of Hours) sanctify each hour, and the hymn “Arise, O Children of the Light” of the Midnight Praises calls us to praise at the start of each day. The lives of the saints, like St. Anthony the Great, show us how daily work, rest, and service can become prayer.

Living a life of prayer also involves cultivating virtues and fighting against passions. Each time you resist a temptation or choose to act in love, you're offering a prayer to God through your actions. Strive to align your will with God's will in all things, making your life itself a living prayer.

Incorporate spiritual reading into your daily routine. Read a passage from Scripture or the Church Fathers each day and carry that thought with you, meditating on it throughout your activities. This helps infuse your day with spiritual reflection and prayer.

Don't neglect silence and solitude with God. While living a life of prayer involves bringing God into all your activities, it's also crucial to have times of quiet communion with Him. Find moments throughout your day to step away from activity and simply be still in God's presence. This fuels the prayer that infuses the rest of your day. St. John of Damascus calls prayer “the lifting up of the mind to God” and further writes, in The Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 28.1, “Prayer is by nature a dialog between man and God. It unites the soul with its Creator and reconciles the two. Its effect is to hold the world together.”

As you integrate prayer more fully into daily life, you'll likely find that the line between "prayer time" and "regular life" begins to blur. All of life becomes suffused with prayer and awareness of God. This is the true meaning of "praying without ceasing."

Remember, living a life of prayer is a gradual process. Don't become discouraged if you find your mind wandering or if you forget to pray for long stretches. Simply return your attention to God when you notice, without judgment and without being overly harsh on yourself. Over time, with practice and God's grace, prayer will become more and more natural and constant.

Living a life of prayer also involves being part of a praying community. Regularly participate in the liturgical life of the Church, allowing the rhythms of communal worship to shape your personal prayer life. The prayers of the Liturgy can become part of your daily prayers, connecting your individual spiritual life to the larger Body of Christ.

Finally, remember that living a life of prayer is not about achieving some state of constant religious emotion or neglecting your earthly responsibilities. Rather, it's about bringing all aspects of your life into alignment with God's will and maintaining a constant awareness of His presence and love. It's about allowing the grace of God to permeate every aspect of your existence, transforming you more and more into the likeness of Christ.

As you embark on this journey of living a life of prayer, may you experience the truth of the Apostle St. Paul's words: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV). May your whole life become a prayer, a continuous dialogue with the God who loves you beyond measure.

Reflection: How can you offer your daily activities as a prayer to God? Ask for the grace to “pray without ceasing” and to live every moment in His presence.

Prayer: O God, help me to offer every moment to You. Let my work, my rest, my joys, and my struggles become prayers rising to Your throne. Teach me to pray with my whole heart. Let every word and every silence draw me closer to You. May my life be filled with thanksgiving and praise, and fill my days with Your presence. Let my life bring glory to Your holy name. Amen.

God bless you!