Jesus Prayer Testimony

EzekielsWheels · Dec 7, 2018

I am not Orthodox but I have been interested in it and reading about it and I have started using the Jesus Prayer. I testify that this has started to transform my soul to be more humble and lowly and so I praise the Lord Christ for that. I am also experiencing stronger spiritual attack since I've started doing this prayer so please pray for me to be strengthened in my inner man against all demonic attacks that would try to hinder my prayer life. Thanks and God Bless!

Phronema · Dec 7, 2018

Glory to God that it's working for you. I really enjoy it too, as it's a nice simple prayer that can be said anywhere, anytime. I will say that it's advised to be under the care of a priest, or spiritual father when saying the Jesus Prayer extensively - particularly if you're using any sort of breathing techniques.

Also, here's a good read on the Jesus Prayer from Bishop Kallistos Ware.

The Jesus Prayer by Bishop Kallistos Ware

ArmyMatt · Dec 7, 2018

prayers for sure! I recommend talking to your local Orthodox priest for guidance.

~Anastasia~ · Dec 7, 2018

Welcome to TAW.

Prayers for you. Do indeed be careful - the more we engage, the more we face opposition. And guidance from one who is experienced can help protect against many kinds of pitfalls.

We are glad to have you join us here in TAW. Please feel free to ask if we can help with any questions.

icxn · Dec 7, 2018

Interesting screen name: the symbolic representation of the relationship between the sensible and intelligible (spiritual) world.

The whole intelligible world is mystically imprinted in the whole sensible world in symbolic forms (for those who are capable of seeing this); and the whole sensible world subsists cognitively within the whole intelligible world by means of its inner principles. In the intelligible world it is in principles, in the sensible world it is in figures (or types), and their activity and function is one, like ‘a wheel within a wheel’ (Ezekiel 1:16). - St. Maximus the Confessor

An example of this can be seen in the interpretations (spiritual principles) of the Lord's parables (sensible figures).

EzekielsWheels · Dec 7, 2018

icxn said:
Interesting screen name: the symbolic representation of the relationship between the sensible and intelligible (spiritual) world.

The whole intelligible world is mystically imprinted in the whole sensible world in symbolic forms (for those who are capable of seeing this); and the whole sensible world subsists cognitively within the whole intelligible world by means of its inner principles. In the intelligible world it is in principles, in the sensible world it is in figures (or types), and their activity and function is one, like ‘a wheel within a wheel’ (Ezekiel 1:16). - St. Maximus the Confessor

An example of this can be seen in the interpretations (spiritual principles) of the Lord's parables (sensible figures).

Hmm I agree with this.

EzekielsWheels · Dec 7, 2018

~Anastasia~ said:
Welcome to TAW.

Prayers for you. Do indeed be careful - the more we engage, the more we face opposition. And guidance from one who is experienced can help protect against many kinds of pitfalls.

We are glad to have you join us here in TAW. Please feel free to ask if we can help with any questions.

Yes I have been fighting for years now but the Lord has provided me some great breakthroughs in understanding and freedom from sin. Fasting has helped a lot.

EzekielsWheels · Dec 7, 2018

Also thanks for the welcome. I'm open to Orthodoxy but I do confess difficulties with the iconography and Mariology. I think though I am beginning to be more open to these practices after having discussed them on this board. I'm in agreement with the concept of veneration and I think that Paul's letter in Hebrews supports it with his discussion of all those who had faith. I'm still uncomfortable with the idea of praying to Mary or a Saint but I do not think I have a problem with asking for intercession as they are living in Christ (I was disbelieving on this point but I think I've come around). I've tried a lot of different denominations and it's been quite a journey. I think I just feel like Orthodoxy is a lifetime commitment and I want to be sure that I am comfortable with it before proceeding forward. I think so much of it is that my modern viewpoint is informed by the reformation and the Protestant viewpoint that is predominant in American Christianity, I need to fight against these prejudices.

~Anastasia~ · Dec 7, 2018

EzekielsWheels said:
Also thanks for the welcome. I'm open to Orthodoxy but I do confess difficulties with the iconography and Mariology. I think though I am beginning to be more open to these practices after having discussed them on this board. I'm in agreement with the concept of veneration and I think that Paul's letter in Hebrews supports it with his discussion of all those who had faith. I'm still uncomfortable with the idea of praying to Mary or a Saint but I do not think I have a problem with asking for intercession as they are living in Christ (I was disbelieving on this point but I think I've come around). I've tried a lot of different denominations and it's been quite a journey. I think I just feel like Orthodoxy is a lifetime commitment and I want to be sure that I am comfortable with it before proceeding forward. I think so much of it is that my modern viewpoint is informed by the reformation and the Protestant viewpoint that is predominant in American Christianity, I need to fight against these prejudices.

I think many of us can identify with what you share here.

It is wise to at least get to the point of accepting the Church has her reasons and wisdom and that we don't put ours above that, if we don't come to the point of complete agreement before being received. Either is good. But it IS a commitment not to be taken lightly.

For myself, I had to sort out everything at least to be in the point of accepting the Church's wisdom. I understood and agreed easily with most things. Iconography came as a revelation. But I still struggled a bit personally as far as practice with some of the things about the Virgin Mary, and it was some time before I actually asked for intercession from the Saints myself - and was SO careful how I did it that it was comical really. But the response was phenomenal and I'm still being blessed by it. I couldn't have imagined how well the solutions that came immediately would fit my life and actually changed my life.

But struggle with "Protestant baggage" as it often gets called is normal. God helps us get clarity.

EzekielsWheels · Dec 7, 2018

~Anastasia~ said:
I think many of us can identify with what you share here.

It is wise to at least get to the point of accepting the Church has her reasons and wisdom and that we don't put ours above that, if we don't come to the point of complete agreement before being received. Either is good. But it IS a commitment not to be taken lightly.

For myself, I had to sort out everything at least to be in the point of accepting the Church's wisdom. I understood and agreed easily with most things. Iconography came as a revelation. But I still struggled a bit personally as far as practice with some of the things about the Virgin Mary, and it was some time before I actually asked for intercession from the Saints myself - and was SO careful how I did it that it was comical really. But the response was phenomenal and I'm still being blessed by it. I couldn't have imagined how well the solutions that came immediately would fit my life and actually changed my life.

But struggle with "Protestant baggage" as it often gets called is normal. God helps us get clarity.

Yes I do believe I need to humble myself in that respect. I have some reluctance to defer to authority in general and I feel this is a necessary but very difficult step of trust for me.

~Anastasia~ · Dec 7, 2018

EzekielsWheels said:
Yes I do believe I need to humble myself in that respect. I have some reluctance to defer to authority in general and I feel this is a necessary but very difficult step of trust for me.

All I can say is that it's not easy. And of course we are not called to simply accept anything blindly. There's nothing wrong with (and possibly something noble about) studying for ourselves and determining if we are being told the truth.

But after some great number of points on which I found the Church to be faithful and I could trace the teaching back to the source, I developed trust.

It was humbling for me early on when I was forced to accept the idea that baptism really exists for a sacramental purpose - for some reason that one really bothered me but it was one of the first of my old opinions to fall.

It's a process really - for everyone I've known so far, though we may have various objections (and strengths of each of them) due to our own unique backgrounds.

JohnB445 · Dec 8, 2018

The Lord wanted me to share this with you, it helped me understand Icons better. It goes for Orthodox too.

Also had some conversations with Born Again Believers and they too agree Icons are good and fine to have around.

EzekielsWheels · Dec 8, 2018

JohnB445 said:
The Lord wanted me to share this with you, it helped me understand Icons better. It goes for Orthodox too.

Also had some conversations with Born Again Believers and they too agree Icons are good and fine to have around.

Thank you for sharing this brother. God bless you.

Jesus Prayer Testimony

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