Prayer without ceasing

everbecoming2007 said:

Do you strive to cultivate prayer without ceasing? What is your method?

My great grandmother, from a Holiness background, taught me as a child to pray throughout the day, even between math problems in school work, to pause and say, "Jesus! Jesus!"

I pray at structured times mostly, and also pray spontaneously, although I am not sure I have obtained the gift of prayer unceasing. However, at times I have woken up from praying in my sleep.

How about you? Do you endeavor to cultivate this gift, and what does it mean to you to pray unceasingly?

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Unceasing prayer is practiced by the Hesychastes as part of their asceticism. Among other things it consists of reciting the Jesus prayer repetitively. I sometimes recite here and there.

Well to take "endeavor" I add "try · attempt · venture · undertake · aspire · aim · seek · set out · strive · struggle · labor · toil · work hard · try hard" to do. Not to just think but to always in everything talk pray about anything in my life with to Him. I knew a grandmother.. was also a mother to me that prayed 4+ hours a day. She had more power of GOD then anyone I even see today. She prayed it HAPPENED! And you never saw her you only saw Christ.

I don't think I have ever posted this here and been here YEARS. Nothing but.. I think you would understand. This bile study these grandparents had it was at this bed ridden woman's house. After the bible study we would go in her bed room to pray for her. Well one night just as we were going in the bed room... something like came on. I have NEVER had this before.. I wanted to stop fall on my knees and pray.. thats ALL I wanted in this life.. nothing else to just stop and pray forever! Oh I LOVED That.. and as fast as it came it lifted.

Oh God gives you a taste and then.. it NEVER goes away. NO CLUE what that was about and I am MUCH older now lol. Yet.. it was like yesterday.

I pray twice a day. Once in the morning and once at night before bed.

I guess it depends what you mean by "prayer." If it's about directing words to God, then I don't have the mental focus to form those words unceasingly, at the same time as doing all the other things which make demands on my mental focus. If it's about awareness of the presence of God, about disposition towards God, about intentionality as I go about my day... I try to cultivate it in that sense.

I’m frequently mindful of God’s presence throughout my day but nothing close to praying unceasingly.

A number of years ago, I read "The Way of the Pilgrim" in which this monk tries to pray without ceasing the Jesus Prayer. I decided to try it too. With the first phrase, inhale, then on the second phrase, exhale. I wasn't working at the time - a mother of a 5 or 6 year old and wife. I really worked and worked at it. After numerous weeks, I was finally doing it - praying continuously. Then, unfortunately, I dropped what had become almost habit for me. I've tried numerous times to do that again, but although my husband is gone and my daughter has 4 children of her own (so I have no excuse) I'm not able to even come close to it again.

I appreciate this thread. If I may contribute a couple of worthwhile quotes from Brother Lawrence:

This practice of the Presence of God is somewhat difficult at the beginning. Yet if it is pursued faithfully, it works imperceptibly within the soul to produce marvelous results. It draws down God's grace abundantly, and leads the soul gradually to the ever-present vision of God as loving and beloved. It is the most spiritual, the most real, the most free, and most life-giving form of prayer.

Brother Lawrence. The Practice of the Presence of God In Modern English (pp. 73-74). Kindle Edition.

By the practice of the Presence of God, by steadfastly gazing upon Him, the soul comes to a full and deep knowledge of God. It has Unclouded Vision. Its life is spent in unceasing acts of love and worship, contrition and simple trust, praise, prayer, and service. At times life seems to be one long unbroken practice of His Divine Presence. I know that there are not many who reach this state. It is a grace which God bestows only on very few chosen souls.

Brother Lawrence. The Practice of the Presence of God In Modern English (pp. 75-77). Kindle Edition.

HTacianas said:

Unceasing prayer is practiced by the Hesychastes as part of their asceticism. Among other things it consists of reciting the Jesus prayer repetitively. I sometimes recite here and there.

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that is my practice also