aghaby everyone,
if you ever confess and ask abouna for advice, his first word is prayer. Right? he says pray and everything will be okay. but we already know we should pray. we want more advice. not just prayer. we dont want an answer that is there... we want more...why is that?
also, what is the right method to pray? how? and i dont mean bless our parents, priests, and help those in need... but i mean in depth of spirituality. what is the right prayer that satisfies our soul and Jesus himself?
>>sry if i confused any1=)
+mahraeel+
Comments
Pray for me
Copticdeacon
The most proper way to pray has been passed down to us from the ancient monks in the Agpeya. It is broken up into 7 sections, the seven hours of the day (plus the watches, which are parts for monks and priests). I had a talk with Abouna earlier today about how to pray. He said to start slowly with the Agpeya. Do not jump directly into it, doing all the hours, all the psalms, etc. Start by praying at night the Compiline Hour (12th hour, after the Vespers). Start by reading just three psalms of your choosing (or more if you so will), whichever you feel are appropriate to you at that time, and try to memorize them eventually. Once they are memorized, learn another three.
What I do myself is pray and finish the compiline hour, then I pray my own prayers. You may do this in any way you feel is appropriate, in a metania, bowing, standing with your arms raised, etc. so long as it's a respectable way of worshiping. Pray for others and their problems, the church and all its bishops, priests, monks and all the servants from the archdeacons to the sunday school teachers to all the laymen. Remember to pray for the poor, the sick, and the needy. Pray that the schism of the Orthodox Churches ceases and the heresies of the other "churches" cease and that we may all one day become one Orthodox Church. Pray that God strengthen you in all you do, strengthen you in the faith, and give you the ability, strength, and knowledge to read the Bible and Agpeya every night with understanding and with your heart. Don't be afraid to ask Him for things, while asking for His will, and do not feel that you're too embarrassed to pray. My Abouna has instructed me to force myself to pray, to force myself to whenever I have sinned and am too embarrassed to do metanias and ask the Lord to have mercy.
Forgive me for the long rant, but I just thought I'd share the way I do it. You don't have to follow all of this, I'm sure you have a way of your own, but yeah. Also, read the specific prayers the monks and priests recite every night (the parts after the Gospels), they will help you understand how to pray.
Also, there is in the Orthodox Church a special prayer called the Jesus Prayer; it goes "O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy upon me a sinner," though some substitute "the chief of all sinners" for "a sinner." Make use of it whenever you want, it's short, but powerful. I have much more to say, but I feel I've ranted enough haha.
God Bless!
In Christ
+mahraeel+
First, tell God that whatever He asks you to do is ok with you. I mean for example, even if its His will for you to fail your exams and get a really menial job, you agree with Him because it means you will have time to talk to the people you work with about your faith and you want treasures in heaven, not a good pay packet (I didn't say it was easy!) Then, once you're ready to do anything, read in the Bible about the right attitudes towards people, like being humble, returning good for evil, giving money to the poor, praising God if it's you that's poor, submitting to your leaders, honouring your wife and being ready to sacrifice your life for your Lord (Ouch, it really isn't easy!).
Now you are equipped with a genuine desire to serve the Lord and the right attitude to life. Now you can ask 2 or 3 wise people (mentor at work, teacher, parent, aunt, friend) for their advice and think about it. You know that if the advice contradicts any of the attitudes described in the Bible you can ditch it (eg cheat in the exam, marry a non-Christian etc) but hopefully you will come away with one or two good ideas.
Finally, pray again (yes it is really all about prayer!) and then do what seems right.
When I had to take a difficult decision, I did this and prayed the 'Prayer asking for the will of God' from the Agpeya (I have an Arabic/English one from Connecticut) and it worked out really well.
May God guide you and comfort you and give you strength through the love of mankind of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
+mahraeel+