"When I prayed I was new, but when I stopped praying I became old." So said an early Christian leader.
The foreword in my newest prayer book, "My Orthodox Prayer Book," is a super helpful essay defining 'What is Prayer?' And something else cool about it - it's an official publication by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of N. America and, dude, this could've easily been written by an evangelical Protestant. Except its better than an evangelical would have written. I hope this content is helpful to your prayer life:
What is prayer? Prayer is doxology, praise, thanksgiving, confession, supplication and intercession to God. "When I prayed I was new," wrote a great theologian of Christian antiquity, "but when I stopped praying I became old." Prayer is the way to renewal and spiritual life. Prayer is aliveness to God. Prayer is strength, refreshment, and joy. Through the grace of God and our disciplined efforts prayer lifts us up from our isolation to a conscious, loving communion with God in which everything is experienced in a new light. Prayer becomes a personal dialogue with God, a spiritual breathing of the soul, a foretaste of the bliss of God's kingdom.
How is one to pray? Only the Holy Spirit can guide us to pray as we should. Just as a child learns to walk by walking, one can best learn to pray by praying, trusting in the help of God. Put your whole soul into prayer. Think about the meaning of every word you pray. Make it your own personal prayer. Be persistent in prayer. Don't yield to carelessness or neglect. Strengthen your prayer through a lively faith in the Lord, a spirit of forgiveness toward others, and genuine Christian living.
As we pray deeply within our hearts we grow in prayer. By the grace of God we suddenly catch a glimpse of the miracle of the presence of the Holy Spirit working within us. At first it is only a spark but later it becomes a flame freeing and energizing our whole being, provided we do nothing to grieve the Holy Spirit; and if we do sin we repent of our sin immediately and ask for God's forgiveness. To experience the fire of God's holy love, to give it space within us to do its cleansing and healing work as a breath of the Holy Spirit, and to use it as light and power for daily living - such are the goals as well as the fruits of true prayer.
'My Orthodox Prayer Book' is published with the hope that it will help Orthodox Christians in their private and family devotions. Reflecting the treasures of Orthodox worship, it contains basic cycles of daily and other prayers. The language is contemporary yet maintains a liturgical flavor. Traditional prayers have been slightly revised so as to be more readable in English. Some new prayers, many selections from the Psalms, directions for Bible Study and brief explanatory notes are also included. It is humbly offered as an encouragement to Orthodox Christians to pray and grow in the life of prayer.
