The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer That Tunes the Heart to God

In The Jesus Prayer Frederica Mathewes-Green offers a comprehensive yet accessible introduction to the most mysterious prayer of Christian tradition. In the earliest centuries of faith, Christians in the deserts of Palestine and Africa sought a short prayer that could be easily repeated, to acquire the habit of "prayer without ceasing." The result was The Jesus Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me. This jewel of Eastern Christianity aims at enabling a person to be in God's presence, rather than trying to focus upon feelings or thoughts of God.
The first section offers a concise overview of the history, theology, and spirituality of Orthodoxy, so that the Prayer can be understood in its native context. Following, is a conversational question-and-answer format that takes the reader through practical steps of incorporating this prayer into daily life.