The human mind is ever moving, it is constantly working. So, give it work, the Jesus prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me”. Because man is not used to it, he will find it difficult to turn his mind to the heart. But by praying you slowly find the spiritual heart, and in it you find God. When your mind is scattered outwards and the heart is full of passions, how can you concentrate on prayer? It will be difficult, but you need to persevere. Do not afraid. Nothing will happen to you, the will is enough, the will to remain lovingly attached to the words of the prayer. This is how a man is united with God. The whole thing from a practical point of view is for the man to stay whole, to not be scattered. This is accomplished, first, by loving Christ – then everything goes away, and that love remains – and second, with the prayer.
Elder Symeon Kragiopoulos (1926-2015)
Translated by Dr. Nick Stergiou