prayer and fasting

Fasting is something God has called me to for some time now and through fasting and prayer he has called me to be given entirely over to him. By this I mean to give my thoughts, actions and will to him for his own desires. Out of this a desire to live a life penance has emerged. This is nothing I wanted for my self I have always enjoyed my freedom in Christ, but I know for me to live this way pleases God and brings me closer to him. This has been on my heart for some time now but how to do it and actually live it out are new to me. I am still studying this all out, and plan on posting it in the future. I feel the calling of this life stile is some what similar to the Franciscan third order. I came across this in my Orthodox Prayer book and it really stuck me as guide line for me to follow.

The chief aids to fasting according to the Orthodox Church are:
1. Prayer.
2. Fasting.
3. Performance of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.

The chief spiritual works of mercy are:
1. To admonish sinners.
2. To instruct the ignorant.
3. To counsel the doubtful.
4. To comfort the sorrowful.
5. To suffer wrongs patiently.
6. To forgive injuries.
7. To pray for the living and the dead.

The chief corporal works of mercy are:
1. To feed the hungry.
2. To give drink to the thirsty.
3. To clothe the naked.
4. To ransom captives.
5. To shelter the homeless.
6. To visit the sick.
7. To bury the dead.


St Symeon the New Theologian:'Let each one of us keep in mind the benefit of fasting... For this healer of our souls is effective, in the case of one to quieten the fevers and impulses of the flesh, in another to assuage bad temper, in yet another to drive away sleep, in another to stir up zeal, and in yet another to restore purity of mind and to set him free from evil thoughts. In one it will control his unbridled tongue and, as it were by a bit, restrain it by the fear of God and prevent it from uttering idle and corrupt words. In another it will invisibly guard his eyes and fix them on high instead of allowing them to roam hither and thither, and thus cause him to look on himself and teach him to be mindful of his own faults and shortcomings. Fasting gradually disperses and drives away spiritual darkness and the veil of sin that lies on the soul, just as the sun dispels the mist. Fasting enables us spiritually to see that spiritual air in which Christ, the Sun who knows no setting, does not rise, but shines without ceasing. Fasting, aided by vigil, penetrates and softens hardness of heart. where once were the vapors of drunkenness it causes fountains of compunction to spring forth. I beseech you, brethren, let each of us strive that this may happen in us! Once this happens we shall readily, with God's help, cleave through the whole sea of passions and pass through the waves of the temptations inflicted by the cruel tyrant, and so come to anchor in the port of impassibility.
  'My brethren, it is not possible for these things to come about in one day or one week! They will take much time, labor, and pain, in accordance with each man's attitude and willingness, according to the measure of faith and one's contempt for the objects of sight and thought. In addition, it is also in accordance with the fervor of his ceaseless penitence and its constant working in the secret chamber of his heart that this is accomplished more quickly or more slowly by the gift and grace of God. But without fasting no one was ever able to achieve any of these virtues or any others, for fasting is the beginning and foundation of every spiritual activity'.
  — Symeon the New Theologian: the Discourses, pub. Paulist Press. pp. 168-169

prayer life

The last time I wrote about my prayer life I had built up a regiment of prayers and prayer times through out the day. I have learned that this method of prayer is not for me or is it necessarily expedient to my drawing nearer to Christ. I had hoped that by doing this I could train my mind to be more in more of a state of prayer and the totally sum would be unceasing prayer. This was not the most sure method for me as it became cumbersome and complicated.

My doing this was for the wrong reasons. I wanted to impress my self with the greatness and holiness of God and I wanted to build up for my self a rule of sorts to live by. I however was doing this out of my own vanity and not the Lords will and plan for my life.

There is nothing I want more of in my life than the presence of God. I am a simple man. I felt for years that some day when I was a real mature Christian I would be able to argue doctrine and make up eloquent postmodern arguments for my faith. Well friends I don’t think I will ever be able to do that because that is not the kind of man I am, my brain simply doesn’t work that way. I have come to the conclusion that for me to live as God has called my to I need not to be concerned with a grate deal biblical of knowledge, not that I wont spend my life studding God’s word and gleaning from it what he grants me. I feel it is better to know God than to store up a bunch of facts about the scriptures in my head. 1Cor. 8:1 Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. It is by prayer that I am getting to know God better than I ever have and by knowing God better I will be closer to him.

My “routine” is this most mornings but not all is to spend about 15-20 minutes in prayer and in bible reading. I start with 25 restorations of the Jesus prayer. Then I prayerfully read a small section of scripture either using Lectio Devino or Holly imagination depending on the section I and studying. If I have extra time and do some devotional reading it is usually from The Imitation of Christ, The practice of the presence of God, or The little flowers of St. Francis The rest of the day is spent as best I can trying to live the prayer life described by Brother Lawrence in the Practice of the presence of God. With scripture memorization being a regular part of my day as well. Simplicity and my flexibility to what God is doing in my life is much more important than some home made set of rules or goal I have set or my self.
It is in simplicity, purity, and his grace that I hope to live I a life in his presence as much as possible.