In the spiritual life, prayer is as necessary as breathing, and with practice becomes as just natural. The goal of prayer is not merely to "say prayers," but rather to become prayer, to acquire a prayerful way of being in the world, to embody a peaceful and joyful presence.


One of the best ways to begin making prayer a part of our daily routine is to learn a few simple prayers we can use in different situations: in the morning, in the car, at work, before meals, and before sleeping. Here are a few examples of prayers that can be used throughout the day:


In the Orthodox Tradition, one of the most simple and beautiful prayers is the Jesus Prayer, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me." This prayer may be repeated meditatively with the help of a "prayer rope," or may simply be said from time to time throughout the day while breathing in and out slowly and peacefully.


The Lord's Prayer is the prayer which Jesus taught His disciples when they asked, "How should we pray?" This is a beautiful prayer to say in the morning and evening, before meals, or at any time we seek God's blessing upon our endeavors.

The Holy Spirit is the mysterious presence of God in all things, the one who makes all things one. This is a beautiful prayer to say at the beginning of the day, or whenever we are seeking a deeper sense of connectedness: