I kinda feel like praying tonight

[JustinHesychast]

I think I do. But I say "Jesus" in a non-condescending way (God, etc.), and when I've tried to pray before, I feel silly and so I just stop...

[Knowledge3]

Here is way a you can pray tonight, say mentally in your head Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner.

X3

:prayer:

[Anhelyna]

AS - I suspect that a lot of why you are feeling that way is because you wish to give thanks - you now have a wee job and a bit more reason for living.

OK if that's it - all you do is say "Thank you God , please help me to do what you want "

It's a starter and you can progress from there

[Sacrum Silentium]

Just remember that prayer is a form of askesis, so you're not born doing it well. You have to start somewhere, and with continued askesis you'll find yourself more able to pray.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong here.

[Akathist]

When I was a protestant I only said prayers that I though of myself. When it was hard to pray due to my internal issues, I woudn't be able to pray at all.

One of the great things about the Eastern Orthodox is that when it is hard for us to pray, we can just read prayers written by Saints before us, and also read many of the Psalms as our prayers.

If you click on my CF home page (lower right hand corner of any of my posts) I have in there prayers that are found in either one of my prayer books or from Eastern Orthodox prayer links I have found on line. I selected prayers that have especially helped me when I have found it hard to pray.

[Dust and Ashes]

Recently I was plodding through my evening prayers because I'd been taking a spiritual beating and it was all I could do to get through them. My wife said something about how mechanically I had done them and I told her Father had told me it was much better to pray without feeling than to not pray. At least I'm keeping the habit going.

[Rowan]

I'd recommend the Jesus Prayer (like in Knowledge3's post) again and again. I've found that even if my brain isn't registering it at the moment, keeping Jesus' name on my lips in always a good thing regardless.

[Protoevangel]

Here is way a you can pray tonight, say mentally in your head Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner.

X3

:prayer:I'd recommend the Jesus Prayer (like in Knowledge3's post) again and again. I've found that even if my brain isn't registering it at the moment, keeping Jesus' name on my lips in always a good thing regardless.
I would also like to chime in here and say the same thing. This prayer has been revolutionary for me.

If you are alone, you can repeat it verbally, or if there are people around, you can say it to yourself as a a mental prayer. It is simple enough that it can accompany you anywhere, while you are doing (almost) anything. It is profound enough that you can repeat it thousands of times per day for years, and it will always be fresh and meaningful the next time you say it, as you learn to say it from the heart. It is truly the fulfillment of St. Paul's exhortation to us to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5.17).

[Naozane]

As I'm doing often today (hey, I'm new here!), I must agree with what many others have already said - pray anyway.

Even if it's halting or mechanical, there's a benefit to prayer. The Jesus prayer ("Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." is another variation) is super, as it contains the fullness of the faith (there are several exegeses out there, far better than I could do) and is pretty easy to remember.

Even if prayer is done by sheer force of will, there's benefit. It's certainly an askesis, as others have pointed out. He knows it's a struggle for you, and He won't overlook your efforts!

Faith, and by extension prayer, are a lot like marriage (even overlooking the many allusions to marriage that we already have in the faith) - as with the love we hold for our spouses, some days our faith and prayers flow freely and joyously. Some days, it's a lot of work.

If all you can manage is a heartfelt, "Lord! Lord!" then count yourself blessed! Even if it's merely a groan, it will be heard. That one cry from your heart is worth a whole mess of words (and being Orthodox, we know a thing or twelve about using a whole mess of words!).

[Theophorus]

When grace seems to be gone where do we go?

Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

[Naozane]

When grace seems to be gone where do we go?

Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Answered your own question there! Seriously, though - the key word there is SEEMS. In my experience, grace is never actually gone. Rather, we just lose sight, as it were, of it. Through the hardening of our hearts, our distractions by the cares of the world (and believe me - I've experienced how heavy some of those cares can be!), and so on, we lose sight of God's measureless grace.

And by retreating to God through prayer, even if it's deliberate ascetic prayer, we can gain sight of grace once again.

[JustinHesychast]

I didn't pray.

[Naozane]

I didn't pray.

Well, it's not too late to get back on the wagon!

[Akathist]

One of the things I do with the Jesus Prayer is say it in my head while doing something else. It might not be the very very best time to say it but I find that it has been very helpful to me.

I have found that I am not alone in this either. There seems to be a number of people whose thoughts drift when trying to concentrate just on prayer that I have come accross.

When I am driving in the car, I say the Jesus Prayer a few times. When I was at the dentists office I kept saying it in my head. I had some painful medical tests late last year and I used the Jesus prayer throughout to help me stay still and calm.

I like to memorize prayers and then say them when washing dishes or walking for exercise. A favorite of mine for that is Psalm 50. But I love the beatitudes as well.

If for some reason you want to do more then the Jesus Prayer or something different, try memorizing the Lord's Prayer and saying it before each meal.

Just get the flow of prayer started. It is amazing what happens when you just start to do a little bit of prayer, even if you are just mechanically reading something.