The point is not simply to say words of prayer. The point is for the whole man to be a prayer before God. The moment you feel devoutness, contrition and the fear of God –exactly because you are aware of God’s presence– it is as if you are praying, no mat- ter where you are, no matter what you do. Your soul is attached to God. As you have the sense of God’s presence, that makes you stand in piety before Him, and saves you from being led hither, thither and yon.
In order for the soul to be constantly in prayer before God, it doesn’t necessarily have to utter any words, once it has a constant sense of God’s pres- ence, moves lovingly towards God and embraces God’s love.
In this sense, our whole life has to be and can be prayer according to the words in the gospels, “pray without ceasing”.
Archimandrite Symeon Kragiopoulos (†)
From the book: Archimandrite Symeon Kragiopoulos, “SPIRITUAL MESSAGES” Panorama Thessaloniki, 2017
