What is the “Jesus Prayer” or the “Prayer of the Heart”? A few years ago I was listening to a Princeton podcast about prayer. One of the participants talked about the Jesus Prayer, or the Prayer of the heart. This is a prayer that seems to be very ancient, coming out of the desert in the early Christian church. Two interesting links about this prayer can be found at Wikipedia and http://www.prayerofheart.com/.
Apparently, the practice of meditation and repetition of this simple prayer has been useful to induce an altered state of reverence and communion with God. When I heard the podcast I recognized the words as being approximately what Alma “the younger” cried while in his altered state of pain, anxiety and despair. While listening to the most recent talk by Elder Holland I was reminded of this prayer. Near the end of this address, full of the deepest emotion I feel Elder Holland experienced while giving this talk, he repeated the words of Alma.
I find it fascinating that Alma the Younger uttered nearly the identical words and was delivered from captivity. What is it about these words, uttered from a completely broken heart, that have the power to deliver one from “…the pains of a damned soul” racked with “…inexpressible horror” to a state of “…remembering my pains no more” “being filled with “…joy, marvelous light”?
Your thoughts are welcomed.
