Mutual Service in Manual Labor

  1. Monastic Work
  2. Work and the Spirit

Shared Liturgical Prayer

  1. The Liturgy
  2. On the Practice of Liturgical Prayer

Meditational Scripture

  1. Mona: One, Alone
  2. Lectio Divina: Theory
  3. Lectio Divina: Practice
  4. Reading
  5. Meditation
  6. Prayer
  7. Contemplation
  8. Prayer in the Heart

Prayer in the Heart

  1. The Words of the Prayer
  2. Saying the Prayer
  3. Praying in the Heart

Any combination of words from Scripture or from personal inspiration can be used, provided the petition has these characteristics.

It must be short. Let us say, roughly, between a fraction of a second to 4 or 5 seconds in length. From a single syllable up to say 20 words or so.

It must be addressed to Jesus, as God-Man, or to the Father; or to the "Lord" or "God"
without specific reference to Persons in the Trinity. That is, it must express the creatureliness,
sinfulness, meek or lowliness of the one praying.

It must express a trustful dependence upon God./p>

It must express, or at least imply, the Lordship, power, love, mercy and goodness
of the Father, the Son-Christ Jesus, the Holy Spirit or of "God."

You may compose your own prayer formula according to these principles. Or you may well choose a verse from Scripture or a traditional prayer. Examples of such prayers, proceeding from shorter to longer ones are:

God
Oh God
Lord God
Jesus
Love
Spirit
Mercy
Beloved
Lord Have Mercy
My Jesus Mercy
Spirit Of Love
Love, Give Me Love
I Am Yours And You Are Mine
Come, O Spirit, Come
Come Lord Jesus
In You I Trust, O Lord
Lord Save Me
Abba Father
[Each line of the Our Father taken separately]
Draw Me To You
I Seek Your Face, O Lord
O God, Come To My Assistance
O Lord, Make Haste To Help Me
Oh God, Be Merciful To Me A Sinner
Jesus, Remember Me In Your Kingdom

At the end of this list I added the traditional formula of the Jesus Prayer which has enjoyed tremendous popularity among the monks of the Orthodox Church:

O Lord Jesus Christ, Son Of God, Have Mercy On Me A Sinner

Choose a formula in great liberty of spirit. Stay with it until you feel led to vary it or substitute another.