Tonight we begin an experiment in group prayer.  We’re praying the Jesus Prayer together on Twitter each night.  Join our group @Jesusmysteries, then join us at 10pm (Eastern time) and recite the Jesus Prayer out loud and in text, ending each “tweet” with the hashtag: #mjprayer.  That joins us together for a few minutes each night, before bedtime, as a kind of online fellowship in prayer.  Details follow…

As you know, I’ve recently completed a documentary movie and book (“Mysteries of the Jesus Prayer”) about ancient Christian spiritual practices in the holy lands of Egypt, Mt. Sinai, Greece, Eastern Europe and Russia.  We visited the world’s oldest functioning monasteries and caves where people like you and me left the world to immerse themselves in prayer.  These hermits, monks and nuns pray all day – every day – for the sake of the world, and for us.  They teach us the ancient prayers on film and in my book.

They pray for peace, and for God to have mercy on them, and all of us.  They pray in praise of God, and for His son, Jesus Christ to answer their prayers with compassion and forgiveness.  Sometimes the prayers help them realize God’s grace, and to feel His presence.  Other times, they are a kind of habitual peaceful rhythm ever reminding them that they are son’s and daughters of God, and that they are loved.

As a deeply spiritual person myself, I too have learned the habit of prayer and practice it to the best of my ability.  When I wake in the morning, the first thing I do is to acknowledge and thank God for another day.  Then I begin the ancient Jesus Prayer that I learned from my studies in ancient Christian practices.  It goes like this:

“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”  

That’s the long form, from the 13th century.  It’s accompanied by deep breathing in and out.  (It’s not the best idea to do deep breathing unless advised by your spiritual guide and OK’ed first by a physician).  Other times, I use the short form, just “Lord have mercy.”  Or just the Holy Name of Jesus.  I keep God in mind as much as possible all day, throughout my day.

I can’t leave the world like the hermits, monks and nuns we encountered on our spiritual pilgrimage did.  I have a job, family and kids – and I’m just not suited for life in a monastery or cave.  But I can take the prayers and peace with me wherever I go, and in whatever I do. You can too.

I hope you’ll join us in praying the Jesus Prayer together, online, in our “virtual monastery” at 10 pm (Eastern time) each night.  Go to twitter.com, join @Jesusmysteries, and then pray with us typing #mjprayer at the end of each prayer.