What should I do when I don’t have the desire or there’s no time to pray?

 

Elder Nikon. Mount Athos, Greece 

By force. With pressure. Like when we make ourselves eat when we are sick and have no appetite. Because when we have no appetite for prayer, this means that we are spiritually sick. Just like your doctor will say to you “push yourself to eat to get some strength” so will your spiritual doctor tell you : “You must push yourself to make a little prayer”. Whenever someone is sick they can’t eat heavy food, similarly the spiritually sick can’t pray for long … They will a simple prayer. And this simple prayer is : “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me”. However cheerless one might be, even if they lack all desire, they can say those seven words. One might not be in the mood to read the Akathist to the Mother of God, to read the evening prayers, or other long prayers. But everyone can pray with this simple, strength – giving prayer.   “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me”.   “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me”.  In this way, little by little, Christ will notice her actions, see her struggle and He will send His Grace, and the appetite for prayer will grow. This prayer is the Alpha and the Omega of prayers because within is the name of Christ and it shows the Humbleness of the person calling out to Christ. Which attracts the Grace of God. This is the way the woman's appetite for prayer will grow.  By the continuance of this easy prayer: «Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me"

-          Elder …Christians have the  habit of starting their day with morning prayers. In the case that they are in a hurry which is better? To skip morning prayers at home and pray on the road, or spare five minutes and pray at home?

It depends on how much of a hurry they’re in. If they’re in a really big hurry skip prayer and go to work. Because, struggling to make a living, to take care of their families, this effort is also prayer. The prayers they can't do at home, they can pray on the way to work. Maybe some know prayers by heart, and can pray like that. Once they finish the prayers they know by heart, they can say the «Lord Jesus Christ mercy on me» until they arrive at work. And this  fills the time and the gap made by the other prayers they didn't manage to say. Prayers don't need to be said in a specific place alone. Whoever doesn't have time to pray at home, can pray in the car or on the train, they can pray wherever even while walking. They can pray from their hearts. If they don't have time to catch up their morning prayers they souldn't be worried. Just leave for work, because as we said, this struggle, this sacrifice is prayer. And the prayer maybe completed on the road, with the prayers they know by heart. And when they have prayed all they know by heart, they start praying «Lord Jesus Christ mercy on me ».

By :  St.Panteleimon monastery