How I Learned to Begin Praying

To support our ministries, see sppoc.org/dona...

[@katosoni]

I'm in a dark place and desperately need Christ. This video was exactly what I needed, Thank you Father.

[@ianholder77]

My unworthy prayers for you. God bless.

[@Lilo82531]

❤❤

[@DW-oj6yu]

Be blessed in Godly suffering, and never forget this is our true state of being. We are in constant need of Him and His grace.

[@averyvery18]

Praying for you. Never stop praying. All prayers are heard even if you feel like your prayers aren't answerered.💛

[@eliasg.2427]

Praying for you 🙏🏻

[@zzzaaayyynnn]

This changed my thoughts about praying. Listened to it 10 times. Thank you, Father!

[@AidanWillis-pr9qo]

Thank you, Fr. Paul. May Heaven consume you.

[@ilincahutanu3421]

Amin!!!!!. 😌🤌💕.

[@jacobdishman3451]

Thank you Fr. Paul for this incredibly helpful instruction! I am a life-long Protestant and am getting married in a month to my life-long Protestant fiance. What great timing to be drawn to the Orthodox Church! 😅 I am struggling with her rejection of any of the ideas I share with her about Orthodoxy, but I am making my best effort to begin the spiritual practices of the Church on my own in preparation, in case God decides in His mercy to make a way for me and my fiance to convert together. Please pray for me that this will happen. For now, I feel blessed to even know about Orthodoxy even if God never allows me into the Church, I will be filled by the hope and knowledge of the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church, and become closer to Christ every day. Thank you for your edifying words again.

[@ianholder77]

God bless you and her.

[@MerelyMolly]

My fiance started learning about orthodoxy last year, right after we were freshly engaged. We were both raised protestant. I pushed back and could not accept the saints--I thought it was evil to pray to them. I also could not understand the love and veneration of the Theotokos. I would have arguments with him, trying to bring him back to Protestantism, but man did he just jump right in. After a while, I began to realize my protestant arguments were weak. I realized the saints were real and alive--after all Jesus told the thief on the cross that he would be with Him in paradise that very day. I began to understand the disregard for Mary was very mistaken, along with the story of her relationship with Joseph. The Orthodox Church is deeply rooted in history and on God working through the saints, while the protestant church felt very disconnected and mega modern. It was started 1500 years (give or take) after Jesus's resurrection, after all. I became a catechumen after 2-3 months of arguing and falling flat. 😂 Now, we are married and were baptized/chrismated into the Church. My point is that there is hope! And though your fiance might hold on to protestantism, you going down this path gets her one step closer to the true church. I am forever grateful that my fiance dragged me here. Eventually, I picked my face up, got to my feet, started walking alongside him. Prayers for you and your fiance.

[@jacobdishman3451]

@MerelyMolly This is INCREDIBLY encouraging, thank you so much! Prayers for you all in your journey as well!

[@MerelyMolly]

@@jacobdishman3451 Thank you! 🙂

[@trollsneedhugs]

The Truth is Truth regardless of the source. Protestants are not totally wrong, in fact they are right about most points. Perhaps explain that to her, that she isn't wrong. I like it to having a partial set of encyclopedias. They are not wrong, and the reader is not wrong, they just haven't read all the books.

[@fluvius7059]

All your previous mistakes are basically my current mistakes that I continually make. Thank you for this video. ♥ ♥ ♥

[@sodalish]

I believe this is one of the most underrated videos. Thank you so much for this gift and much love from Canada

[@JudithSchmailzl]

God bless you, father. Yesterday i was nearly in despair about my praying, like often before....And then this helpful video ☦️.

[@user-dc5mv2ic1h]

Thank you, father, I only recently went to my first Liturgy and decided to fully become Orthodox this reflection and others you made have truly helped me to get to where I am now are continuing to help me grow spiritually

[@DW-oj6yu]

Me too! 🙏

[@ირაკლიმაისურაძე-ნ8დ]

God bless orthodoxy amen Jesus ❤

[@michelemarion549]

Thank you. I came across this video just minutes after standing before the icon of.Christ and expressing my desire to grow in my prayer life. I asked Him to help me with this.

[@Zeina912]

Thank you, dear Father. This is exactly what I needed to warm my heart and help me with my prayer life.

[@suburbanyute340]

Wow, this is the most useful advice on prayer I've ever come across. Actually life-changing

[@SashaLipskaia]

Thank you, Father! I am learning to love prayer and to submit to Him through the words in the prayers created by those that lived holy lives in Him. Amen, bless you. In Jesus name, may we all strive to Love Him more right now. To be close to you, to hear You with our hearts. Christ is right here. Thank you Lord.

[@remusik04]

Thank you father for sharing this. I watch your videos from Romania. Also, FYI: Elder Cleopa from Romania will be made a saint next year by the Romanian Patriarchy, along with other great romanian saints.

[@DMichiganWol21]

Thank you Father, this was very important segment. Lord, Jesus Christ have mercy on me

[@xtra.squish]

Thank you Father☦️🤍

[@JC4all_dena]

Your previous experience is so relatable!!! Thank you so much for being so humble to share it with us. Makes me feel like I'm not alone in my horrible ideas of God inside myself sometimes that His love is truly for all including me but somehow it's only in front of others, that when it's just me and Him we both know i don't really have it like the rest... I'm getting so much better at not feeling that way but not even close to being fully healed yet. I will certainly try what you explained! God bless you Father i thank God for you 🙏

[@melanie_mouse]

Thank you, Father. This morning I prayed for guidance in how to pray, and your video popped up! Just what I needed. Glory to God.

[@nickpetitto2105]

Fr. Bless. Thank you for the insight. Christ is risen.

[@lawrence8724]

Thank you Father. I often suffer with praying on autopilot, where I just whiz through it to tick the box. It is good for us to stop and appreciate what we are actually doing. As you say, the whole 'ticking the box' thing is another facet of thinking God needs our prayer. I will try to remember to take these steps when I pray. Your blessing.

[@brixiex2580]

I will try this, I have trouble connecting. Thank you.

[@firmbiz000]

Glory to God. I needed this. Thank you Father for the helpful information.

[@sudabdjadjgasdajdk3120]

Oh my god what a beautiful beautiful talk! Thank you so much your videos help me so much!!

[@thenarrowdoor7]

Thank you so much father ☦️❤️

[@Reippa]

Thank you Father helped alot.

[@ianholder77]

Thank you very much Fr Paul.

[@densaakaldte1]

Lord, show me the way and make me willing to walk it

[@Jnd.2]

Thank you father I struggle with lust and I really needed this thank you.

[@nV_ICXC_NIKA]

Thank you, Father.

[@DreamcastFarm]

God bless

[@syntax575]

Thank you Father. What a great video

[@HNNKNed]

Thank you Fr. Paul

[@j3yds]

i always feel terrible when i commit sins i've tried to repent for so i'd wait a few days to not commit it and then start praying again because i felt cleaner, this really opened up my eyes, thank you, Father

[@bryincda]

Thank you, Father!

[@haxguy0]

Wild! I do this same thing as a protestant. Appreciate this and glad to hear brothers in a different tradition are more similar than I would have thought.

[@jaydenstephens3338]

Thankyou Father for your advice and encouragement God bless

[@antoninospitale4646]

Thank you , Father

[@Hoi4o]

This was incredibly helpful, thank you so much, Fr. Paul!

[@flowerblush4171]

Thank you for this I hope I can do it too

[@olgaolga4193]

Amin!

[@sammcintosh7871]

Fr. Paul i only just came across your video even though you made this two months ago but if you please see this i would love to hear more videos on prayer. May God bless you abundantly

[@antoninospitale4646]

This the 3rd times that i watch this video❤

[@madelynplat6549]

Thank you, Father Paul. Madelyn Athens, Greece

[@SullivanHoran]

Thank you, Father. I really needed these words. What good timing from the Lord!

[@TinaHyde]

Thanks be to God for your ministry! Real, tangible help without any political agenda! Thank you, Fr. Paul!

[@wade43671]

Thank you, Father, for your timely message. I really needed to hear this today!

[@AlaskaMan2005-n7v]

Father should I pray Orthodox prayers as an Orthodox Inquirer

[@HelloConnect22]

May God bless you and your family. Great wisdom 🙏

[@rscotthudson1959]

Thank you Father for this most helpful video.

[@mm-qm9zh]

Thank you so much for sharing this!! This was amazing, and helped me so much!! God bless you, Father Paul! Meline

[@GodisGood-v4n]

Wow, this was very very very helpful. I thank you a lot, father.

[@HuwRaphael]

Father, this video is amazing. Thank you.

[@barrett2680]

Great video, very helpful toward my own prayer life. God bless you father!

[@anawilliams6500]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Blue-od7gy]

Thank you. Great video. You will be successful on KZbin.

[@Dusty4u]

thank you that really helped me

[@mikkokemppinen3333]

Thank you ❤️🙏

[@jarrakis4834]

Gold thank you

[@thadhus3507]

I’m 15 and Roman Catholic although my family isn’t that religious. I have been looking into Orthodoxy and I think I want to convert when I’m older. I want to pray but don’t what prayers to do as someone. Can anyone tell me what prayers i should do. Thanks and please pray for me.

[@nim831]

Could you make a video on the difference between the efficacy and validity of sacraments--if there is any?

[@starrpatrick2905]

As a very busy mama of two very little kids, how do I find time and energy to just be still for this long and pray? How do I find time to breathe that much? I want to do this so badly. We are very new to orthodoxy.

[@potoceancosminvirgilius5744]

Many thanks for your posts. How did you find out about soon to be recognised as Saint Father Cleopa Ilie. Maybe you will come to attend when he will be sanctified? God bless

[@TourchezArt]

Love your videos I only have a small critique, only on the channel I feel as though if you improved on your thumbnails it could help reach more and more people

[@johnsambo9379]

I am addicted to pills and praying god can help me get off them. I don't know what to do.

[@Cheezy_Bunz]

I hope you are doing well brother. Is everything all right?

[@Burtannia]

We go to the well to draw from in, not to pour our drips of water into it.

[@Dziomolek]

I see that iconoclasm never happened in orthodox.. icon of Epiphanius of Salamis is missing ☺

[@antotizwell9215]

Hello, i am unsure about converting, could you tell me the falsities of a non denominational baptist church. Thanks

[@williamphillips3330]

I am answering on my husband's phone. The name you see isn't mine. I don't know how Fr. Paul might answer you here. There are many videos out there abt the problems in prtnstism. Can get confusing. My suggestion is to start going to an Orthodox Church. Begin attending the Divine Litugies, or at least Vespers or Vigils . Meet the priest, and some Church members, go to coffee hour and talk and listen, and begin to LEARN WHAT IS RIGHT about the ORTHODOX CHURCH. That works much better, and is what you will have to do eventually anyway if your interest continues. Different questions about how the Church is different from your church, indeed any church other than the Orthodox Church will come up during that process and be answered in due time. Enjoy your journey. Don't be hesitant. Don't be afraid. Don't get discouraged. It is worth EVERY EFFORT. ☦️📿⭐️📿☦️

[@bethehuu]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@georgejoannou1329]

✝️❤️👏👏

[@sofiebult]

How do you truly believe that He really loves you? Like i believe it but.... I know my daughter loves me, my granddaughter loves me..

[@zoilife3929]

This is a huge struggle that we all pass through our spiritual life. 😞 I constantly have those thoughts, although I am sure God have answered me many times in my agony. I even ask if He is aware of me (my existence), does He know me or one day He will tell me “ depart from me, I don’t know you” 😢But on the other hand I often have the feeling that I have to open up my self to Him with humility and humbleness and ask Him those questions. But what is keeping me from doing so? It’s like I am waiting from Him to make the first step and show me so that my soul, heart and mind would feel His love in a way that I can’t deny it anymore! Lord Jesus Christ Son of God have mercy upon me!🙏🏻☦️

[@SILLY_BILLY_777]

@@sofiebult because despite all of our wickedness deserving of wrath and punishment, He instead gives us time to repent and forgives us endlessly. I know no one who would forgive or give someone time to get themselves right again and doesn't love that person

[@jcdooms]

Hello father, genuine question - when the elders talk about prayer, they advice not to imagine things while praying. What's the difference between their meaning of imagination and what you're advising - imagining all the junk flooding out of you? I don't mean to be disrespectful, just an honest question. Thank you in advance!

[@grizzly_8917]

He was imagining prior to prayer to clear his mind to begin proper prayer. That's my thought, at least. Have you read the book The Way of a Pilgrim? It talks about this, too.

[@frpaul]

Great question! The Fathers strictly advise us not to use our imagination DURING prayer. What I suggest is using it in preparation for prayer. St Theophan the Recluse does the same. He says to imagine Christ on the cross or something else to warm yourself up for prayer prior to beginning prayer. Once we begin praying, though, our prayer should be without mental images.

[@jcdooms]

@@frpaul Thank you, father! Thanks to both of you, I will try to implement this method to prepare my mind for prayer. Also thanks for the book recommendation. God bless you! 🙏

[@HighCarbDiabeticV]

@@frpaulHi Paul, when I pray, I’ll sometimes imagine myself kneeling or lying on the floor in front of him as he stands there as a shining light. I always find it helps me focus on the heavenly throne and so my mind doesn’t wander to something else. The more Scripture I read before and after, it would help me pray longer and in a more pure state. I find prayer to be very physically and mentally exhausting, incredibly taxing on the system.

[@eggsackley9435]

I spent the weekend with my godfather and it pained me to talk aloud about how horrible I am at praying. It’s shameful.

[@johnsambo9379]

God knows your heart.

[@nickpetitto2105]

Why? Humble thyself.

[@NK-mj8gs]

6:30

[@jonathanstaples9231]

God bless Father but man you up late

[@Maria-f5m1k]

🙏🏻🤍

[@johnsambo9379]

Jesus saves. Muslims and Jews pray alot.

[@despairknot]

An apophatic approach!

[@Dlee-eo5vv]

Oh, be careful about any imaginations in your prayers, no a good practice.

[@frpaul]

Indeed. My suggestion is to use the imagination PRIOR to prayer, not during it.

[@Dlee-eo5vv]

@@frpaul thank you for your clarification.

[@PadrePablo-m9x]

We never use our imagination in our prayers. Be careful speaking too much about everything.

[@frpaul]

@@PadrePablo-m9x Nowhere does the video suggest using the imagination DURING prayer.

[@PadrePablo-m9x]

Minute 3:05. You said it: it can sound strange, I imagine. Dear Father, we don't use imagination. It is roman Catholic style. Just humble yourself. You said that it is how you begin your prayers

[@PadrePablo-m9x]

The beginning of prayer is DURING prayer.

[@PadrePablo-m9x]

Again 3:20 you said, I imagine

[@PadrePablo-m9x]

You are teaching to use new age tecniches with breathing. It is called visualization or true fantasy in order to begin with orthodox prayers. Just be careful. Less videos can help you. With love from an Orthodox priest, your brother.