Trexo Practices
Repetitive Prayer
Once upon a time, a long time ago, a sad man walked into a church (this story is anonymous and ancient, adapted from a monastic tale).
He was homeless and alone in the world. He had lost his family, his farm, his sense of purpose.
In church he heard a sermon based on 1 Thessalonians 5:17: ‘Pray without ceasing’.
He thought this might help him in his despair, but he had no idea where to start.
How do we pray without ceasing?
He decided to go on a journey to find people who could help him pray.
So he walked the countryside, asking everyone he met if they knew how he could pray without ceasing. No one did.
Finally, he came upon another pilgrim - and old man, walking with a stick to help him.
This man taught him the ‘Jesus Prayer’:
‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
Monks, elders, and pilgrims had been saying that prayer, over and over, since the first few hundred years of the church.
The man started saying the Jesus prayer.
He prayed as he walked, he prayed as he ate, he prayed in church, he prayed before he slept and the moment he woke up.
He murmured it to himself thousands of times:
‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
The Jesus Prayer began to live inside of the man, and it began to change his life. It healed his heart, and with his healed heart, he began to be more joyful and loving. He connected with others again. His life took on new meaning.
And he began to teach the Jesus Prayer to everyone he met.
Eventually, the man became known as a great spiritual healer and wise teacher.
He said the Jesus Prayer many, many times a day until the day he died.
The first step of the Basic Trexo Workout is Repetitive Prayer
And the first repetitive prayer to use is the Jesus Prayer.
If you are lonely, or distracted, or just want to open your heart to Jesus today, I invite you to say the Jesus Prayer 5 times - 10 if you feel bold, more if you feel bolder still.
Can you say it 100 times in one day?
Use some pebbles, or marbles, or something tangible to count your prayers as you say them.
You also use the graphics at the top of this page!
Mark off each dot as you say the prayer.
If you like, you can add a different prayer on the big dots.
Try the Our Father, The Hail Mary, the Gloria Patri, or one of the psalms.
You can find these prayers HERE.
Each Wednesday, we’ll check in to see how it’s going.
Hearts up!
