Categories: orthodox-life
Date: 06 July 2004 23:31:52
So begins Psalm 63: one of the Matins Psalms of the Orthodox church. St Basil the Great [one of the great early theologians] said if there was a perfect Psalm to be prayed in the morning, it is Psalm 63 -- and I won't disagree. A Psalm that speaks to me of the soul, once empty of anything, being restored through the grace of God.
I am actually quite lazy in my prayer life. I was never, and am not yet (and doubt if I ever will be), one of those blessed souls who can pray continually, and who have their fixed time for Bible reading & prayer. I do try to fix times each day, and to that end I try and use an Orthodox Prayer Book produced by the priest at my church. There are prayers for various times in the day, and each time I pray these my spirit is greatly aided. The Matins service is a wonderful way to start the day -- thanking God for keeping me safe during the night, asking His help for me during the day, and praising Him through Psalms that speak of his great help towards me and all people.
I was first introduced to Morning and Evening Prayer through my priest at my Anglican church -- he recommended them to me when I was gong through a major depression episode last year. I was truly blessed to have his guidance at that time in many ways. Praying these prayers, with many other Christians around the world who pray them also (and the many saints who have prayed them in times past) truly lifts my spirit, and truly aids me to praise and give thanks to God. I thank God for those who under his inspiration wrote the Psalms, those who wrote the various prayers that constitute the service, and also those who translated them into English for my benefit, and the benefit of many others.