Short and Silent Prayer

So we ought to pray often but briefly, in case our crafty enemy manages to plant something in our heart while we take a long time over it. For that is the true sacrifice, since “the sacrifice of God is a broken spirit.” This is the offering that brings salvation; these are pure drink offerings; this is the “sacrifice of righteousness,” the “sacrifice of praise”; these are true and fattened sacrifices, “whole burnt offerings full of marrow,” offered by contrite and humble hearts. Those who practice the control and fervor of spirit we have spoken of can sing with effective power: “Let my prayer be set before you as incense; let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice.” But the coming of the proper hour and of night warns us that we ought to do this very thing with fitting devotion. On this subject, as far as our slender ability allowed, we seem to have set out a great deal and to have drawn out our conference a long time. Yet we believe we have said very little, when the greatness and difficulty of the subject are considered. [a]

We were dazzled rather than satisfied by these words of the holy Isaac. After the evening service had been held, we rested our limbs for a short time. Then we left, meaning to return at first dawn, since he had promised a fuller discussion; and we rejoiced at having gained these precepts and at the assurance of his promises. For we felt that, although the excellence of prayer had been shown to us, we had not yet understood from his talk what its nature is, or the power by which continual prayer may be gained and kept.