Wrestling to find the mind, in the heart

"Keep your attention within yourself (not in your head but in your heart). 
Keep your mind there (in the heart), trying by every possible means to 
find the place where the heart is, in order that, having found it, your mind 
should constantly abide there. Wrestling thus, the mind will find the place of the heart. 
This happens when grace produces sweetness and warmth in prayer...with God's help, 
you will learn...from your own experience, by keeping your mind attentive 
and in your heart holding Jesus, that is, His prayer -"Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy upon me!" 
One of the holy fathers says: 'Sit in your cell and this prayer will teach you everything.' "

- St. Simeon the New Theologian , Three Methods of Attention and Prayer

This is so wonderful! Since 1999, my mantram has been the Jesus prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy upon me!"...it is mysterious to me how this little repetitive prayer when practiced faithfully, can correct wayward synapses. The mind of Christ prevails and somehow dispenses with my anxious thoughts, taking them away from me. 

Truly this is the way I see the Lord "restoring me to the joy of my salvation"...day by day.

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