Who Should Pray the Jesus Prayer? All people need to pray continually... You cannot approach God without constant prayer. St Isaac the Syrian (d. 700) in Writings from the Philokalia God confirmed that the Prayer was for the Christian laity (not just Orthodox Christians)... ...it is the duty of all Christians, small and great, always to practice the mental prayer Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, so that their mind and heart may acquire the habit of always uttering those holy words. Let this convince you how pleasing this is to God and what great good derives from it, since He, out of His infinite love for men, sent a heavenly Angel to tell us this, so that no one should have any doubt about it. St. Gregory Palamas (d. 1359) relating an Angel of God's revelation in the Life of St. Gregory of Salonica Even those compelled to pray may benefit... I made him (unruly godson) sit down on a bench next to me and I ordered him to say the Jesus Prayer without stopping...After some time I noticed the whip was no longer necessary, for the boy recited the Prayer willingly and diligently and I noticed a change in his behavior...he got so accustomed to the the Prayer that he was saying it no matter what he was doing... Told to the anonymous author of The Way of a Pilgrim (19th century Russia); chapter 4 All people need the sanctification offered by the Prayer... Brothers, be always occupied with the intellectual prayer and do not move far away from God until you receive God's mercy and pity. Never ask for anything but for His infinite mercy and this is enough for your salvation. When asking for His mercy, cry aloud in entreaty with humble and contrite heart form morning to night and, if possible, during the whole night, saying unceasingly: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. Saint John Chrysostom speaking on sobriety and prayer