Little Prayer Book

Instruction on how one should pray rightly.

...would teach him to pray rightly, and not only teach him to pray, but inwardly open and purify the ears of his heart, and so recollect his mind original: "Gemüth dermassen einziehen" — a term for "recollection," the spiritual practice of pulling one's thoughts away from the external world to focus inward on God. that he may also comfortingly hear the Lord's lovely answer in prayer.

To this we should then apply ourselves daily with all earnestness, giving no place, room, or stead to wandering thoughts during prayer. Instead, as soon as they try to overwhelm us, we should cast them out and fight earnestly against them, turning our heart only toward Christ, and through Christ to GOD. We should also take notice when the Spirit of the Lord graciously moves us to pause upon a certain word or petition and offers His help, or perhaps teaches, exhorts, or reveals something good within it (as GOD the Lord very often teaches His friends about the mysteries of His kingdom, even in the midst of prayer). We should not disturb ourselves during such a gracious gift and work of GOD, but rather keep a Sela A Hebrew term found in the Psalms, traditionally used to mark a liturgical pause or a moment of reflection., or a stillness of spirit, and pay attention to what the Lord speaks through the Holy Spirit in our souls—yes, how the living Word of GOD spreads within our hearts.