This is a short prayer rule that is based on an example given by Archimandrite Sergius from St. Tikhon's Monastery. A prayer rule should be said in front of the icons, preferably with a lit candle and, if possible, the room lights dimmed. It is important to remember we will never have time for God but rather must make time for God. Be flexible and do what works in order to maintain the connection with God and cultivate a real relationship, not just fulfill our 'rule' of prayer.
Ideally we should also be spending time reading the Epistle and Gospel appointed for the day, as well as the lives of the Saints.
Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee.
O heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of blessings, and Giver of life: come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.
O Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal:
have mercy on us. (thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now, and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O Most Holy Trinity: Have mercy on us. Lord: Cleanse us from our sins. Master: Pardon our transgressions. Holy One: visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake.
Lord, have mercy. (thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now, and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, Who art in heaven. Hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven. Give is this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Lord, have mercy. (twelve times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now, and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Come, let us worship God our King;
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our
King and God;
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and God.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy according to the abundance of thy compassion blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my iniquity and my sin is always before me: Against thee, thee alone, have I sinned; I have done evil before thee; that thou mayest be justified in thy words and victorious when thou art judged. Behold, I was conceived in iniquities, in sins did my mother bear me. Behold, thou hast loved the truth, thou hast made manifest to me wisdom's hidden and secret things. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop and I will be made clean, thou shalt wash me and I will be made whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me hear joy and gladness, my humbled bones shall rejoice. Turn thy face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a pure heart O God, and renew a right Spirit within me. Do not cast me away from thy presence; do not take thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me in thy guiding Spirit. I will teach transgressors thy ways and the godless shall turn back to thee. Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall rejoice in thy righteousness. O Lord, thou shalt open my lips and my mouth shall declare thy praise. For if thou hast desired a sacrifice I would have given it; thou wilt not be pleased even with whole burnt sacrifices. A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit, a broken and humbled heart God will not count as nothing. Do good in thy good pleasure to Zion, and may Jerusalem's walls be built up. Then thou shalt be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with offering and whole burnt sacrifices; then they shall offer young bulls on thine altar.
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of light; true God of true God; begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by Whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation came down from Heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man. And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. And the third day He arose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; Whose Kingdom shall have no end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spoke by the prophets.
In one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Making 5 or 10 prostrations (or bows if we are not able), and making the sign of the cross each time, we say the Jesus Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.
This is a good time to say some prayers from a Prayer Book, Prayers before Communion, and/or Prayers of Intercession for Others.
It is truly meet to bless thee, O Theotokos, ever-blessed and most pure and the Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim: without corruption thou gave birth to God the Word: true Theotokos, we magnify Thee.
Lord, have mercy. (thrice)
Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy upon us and save us. Amen.
Through the prayers of Thy most pure Mother, my holy Guardian Angel, my patron saint N. and of all Thy saints, have mercy on us and upon Thy world.