"Before we pray, the soul must prepare itself with prayer. Prayer for Prayer. Listen to the prayer the priest recites silently in the Divine Liturgy as the Epistle is being read:

‘Shine in our hearts, O Loving Master, the pure light of Your Divine Knowledge and open the eyes of our minds to the proclamations of Your Gospel. Instill within us fear of your blessed commandments, so that trampling down all desires of the flesh, we may lead a spiritual manner of living, both thinking and doing the things which are pleasing to You.

For You are the Illumination of our souls and bodies O Christ our God and to You we ascribe glory, together with your Father Who is without beginning and Your All-Holy, Good and Life-Giving Spirit, now and forever and unto the ages of ages, Amen.’" -St Porphyrios (20th Cent) Wounded by Love, Pages 113-114. 

Reflection: 
This suggestion by Saint Porphyrios(1) is not a rule, but a point worth reflecting upon: the prayer read by the priest(2), can be used as preparation for us to enter into a proper atmosphere for our personal prayer (also to read Scripture). 

One can see St Porphyrios’ point when we think about how, before we begin to pray, oftentimes we say: “Glory to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Now and forever and unto the ages of ages, Amen.” - That is a prayer on its own, to begin praying too. We glorify God and affirm our belief in the One Triune God, before saying our prayer.

We ask God to “shine in our hearts” the “pure light of Your Divine Knowledge” so that God will have His Holy Spirit illumine the eyes of our souls to see, not simply with human eyes/logic, but we ask God to grant us His Grace to see the world, other people, and situations as Christ sees them - with Divine love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control(3). But our ability to live this way(4) is limited as human beings, unless we ceaselessly call upon God to grant us His Grace by the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

In order to truly make progress in life, to become our truest self, to see everyone and everything through Christ’s eyes with Divine Love and discernment - we must pray with a disposition of love, humility, and patience. Trust in God completely to “complete what is lacking”(5) by offering our best efforts, while having the humility to allow God to dwell and work within us, cultivating His Holy Spirit. Asking “Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me.”

Let us choose to allow the Holy Spirit to fill us, by putting away our ego, through our humility, trust in God, we ask that He will reveal Christ within our hearts. So that in and through our hearts, He will reveal Christ unto everyone around us through the very essence of our being and way of life. Let us remember to ask for God’s help to pray: “Prayer for Prayer”.  

Reference(s): 

1) 20th Cent, Read More about St Porphyrios Here

2) Text of the Divine Liturgy

3) Galatians 5:22-23 (Fruits of the Holy Spirit)  

4) Galatians 5:22-23 (Fruits of the Holy Spirit)   

5)  Prayer said by the Bishop while Ordaining a Deacon to Priest, “The Divine Grace, which always heals that which is infirm and completes that which is lacking, ordains the most devout Deacon (name) to the office of the Priest…”