christianity

This book is an excellent introduction to, and survey of, the practice and experience of prayer for Christians. Richard Foster draws from many different traditions and experiences and distills them into this very fine and accessible work. It's very practical, unpretentious and inspiring. Foster helps us examine the many facets of prayer grouped according to three intentions on personal transformation, intimacy with God and ministry to others. Among its 21 chapters you may find aspects of prayer that are very familiar to you (maybe you had never thought of them as prayer before) along with encouragement to focus and deepen your efforts in those areas. Other types of prayer may be completely foreign to you but offer an invitation to explore. For those who want to take prayer more seriously this book is a very good place to begin. It is not an introduction in the sense of being superficial or shallow. It treats each aspect of prayer in enough depth to get the willing reader well on his or her way to a more effective and vital life of prayer. But it also shows us prayer as a vast, life long and life changing endeavor and points to the work of others who have explored the various disciplines of prayer more deeply. This books is essential reading.

If you've ever read my reviews, then you know I don't tell you what the book is about. I give the good parts and the bad parts simple enough that even a feeble minded college student (like myself) can understand. Let's begin...
Well can I say anything bad about this book? The only thing I didn't like about the book was some of the big vocabulary that left me going "huh?" Other than that, I would recommend this book to any pastor, sunday school teacher, or anyone breathing that prays to God. WHAT MAKES THIS BOOK SO SPECTULAR is the fact that Foster is not dogmatic in his theology. He does not just give one denominational view on prayer. From fundamentalists to charismatics, people from all different types of beliefs read this book and generally agree on it. He goes in depth on different ways to pray but gives examples that are easy to understand. IF YOU WANT TO INDEFINATELY BOOST YOUR PRAYER LIFE, GET THIS BOOK!

Foster tells listeners "God has graciously allowed me to catch a glimpse into his heart" and that "The heart of God is an open wound of love." God aches over our distance, weeps over our obsessions, and longs for our presences. Moreover, God wants to relieve us of aggression, frustration and fear and replace it with security and peace. Foster's goal is to help believers with lessons on prayer. Foster tells us we avoid prayer because we are naturally prideful and hardhearted. In addition, when we do desire prayer, we first want to put our life in order. That's why God gave us prayer, he explains. Constant prayer - the beginner's prayer, the simplest prayer, the breath prayer, etc. - will put our lives in order and bring us "back to that which we were created for."

Foster explains prayer and guides those who pray. Written for both the novice and experienced Christian, he talks about the prayer of adoration and rest, sacramental prayer, meditation and contemplation. In expressing God and his desire, the author uses common examples and backs his teachings with scripture.

The book Prayer was published in 1992. This audio version contains chapters 1, 2, 11, 13, 15, 18, 21 of that version.

Brenda @ MyShelf.Com