A Guidebook to Prayer

Why is prayer so hard? Many of us have asked that question. We want to pray. We intend to pray. But, as spiritual director and professor MaryKate Morse notes, " we don't pray as consistently or as meaningfully as we might like." And yet prayer offers us such spiritual riches. Prayer



- draws us to experience love and to be love

- increases our faith

- expands our vision of God

- helps us grow in self-understanding

- gives us perspective on life and deathMorse continues: "Through prayer, we experience forgiveness, guidance and peace. We are healed physically and emotionally. We experience the mystery of God, see truth and receive spiritual gifts. We receive vision and courage for God's mission. Faith becomes more beautiful, more real." This guidebook is designed to move you from lamenting over prayerlessness to the joy of praying. Whether you are a beginner or a lifetime person of faith, you will find a treasure trove of riches here to guide you into a deeper experience of prayer. Each chapter explores a different angle of prayer with sections focusing on each of the persons of the Trinity—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And each chapter offers specific ways to pray both on your own, with a partner or in a group. Sprinkled throughout are reflections from the author's former students describing on their own experience with these practices. A treasure trove of both resources and encouragement, you will find this book to be an indispensable guide to your life of prayer.



Joshua Choonmin Kang (ThM, Talbot School of Theology; MDiv, Azusa Pacific University) is founding pastor of New Life Vision Church in the Koreatown area of Los Angeles, California. He is a speaker and has written books such as Deep-Rooted in Christ and Scripture by Heart. Kang is also the author of thirty books in Korean, including God's Grace That Turns the Life Around, with over 1.5 million copies in print.



MaryKate Morse is professor of leadership and spiritual formation at George Fox Evangelical Seminary in Portland, Oregon. She is the author of Making Room for Leadership. She holds an M.A. in biblical studies and an M.Div. from Western Evangelical Seminary (now George Fox Evangelical Seminary), and her doctorate in leadership from Gonzaga University. In addition to teaching she also serves as a consultant to churches and organizations in transition or with leadership challenges. She has planted two churches with leadership teams in Portland, Oregon. Along with being a Quaker minister and a trained spiritual director, she also does conference and retreat ministries and mentors leaders.

Contents


Foreword by Rev. Joshua Choonmin Kang


Acknowledgments


Introduction: Prayer as Roadness to God
Part One: God the Father


1. Community Prayer—God as One in Community


2. Creative Prayer—God as Creator


3. Work Prayer—God as Active


4. Contemplative-Rest Prayer—God as Rest


5. Prayer of Confession—God as Holy


6. Blessing Prayer—God as Loving-Kindness


7. Worship Prayer—God as Worthy
Part Two: God the Son


8. Reflection-Examen Prayer—Jesus as Human


9. The Lord?s Prayer—Jesus as Lord


10. Servant Prayer—Jesus as Servant


11. Simplicity Prayer—Jesus as Reconciler


12. Prayer in Play—Jesus as Love


13. Scripture Prayer—Jesus as Teacher


14. Relinquishment Prayer—Jesus as Suffering Son of God


15. Forgiveness Prayer—Jesus as Savior


16. Sacrament Prayer—Jesus as Head of the Body

"Noting that faith becomes more beautiful through prayer, Morse offers fresh approaches to talking with God, including a catalog of 24 distinct, field-tested prayer methods."



"MaryKate Morse's A Guidebook to Prayer illuminates proven pathways for walking intimately with God. It will be a great blessing to all who read and engage the prayer practices she describes."



"I find A Guidebook to Prayer helpful not as a manual of 'how tos' but as a guide into the reality of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit to whom and in whom we pray. MaryKate Morse guides us also into the many creative ways in which we can open ourselves (and listen) in prayer. And she guides us into prayer that deeply explores our hearts and brings us into a transforming relationship with our Creator. I found myself pausing to talk to God in ways she suggests. I hope many will read and be so guided!"



"This is the most helpful book on prayer that I have ever read. It is a guidebook on prayer authored by someone whose own life and work are themselves profoundly shaped by the patterns of prayerful communion with God suggested in it. Whether you are looking for a book on prayer to deepen your own walk with God or are leading other people and groups toward a deep and vital spirituality, you will find this book by my friend MaryKate to be one of those rare books that you find off of your shelf more than on it!"



"Certainly everyone who reads this thorough handbook will learn at least one or several new approaches to prayer! . . . This is the most extensive and fruitful compendium I have ever found!"



"I recommend this book for those who want to go deeper into the world of prayer as well as those who want to pray but don't know how to pray. Read this book slowly and prayerfully. As you do, you will find yourself falling in love with God."



"This book is both timely and important because, during this current period of prevalent prayerlessness in the western church, Morse teaches us about prayer in a doctrinally rich way and offers us twenty-four practical methods for engaging with God in prayer. The book is an excellent resource for both personal devotions and for leaders of group prayer."



"This book's content is deep and rich; for readers willing to pace their reading, giving time and intention to new possibilities in prayer, blessings await. Highly recommended." weniger anzeigen expand_less