Where Prayer Becomes Real

Kyle Strobel

Description

If we're honest, most of us feel bored, distracted, or discouraged in prayer. We look for resources to give us the "right" words or teach us the "right" technique and are disappointed when they don't seem to help. What we fail to realize is that prayer isn't a place for us to be good or right, and it isn't a place for us to perform or prove our worth. It's a place for us to be honest, present, and known--a place for us to offer ourselves and receive God.Spiritual formation experts Kyle Strobel and John Coe want to show you what you've been missing when it comes to prayer. In this down-to-earth book, they show you how to fearlessly draw near to a holy God, pray without ceasing (and without posturing), and delight in the experience of being fully known and fully loved. Each chapter ends with prayer projects or practices to help you see a difference in your prayer life, starting now.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Prayer in Christianity

Informations

• Publié par: Baker Publishing Group
• Date de parution: 02 mars 2021
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781493428823
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

Cover
Endorsements
“Where Prayer Becomes Real is not only one of the very best books on prayer I have ever read, but it is one of the most practically transformative books I have ever read, full stop. Because this is more than a book to read—this is a book that you practice, that you live, that you become. If you have ever longed for the practice of your faith to include an authentic, intimate prayer life, or if you have longed for your life to become prayer, I have no higher recommendation than these pages. Not only will I be earnestly recommending this book to anyone who wants to truly learn how to pray, but this is the book on prayer I will personally be returning to again and again, because these pages genuinely turn the soul toward intimate communion with God.”
Ann Voskamp , author of the New York Times bestsellers The Broken Way and One Thousand Gifts
“As a pastor and teacher of Scripture, I am always looking for resources that can help me and the people I serve practice faith versus merely talking about faith. This is especially true regarding one of the most mysterious practices of faith: prayer. In this wonderful volume, prayer is made less intimidating and mysterious on the one hand and much more compelling and accessible on the other. If you are seeking to grow in the life of prayer or are helping others do the same, Where Prayer Becomes Real is an excellent place to begin.”
Scott Sauls , senior pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee, and author of Jesus Outside the Lines and A Gentle Answer
“If you ever read a book on prayer, let it be this one! Just the word prayer can evoke guilt and ‘never good enough’ feelings. But as I read these pages, a mountain of spiritual shame lifted off my shoulders. Real prayer is possible. This book is oxygen for the soul. When it comes to the spiritual life, Coe and Strobel are trusted voices I return to again and again. They teach us that prayer isn’t just something we do but is someone we are with (or, better yet, is someone with us). Anyone who desires a meaningful prayer life needs this book.”
Anjuli Paschall , author of Stay and founder of The Moms We Love Club
“This book gets right at the heart of the church’s weakness in prayer—we don’t pray from the heart. In fact, we shut down our hearts, thus killing any desire to have real communication with God. By wrapping prayer in the gospel, Coe and Strobel liberate us for communion with God. The authors drive home this message: Be yourself. Be honest. Be real. Only then will your prayer life come alive. I hope the Lord Jesus uses this book to break through centuries of calcification in prayer. I highly recommend Where Prayer Becomes Real .”
Paul E. Miller , author of A Praying Life and J- Curve
“Whether you’re new to prayer or have been praying for decades, Where Prayer Becomes Real offers something to enrich your friendship with God. Solidly theological, it doesn’t settle for sleepy truths about God. This is a book to get you praying when you wake up, when you’re angry with your spouse, when you feel disappointed, when praise is hard to come by. It’s about prayer as honest, desire-full living before God—prayer that self-examines, self-discloses, and ultimately frees the self from having to be at the center of everything.”
Jen Pollock Michel , author of Surprised by Paradox and Teach Us to Want
“Many books have been written about the various aspects of prayer, but this one is refreshingly perceptive. My assumptions were challenged and my hope renewed. Strobel’s and Coe’s leadership by example gives us a window into how the supernatural Word of God works in our hearts and inspires prayer.”
Gloria Furman , author of The Pastor’s Wife and Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full
“God knows everything in our hearts and on our minds, so why would we struggle to talk with God about anything? But we do, and in Where Prayer Becomes Real , Kyle and John serve us as gracious, wise guides to praying more honestly. You’ll find help here for deepening your conversational relationship with God. Thank you for writing this important book!”
Alan Fadling , president of Unhurried Living and author of The Way of Presence
“Prayer—conversation with the supreme animating force of space and time. Is there any act more transcendent? Is there any act more mystical and mystifying? In this book, Strobel and Coe share the practitioner’s approach to demystifying prayer. What’s more, they show the true nature of this foundational spiritual discipline: prayer is a means of attachment to the Divine Love, one that forms and transforms even the most chaotic soul.”
Seth Haines , author of The Book of Waking Up
Half Title Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
© 2021 by Kyle C. Strobel and John Coe
Published by Baker Books
a division of Baker Publishing Group
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.bakerbooks.com
Ebook edition created 2021
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4934-2882-3
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2016
Scripture quotations labeled NASB are from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org
Scripture quotations labeled NET are from the NET Bible®, copyright © 1996–2016 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations labeled NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Scripture quotations labeled NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Published in association with Jenni Burke of Illuminate Literary Agency: www.illuminateliterary.com.
Dedication
Kyle: To Oliver and Brighton, who I love with all my heart. May you know the place where prayer becomes real.
John: To the late Dr. John Finch, friend and mentor in the Holy Spirit on my journey of learning to pray honestly.
Contents
Cover 1
Endorsements 2
Half Title Page 3
Title Page 5
Copyright Page 6
Dedication 7
Acknowledgments 11
Introduction: An Invitation to Love 13
Practice: Knowing Our Story of Prayer 18
Part 1: What We Need to Unlearn about Prayer 21
1. What If a Wandering Mind Is a Gift? 23
Practice: Prayer When Our Minds Wander 32
2. What If Prayer Can Be a Place to Avoid God? 35
Practice: Prayer beyond Avoidance 46
3. What If Prayer Doesn’t Meet My Expectations? 49
Practice: Praying to a New Father 59
4. What If God Wants My Heart of Sin and Pain? 61
Practice: Praying My Sin and Pain 75
Interlude: An Invitation to Relearn Prayer the Lord’s Way 77
Practice: The Lord’s Prayer 92
Part 2: Pray without Ceasing 95
Introduction: A New Rhythm of Prayer 97
5. The Prayer Book of the Soul 99
Practice: Praying the Psalms 115
6. Intending to Be with God 117
Practice: Prayers of Intention 123
7. Who Am I, Really? Collecting Our Hearts to Him 127
Practice: Prayers of Recollection 137
8. Being Watchful 141
Practice: Prayers of Examine 152
9. Seeing Ourselves and Others in the Love of God 155
Practice: Prayers of Petition and Intercession 167
Conclusion: The Struggle and Joy of Petition 171
Group Leader’s Guide 183
Appendix 1: A Guide for Personally Praying the Psalms 191
Appendix 2: A Guide for the Prayer of Intention 211
Appendix 3: A Guide for the Prayer of Recollection 215
Notes 217
About the Author 219
Back Ads 221
Back Cover 224
Acknowledgments
W e would like to thank Biola University and Talbot School of Theology. We have been given such an incredible context to wrestle through prayer, the Christian life, and the nature of faithfulness. In particular, we are profoundly thankful for the continued support of the Institute for Spiritual Formation (ISF). Our colleagues at the Institute, faculty and staff alike, have been a blessing and an encouragement to us. We are thankful for your kindness, friendship, and grace. The Lord has been so kind to us in bringing you into our lives. We love praying with you. To the students, you are a continual gift. Thank you for giving yourself to prayer, to honesty, and to one another. Being with you at ISF is a joy.
I (Kyle) would like to thank Jamin Goggin, who is always available to bounce around ideas with and to talk through communicating biblical truths pastorally. Thank you for your friendship. James Merrick and I speak endlessly about prayer, and it continues to be a joy to do so. To the folks at Redeemer Church, thank you for your love and care. To the women at Redeemer who were willing to read the manuscript and provide feedback, thank you for your help and thoughtfulness. I am thankful to be part of such a prayerful church. Being with you has been a real joy. Finally, my wife, Kelli, is such a gift to me, and she deserves special thanks for reading and giving feedback on this book. It is better because you gave yourself to it. I’m so thankful for you. Along with Kelli, my children, Brighton and Oliver, fill my prayers with thankfu