Book recommendation

Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home, by Richard Foster.

This book, first published nearly 20 years ago, should find its way up to the top of your reading list. Containing insights, stories, very specific kinds of prayer, and lots of real-life situations, it will become a beloved, well-highlighted book in your library. It’s the kind of book you can read this month and it will deepen your walk, and prayer life. And, when you re-read it years later, it will hit you again with new depth. In talking about how God aches over our distance and preoccupation, Richard Foster says, “The Father’s heart is open wide, you are welcome to come in.” A sampling of various chapter titles include, Simple Prayer,  Formation Prayer, Meditative Prayer, and Unceasing Prayer. You can certainly borrow my copy, but be forewarned that mine is not a pristine copy; it is heavily underlined, and contains numerous notes in the margins, “Wow!” “Yes, indeed!” and “LOVE this!”

Carol Lutz

Written Prayer

My LORD my God,
Listening is hard for me. I do not exactly mean hard, for I understand that this is a matter of receiving rather than trying. What I mean is that I am so action oriented, so product driven, that doing is easier for me than being. I need your help if I am to be still and listen. I would like to try. I would like to learn how to sink down into the light of your presence until I can become comfortable in that posture. Help me try now.
Thank you. Amen
(Richard Foster)

Prayer Scripture

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace that transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:7

Try This

When praying for someone else, visualize placing them in God’s hands. We don’t always know exactly to pray for others, and thankfully the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, but I do like picturing taking that person and placing them in God’s strong, capable, loving hands.

Prayer Quote

True, whole prayer is nothing but love. - St. Augustine