The Beautiful Work of Learning to Pray

by Howell, James C.

• ISBN13: 9780687027668
• ISBN10: 0687027667
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-06-01
• Publisher: Abingdon Pr

Summary

Prayer is not easy, yet learning to pray can be learned. The Beautiful Work of Learning to Pray is a brief but probing guide into the life of prayer. James Howell examines the many barriers to prayer (such as our busyness, how uncomfortable with silence we are, our doubts and fears) and invites the reader to take a fresh approach to the devotional life.Each lesson begins with a scripture passage and the author draws comfortably and appropriately from a rich array of other sources (Annie Dillard, St. Augustine, Henri Nowen, Kathy Mattea, Madeleine L'Engle, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, St. Francis, Oscar Romero, and the movie Good Will Hunting are a sampling.) The author's own engaging writing style, including his ability to illumine his ideas with the shared wisdom of others, is a major strength of this book.While each 'œlesson' is only two book pages long, the author draws from a deep well of wisdom about prayer. Howell leads the reader through the 'œsubjects' of prayer (e.g. praise, confession, giving thanks), and digs deeply into theological issues such as whether prayer works, prayer and suffering, and forgiveness. According to the author, 'œIn the end, prayer draws us into community with others-- out of our 'œcurved in' lives and into the world in service.'The Beautiful Work of Learning to Pray will be helpful to the novice in spiritual life as well as long-time Christians who are striving for a more profound relationship with God. Includes Study Guide, List of Sources, and Scripture Index.

Table of Contents

Introducing Prayer	9	(13)
THE LESSONS
Beginning	13	(2)
Closer Than We Think	15	(3)
Barriers to Prayer	18	(3)
Coldness	21	(3)
Pray as You Can	24	(3)
Time	27	(3)
What Is in Us	30	(3)
Bruised Knuckles	33	(3)
The Way to God	36	(3)
Silence	39	(2)
Scripture	41	(2)
Jesus Prayed the Psalms	43	(3)
Worship	46	(3)
Saints	49	(3)
Fasting	52	(3)
A Copernican Revolution	55	(3)
Praise	58	(3)
Gratitude	61	(3)
Confession	64	(3)
Not Your Fault	67	(3)
Repentance	70	(3)
Forgiveness (Part 1)	73	(2)
Forgiveness (Part 2)	75	(3)
Wounds	78	(2)
Renunciation	80	(2)
Feelings	82	(3)
The List	85	(2)
Healing (Part 1)	87	(2)
Healing (Part 2)	89	(3)
Fruitfulness	92	(3)
Call	95	(3)
Afterword: The End and the Beginning	98	(3)
Works Cited	101	(6)
Scripture Index	107	(2)
Index of Quoted Writers	109	(2)
A Guide for Small Groups	111
Kenneth H. Carter, Jr.