Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home

I found R Foster's book on Prayer to be thought provoking and thoughtfully done. I read it at a time in my life that was in crisis mode and his thoughts and ruminations help me through a tough time.

I am an avid reader; but, this is the only book I have ever felt so strongly about that I wanted to express my opinion in a review. I realize that a person's reaction to any book says as much about the reader as it does the book. But I cannot imagine anyone who is genuinely interested in the topic of prayer not feeling satisfied that they got a great exchange for their time and money in this book. It helped me tremendously.

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.

I love Foster's books and this is my favorite. It's a walk through various types of prayer, not exhaustive of course but wide-ranging. Foster's pattern here is to describe a type of prayer, give biblical and historical perspective on it, some examples (often both personal and profound), and then suggest practical steps for integrating that type of prayer into your life. The three general categories he groups these into correspond to the categories in Celebration of the Discipline: looking inward, looking upward to God, and looking outward in service to others. Emphasis is given to meditation and contemplation, and that is where Foster shines the most. One of the things that I love about his writing is that he can be so refreshing. There are ideas in his works that I've not read anywhere else, yet which resound with wisdom and which recall forgotten bits of spiritual history. He is also practical- an advocate that prayer begins where you live, in the small and everyday things. Some people will object to his inclusion of "charismatic" themes. There is no magic bullet when it comes to prayer, but this is a wonderful guide and companion for a journey we all must take if we are to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. It will enrich your dialogue with God.

This is the best book I have ever read on prayer. Foster describes many different aspects of prayer, some familiar and some less known. I have read many books on prayer, but this stands above all the others in making prayer understandable and usable in the average person's life experience. I have purchased four more copies and given them to friends. After you've read it, you will want to share it, too. This is a book to read, re-read and re-re-read until it becomes a part of the fabric of your life. I can not recommend this book highly enough.