Richard Foster's "Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home"

Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home By Richard Foster

About the Author

Richard J. Foster is the author of many best selling books, which includes the most famous "Celebration of Discipline and Streams of Living of Water." He is also the founder of Renovare an infrachurch movement that is dedicated to the restoration of the Church in all her comprehensive expressions. In addition, his is a general editor of the forthcoming Renovare Spiritual Formation Study Bible (1).

Foster is undoubtedly one of the foremost modern writers and speakers on Christian spirituality. His childhood was among Evangelical Friends. While, he spent his adult life among friends pastor and a professor of theology at Friends University, among the many positions he has held. Foster frequently made reference to Quaker historical figures and his own Quakerism both in his books and speaking (1).

Introduction

Richard J. Foster, the best-selling author has offered this time to his readers an ardent, persuasive, and perceptive introduction on prayer to comprehend, understand, and practice it in its many ways, from the simple prayer of starting again to continuous prayer. One of the focus points of the book is the clarification on the process of prayer, answers to general misconceptions, and explained the way into prayers of meditation, relaxation, sanctify, mercy, and healing (2).

Another important point in the book is that Foster has revealed the means for others to have the experience of prayer at a thoughtful heart-level, which according to him is not merely a place of sentiment and feelings, but it contains a focal point where the human soul is changed and enjoys a new oneness with God. As Foster said:

Nothing feels more right, more like what we are created to be and to do. Yet at the same time we are confronted with great mysteries. Who hasn't struggled with the puzzle of unanswered prayer? Who hasn't wondered how a finite person can commune with the infinite Creator of the universe? Who hasn't questioned whether prayer isn't merely psychological manipulation after all? We do our best, of course, to answer these knotty questions but when all is said and done, there is a sense in which these mysteries remain unanswered and unanswerable... At such times we must learn to become comfortable with the mystery (2)."

Conclusion

In addition to many plus points and strengths, the book is a volume that merges knowledge of church history's classic devotion along with a novelty appeal to the 21st century (3). This book is not just another book written on what few people may call "prayer lite." But rather the author of this book has presented solid work that has its ground in the theology with the history of the Church.

The book is a comprehensive overview of prayer where throughout exploring many various forms of prayer, the reader is assisted by clear understanding of the meaning and gist of the book.

Finally, the greatest thing about this book is Foster's many personal stories that put flesh and blood on the subject matter along with his practical approach and still being semi-intellectual in his approach. This book is definitely helpful and positive for young and old Christians that can change the heart (3).

Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship With God by Dallas Willard

About the Author

The author Dallas Willard is AB.A. In psychology from Tennessee Temple College and a B.A. In philosophy and religion from Baylor University. He has done his Ph.D from the University of Wisconsin. His major was philosophy, and minor history of science (4).

His significant works includes; The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives and The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God (4). The former, acclaimed, as "the book of the decade" by author and professor Richard Foster, is a call to live the style of life Jesus himself lived, thus continued steady interaction with his kingdom (4).

Introduction

Dallas Willard in his book "Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship With God" has presented rich mystical insight into how one can evidently hear God's voice and expand a close association with him in the work of his empire (4).

According to Dallas, being close to God means corresponding with him and communicating to him in prayer as to what is on ones' hearts and also listening and understanding to what he is saying. This is term as second half of a person's conversation with God, which at the same time is very important and difficult in the sense as how do we hear God's voice? What role does the Bible play? OR what if what God says to us is not clear (4)?

Here the author very clearly has explained that the key to communicate successfully to God is by focusing not much on ones' actions and decisions but by building personal relationship with the Creator (4).

Analysis of the Book (Strengths and Weakness)

The book contains information with rich devout insight as to how one can approach God and develop a close relationship with him. This approach is quite successful since According to Willard, there aren't any formulas to reach God except the way to find God's will is to look for God and learn how to communicate with him (5).

One of the strengths of the book is the argument given by Willard that in quest of God's will, one usually ask wrong questions, for instance; "What job should I take?" "Whom should I marry?" Although he agreed that these questions are genuine and justifiable but at the same time they should be secondary to needs to have a profound relationship with God. Thus, it is in that bond with God that the questions of lives get answered. He has also explored the teachings of the Bible in terms of God communication with his mankind (4, 5).

The only criticism of this book is that the author used too much time examining the theories while did not give ample time in exploring the practicality of the same. Actually, Dallas Willard ran through the prison stuffing keys in every cell doors, calling all to turn the key and be set free from rigid thinking of when and how God speaks to his mankind. This book is not just any summer reading, but it requires a lot of time to absorb everything the author has written, which is again a set back about this book (5).

In the book the author has pointed out what life could be like if one would just have the belief in the fact that God wants to speak to you, and that is only possible if you would know what frequency to tune your ears to. The main objective of the author is to point out the path to a life of loving God and this path is available to all those who believe in Christ (5).

One of the strong point in the book is the way author has described communication with God as a two-way street, meaning, telling God about ones' deepest needs and at the same time listening to him. But how can you be sure God is speaking to you? Willard's spiritual insight and biblically-based guidelines will help you hear God's voice above the noise of the world.

The book is not about doing what one is told to do, but rather it is entering into an affectionate relationship with God and to follow the direction He has provided in making us who He wants us to be. As rightly written by Willard (4, 5):

Hearing God is but one dimension of a richly interactive relationship, and obtaining guidance is but one facet of hearing God."

Conclusion

To conclude Willard has provided a thorough theology and logical analysis on the subject of "Hearing God." The book clearly explained what most Christians have been worried with all their lives. He has clarified many of the misapprehension and misunderstandings relating to heavenly guidance, simultaneously, gave a balanced view of it. Thus, in my view, this book has given a more biblical representation for hearing God rather than "Experiencing God" or other related discourse available to the Christian community (5).

The Art of Personal Prayer by Lance Webb

Introduction

The author, Lance Webb has written about prayer as being a blissful and changing relationship with God. This is attained by using one's most intellectual understanding but at the same time reach out by conscious, with a prayer that is developed on the basis of love and trust (6). One of the strengths in his book is that he has shared experiences of many who have prayed and God answered their prayers and gained courage in this way. Another plus point of this book is that the author has even given examples of his personal experiences as well, adding more life to the text (6).

Analysis of the Book (Strengths & Weakness)

Webb has explained the remarkable power found in prayer by revealing the secrets to the prayer power of the Lord's Prayer, which he has used every day in his own prayer life. As Webb said (6):

Once we learn to pray as Jesus taught us, our lives begin to change," certainly mine has. Through this prayer pattern we bring His perspective to every issue of our lives. And when crises arise, we can truly tap into His power."

At the conclusion of every chapter, readers have the opportunity to contribute their own prayers, as per the Lord's Prayer guide. Webb has expressively systematize the words of the Lord's Prayer (line by line) in order to provide the reader and believer a real understanding of what exactly they are praying, and how to pray, when praying particular prayer. Thus, by providing personal stories along with a solid Biblical basis, the author has given a deep meaning to the God's prayer (6).

Conclusion

The book will guide the reader to a more close connection with God and will take their prayer life more in- depth and richer than before. The book is recommended to those who would like to learn to reach out to God and have a close relationship with Him.