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Art of Prayer [Paperback]

Timothy Jones (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)


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Paperback, April 7, 1997 --  

Book Description

April 7, 1997
Don't be afraid to ask. . . . God is nearer than you think.



Millions of us pray every day. But that doesn't mean we always feel comfortable doing it. Many of us wish for wise and gentle guidance on how to communicate our needs or express our thanks. We seek answers to the questions that nag at our attempts to approach God.



* Can I pray when I feel distant from God?

* Is it okay to ask God for help in life's little things?

* What do I do when the words won't come?

* Can I get mad at God? And how do I pray when I feel that way?

* What sense can I make of unanswered prayers?

* How do I keep growing closer to God?



The answers to such questions, Tim Jones tells us, are ultimately within everyone's reach. With warmth, clarity, and unfailing honesty, this guide shows how prayer can become more a quiet art than a complicated science. It can be as simple as conversing with a caring friend.



"Interspersing the wisdom of philosophers and poets with his own honest observations, Timothy Jones gives us a tender treasure chest of practical help, reassurance, and most of all, love. Beautifully written, this book is for everyone who has ever longed to be closer to God."

*Joan Wester Anderson



"A wisely human, spiritually practical, and wonderfully interesting book about the most important project of my life--a deeper friendship and more effective communication with the Maker of the Universe. If it proves half as helpful to others as it has already been to me, it will have been a splendid gift to us all."

*Lewis Smedes

Author of Forgive and Forget


Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Jones (The Next American Spirituality), a campus minister and associate pastor in Tennessee, opines that many people want to talk to God but don't know how; he sets out to direct our efforts and reassure us that small steps add up. Jones employs a polished style to guide the reader with a nudge rather than a shove, emphasizing the practical over the theoretical. The work does not neglect Scripture—in the nine-page first chapter alone, Jones cites Ecclesiastes, Isaiah, the Psalms and Matthew—but it focuses on telling us how to believe, not why. As it moves through ways to approach God, what we should say in prayer and how we can improve at it, the book provides many illuminating quotes from noteworthy Christians. Sharp observations keep things moving (on unanswered prayer: "The most difficult part is not the denial as much as the fear that we have been ignored"). A study guide with in-depth questions for each chapter adds to the manual's usefulness. Readers' responses will depend in large part on their acceptance of Jones's frequent references to his own experiences; for example, we hear about his meditation, jogging, family and career. Nevertheless, the encouraging tone and down-to-earth suggestions may prove useful to those who seek a better way to talk to God. (May 17)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From Library Journal

Jones, a former pastor and editor at Christianity Today magazine, draws on his personal experience as a Christian and as a seasoned observer of human nature in this exploration of the possibilities of prayer. He considers the desire to pray and the inability to pray as two equally valid starting points for approaching the divine. Jones reflects that when we practice silence as a form of prayer, when we face our incompleteness as human beings by examining our failures, when we cultivate gratitude for our blessings, rail at God for our misfortunes, or lift others in prayer?we open life to the immense possibilities of love and hope. Jones provides reassurance and inspiration on a topic of importance to a growing number of readers.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1st edition (April 7, 1997)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0345400410
  • ISBN-13: 978-0345400413
  • Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,271,574 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

6 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A real goldmine of info on Prayer!, September 25, 2002
By 
Soozie4Him (Chicago suburbs) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   
This review is from: Art of Prayer (Paperback)
I'm about 2/3 of the way through this book, but I can't wait til I'm done reading it to post my review of this awesome book! Timothy Jones covers the whole range of topics related to prayer. When I'm reading a book such as this, I put those Post-It arrow flags in it to mark parts that I might want to copy into my journal, or reflect more on, and right now, this book has about 40 Post-Its sticking out of it! It's a library book, so I think I'm going to have to buy this one!

Timothy Jones speaks in everyday English, yet his style is poignant and whimsical! I love his writing style! He talks about how to pray - no formula stuff for him. He talks about how to be STILL and QUIET in the midst of a busy life. He talks about how prayer doesn't even have to be words formed in your mind. He tells about those desperate HELP! prayers and how God hears them all. He covers such issues as why we should pray when God is all-knowing and is going to do what he's going to do anyway, what to do when we feel that our prayers go unanswered, and many more issues.

I've read quite a few books on prayer, but this is my favorite so far. I also highly recommend Timothy Jones' other books "Awake My Soul: Practical Spirituality for Busy People", "Prayer's Apprentice", and "21 Days to a Better Quiet Time with God". There are probably more, but these are the one I own.

Timothy Jones is the kind of person that you'd just love to sit down with over a cup of coffee - he's real and authentic and isn't afraid to tell about his own human failings and his own experiences with prayer.

Take a look at this book, by using Amazon.com's Look Inside" feature!

You might be interested in reading my other reviews of Christian books and music!

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A practical and encouraging little book, July 21, 2003
By 
Darren A. Jones (Stephens City, VA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Art of Prayer (Paperback)
I found this book to be immensely helpful in my prayer life. Jones has very practical advice for modern Christians, and he isn't afraid to draw from many traditions (RC, Orthodox, mainline Protestant). I found his chapter on Silence and his closing chapter to be the most helpful.

I concur with a previous poster: I got a copy out of the library, and now I want my own! I think it will be dog-eared and battered pretty soon.

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5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is an excellent guide concerning prayer., October 21, 1998
By 
This review is from: Art of Prayer (Paperback)
Jones captures all aspects of prayer in this book. It's a great guide for pastors and laity alike. I would highly recommend this book.
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