Customer Reviews

Art of Prayer

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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

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.

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.

The Author is easy to relate to,unpretentious and practical in his advise on prayer throughout the book. You'll walk through his daily route with him, you will even accompany him on his morning jog from time to time!

He is frank and honest about his feelings on prayer and shares several beautifuly written eloquent forms with the reader throughout his book. Mr.Jones knows his bible verses and interjects them nicely into his many life stories. The end of the book offers exercises involving scripture so the reader can hone his own skills as well.

I think this is a good read particularly for men, but all would enjoy.

Dont know whether the praise by Philip Yancey (my most favorite living Christian writer) on the book cover had set so high my expectation or my frequent reading of books on prayers had numbed me, I didnt find it thrilling, intriguing nor insightful. However, I am obliged to rate it a four star (I do always give one star ratings) for

1) the excellent prayers in the end of each chapter/topic.
2) the profound elaboration of "The Lord's Prayer"on pg 156
3) the relatively insightful messages on silence and complaint (to God, the Job way) that both can be alternative forms of prayer to God
4) the very useful study guide presented as Appendix from pg 205-239

In case you seldom read books on prayers, you probably like this book much. If you are a veteran reader of masterpieces from Philip Yancey, Richard Fosters and so on, you may not be well satisfied.

p.s. Below please find my favorite passages for your reference.

Lord, I am not good at slowing down. I like to see things happen. I've become hurried and harried. And I like to fill the silence with sound.
Draw me to the rest I find in you. Remind me that time with you can re-create me, and fill my life with all I need. Amen pg 44

O Lord,you know how busy I must be this day. If I forget you, please do not forget me. - General Lord Astley (adapted) pg 44

A single grateful thought raised to heaven is the most perfect prayer. - Gotthold Ephraim Lessing pg 73

Only God can move mountains. But faith and prayer move God. - E.M. Bounds pg 90

A man prayed, and at first he thought that prayer was talking. But he became more and more quiet and until in the end he realized that prayer is listening. - Soren Kierkegaard pg 113

This book takes you by hand and walks you through the art of learning to pray. It is inspirational!