Customer Reviews

Experiencing God Through Prayer

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

 

 

Let me just say I love Madame Guyon's writings but this book was so elementary that I was turned off. You can literally read this book in one sitting. I have read Madame Guyon's spiritual torrents and Short Method of Prayer. They are a lot better than this. Mainly because I think this book was revised and isn't in her own speech and use of language. It is modernized. I didn't like that. Her own language carries with it her spirit and with her spirit her spiritual life and with her spiritual life her relationship with God. In her other books you can feel the closeness to God. Although whether modernized or not most of what I read in this book can be read online in either or of Spiritual Torrents and Short Method of Prayer. But I bought the book for like less than 5 dollars so how can I complain.

This is a brilliant book. It discusses prayer in a profound way ... a way that goes beyond the typical evangelical form of prayer. It's also extremely practical. This book has been published under other titles, but I believe this version to be the best and the most readable. It also contains Guyon's famous "Short Method."

One reviewer who gave the book a low score said this volume was simplistic. Not so. The content reaches the depths of the Christian experience in prayer. If you are someone who wants to go higher and further in communication with the Lord, this is a must-read book.

I've read this book years ago and it has changed my Prayer life incredibly! I can't wait to read it again.

Note: I write book reviews based on the IMPACT it's had on my life.
The first time I read this book, it changed my life because it helped me start Biblical meditation (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2; et al). Before I go on farther, I highly recommend Biblical meditation. Rather than emptying the mind like Eastern meditation, Biblical meditation is filling the mind with God's Word! Anyway, the first time I read it I benefited most from the first few chapters and it seemed the rest of the book didn't have much impact.
Then I felt like Holy Spirit wanted me to read it again a handful of months down the road. Wow! God used it to so powerfully inspire me to live like Christ that I haven't been the same since. Hah, I realized how much of my life I live in selfishness - doing what I want to do - instead of living every breath, every moment of every day for my Beloved; to solely live life to accomplish my Father's will instead of my own. God has etched Madam Guyon's thoughts on abandonment in my heart forever. What if we, like Jesus, only did what we saw the Father doing and said what we heard Him saying? Hah, this world would look a lot different. =)
Also, God used this book to help me learn to discern His voice. If we're to be intimate with someone, we have to know the sound of their voice - how to hear what they're saying and to listen to them. God's voice is becoming more and more discernible, and the more time spent with Him the more His voice becomes clear. Oh to hear the voice God every day, throughout the day! It is one of the greatest treasures.
I don't agree with everything Madam Guyon talks about, but at this moment I can't think of what they are exactly (perhaps some Catholic traditions?). I also have not yet read "Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ" [which is the same book, but a more word-for-word translation], so I can't compare the two.
May the Bride of Christ truly live as the Bride: pure, spotless, and absolutely in love with Jesus; spending our time with Him and continually living life out of love! Grace and peace to you. =)
Much love,
Jon

Similar Books I Recommend:
"Good Morning, Holy Spirit" by Benny Hinn (a life being friends with Holy Spirit)
"The Ecstasy of Loving God" by John Crowder (God, our source)
"The Practice of the Presence of God" by Brother Lawrence (from secret place to the rest of life)
"Heaven Awaits the Bride" by Anna Rountree (a stirring, love-filled, Heavenly encounter)
"The Happy Intercessor" by Beni Johnson (what intercession is to be like!)
"How to Hear God's Voice" by Mark & Patti Virkler (living by His words)