Customer Reviews

Listening at Prayer

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In one superficial sense, the reader could be put off by "Listening at prayer". It is only 88 pages of large print and could be read easily in one sitting. That would be missing the point. After all how many pages do the "Beatitudes" take? Yes, the book can be read quickly but that would be a gross disservice to the author and the reader. Benedict Groeschel has a way of making the mystical and ethereal very practical and utilitarian, and the book is not only worthy of slow digestion but also a special place on many a bookshelf where it can be read, and then read again.

First Groeschel makes suggestions on how to actively listen to God, our conscience and our life. Then he goes on with helpful suggestions to integrate "the message" first in our prayer life and then our life as a whole.

For those of us still a little hard of listening he then explores listening to God in the Word and in Liturgies with useful recommendations on how to get more out of our private reading and religious services. For those struggling to get more out of scripture or worship services Groeschel's many suggestions should be helpful to almost all.

In the last several pages Groeschel explores contemplative prayer and living in the Presence of God so prayer is less conversational then relational. While Groeschel draws from the Catholic Tradition his suggestions and universal approach should help anyone with an interior life, or those looking for one, find resonance. "Listening to God" is a small modern classic that transcends sectarian lines.

I wonder whom the book is targeted for? Is it a primmer or an advanced work? It is difficult to say, it is easy and breezy to read, and yet full of simple desert wisdom put so deceptively simple that one could underestimate the book.

Often times we have the tendency to forget that prayer is a dialogue instead of a monologue. Many times we come to prayer asking God to get rid of this problem or to help with this other situation, etc. However, what about God? What does He want from us? Where does He want us to go or do? We will never find the answers to these questions if we do not do what the title of the book says.

To put it simply, prayer is like the conversation that one has with a dear friend on the phone. You talk, they listen; they talk, you listen. The same should be our relationship with out God. This book is geared toward orienting our spiritual life not toward venting, asking or pleading. But, toward listening, patience and acting. Groeschel presents a very simple and human approach to prayer that, in the end, is fruitful.

This book is a must for anyone young and old in their faith. It is never too late to return to the basics of spirituality, especially if we listen at prayer.

Often when one prays it is easy to get distracted, despite good intentions. The author does a good job of helping the reader to understand the real meaning of different kinds and levels of prayer, and thereby really listen to God. He also rightly warns of possible pitfalls in trying to pray (for example, reading our own meaning into the words of a prayer). I highly recommend this book.

This book contains some useful information on how God speaks through our lives and our prayer. I discovered that I was already listening to God, but didn't associate it with actually listening. I bought this book hoping for some step by step method of how to stop my business and listen - something I really have problems with. But what I discovered instead is that God speaks through my business - I just have to be able to recognize his voice.
I also appreciated the section on the Psalms. Overall a great little book and I recommend it to all those people who struggle with listening.

This small book is filled with things that read fast but cause reflection so it's not as quick to finish as it might appear. Fr. Groeschel writes for everyday people. An excellent book that I recommend to anyone who talks during prayer more than listens to Him communicating to us.

I have listened/watched/read Fr. Groschel and everything he does is absolutly amazing. A friend of mine previewed this book at the local church and loved it, so I got this as a gift. Fr. Groschel is simple, practical, yet profoundly spiritual. This is a good book to use during Eucharist Adoration.

I have never been disappointed in anything that I have read by Fr. Benedict Groeschel. His method of writing is as if sitting at the feet of our Lord. He makes this way sound so complete, peaceful and beautiful to reach a prayful union with God.