Customer Reviews

The Lost Art of Practicing His Presence

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is one of the most outstanding books I have ever read. James Goll takes you to a place and opportunity. You have to take the step to walk in a way that Practices His Presence or not. I have never found a book that is so needed today to get beyond where we are as believers and really know our Heavenly Father. Wow, I have already given instructions to at least five other people to buy the book immediately. If you are undeceided about buying this book, buy it! If you're not sure the book is going to minister to you, buy it! If you desire to walk differently than you ever have, buy this book.

The book is extremely well written and researched. I have already ordered another copy as someone is coming by this afternoon to pick up the copy I have.

The details and steps described in the book are so clear and so easy to walk down. But many will not take the time to spend time just waiting in the Presence of the one true God.

I won't ever be the same. You won't either.

I have read The Seer, God Encounters and The Lost Art of Intercession all of these are great books. This book is the best. The Lost Art of Practicing His Presence.

It looks like James Goll came out with another good book. It came out just in time for me, because I've been trying to enhance my prayer time, but didn't really know how. I heard of contemplative prayer from his other book called "The Seer", but he only touched on it lightly. So I was left wanting to know more. In this book, he goes into detail.

He even has the "The Practice of the Presence of God" by Brother Lawrence in this book, which was right on time for me, again. It was on time, because I had read about Brother Lawrence's letters in e-Sword. I was reading it, but I prefer to read something like that in a book, instead of on the computer.

This book really helped me understand what meditating on His Word meant. It also helped expose what's wrong with New Age beliefs and meditation. After reading this book, I'm now striving to create a habit of keeping my focus on the presence of God as often as I can. So, if you're someone that wants to acknowledge God in all your ways, this would be a good book to help you out.

Let's start on the positive side. Jim Goll's teaching on contemplative prayer shows the best from Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant traditions. I have practiced quiet forms of prayer for about 20 years. I wish I had someone like Jim Goll 20 years ago to help me through the readings and practices. If you have never read much about contemplative prayer but would like to then this book would be an excellent place to start.

On the negative side, and why I can't give more than 3 stars, is that I found at least two-thirds of this book to be from his earlier book "Wasted On Jesus." The remaining one-third talks about some practical tips on how to take what you receive in contemplative prayer out into your life outside of your "prayer room." There is also a modern paraphrase of the work of Brother Lawrence called "The Practice of the Presence of God."

But when I saw the title "The Lost Art of Practicing His Presence" I thought it would be more about what Brother Lawrence taught about prayer and it really isn't. Jim Goll seems to put the teachings of Madame Jeanne Guyon, Francois Fenelon, and Brother Lawrence all in one bag. Guyon and Fenelon talk about going into a quiet room, removing yourself from external distractions, and learning how to quiet yourself in God's presence. This is all good teaching and necessary in the beginning. But Brother Lawrence seems to teach how to be aware of God's presence with you all during the day no matter what activity your involved in. He does talk about the difficulties in doing this on a regular basis and what to do about it. Now it's only fair to say that Brother Lawrence did not write the book that bears his name. It was released by his abbot (religious superior) in the monastery after his death. But it seems to me that you have two different approaches to the same issue which is experiencing the presence of God in daily life.

So, if you have never read much on contemplative prayer Jim Goll is an excellent teacher. But if you want to learn about Brother Lawrence then read his book and let the man speak for himself.

This isn't the kind of book that I can read quickly. It has a lot of new information (to me anyway) and it needs to be digested slowly.
There are such important truths in this book about intimacy with Christ. You don't want to miss this one!

This is a wonderful book in many aspects especially for the fundamental Christian who is fearful that practicing meditation will open him to some "non-Christian practice". The book clearly defines what is Christian meditation and what is not. Christianity did began in the East and meditation is Biblical.

I like what Jim Goll says, that in exploring Christian mystical literature he often felt like an archaeologist who had just unearthed a long-vanished and pricelss artifact. He said that Christian meditative prayer is all but buried in the dust of history, virtually lost among believers today.

I believe the intent of this book is to take the unknown and "spookiness" out of meditation for the Christian so that the empowerment and enlightenment that results from this spiritual discipline might be realized.

Goll is a prolific writer who writes in a clear and concise way. This book is well researched quoting many contemporary authors and leaders as well as honored Christian mystics from history.

I also highly recommend the book, "The Rest of the Gospel", by Dan Stone. For me, this book opened my understanding to the "unseen realm" and by accessing the unseen realm we can live out of a reality in God that's greater than the physical realm in which we live. It gave me the foundation I needed to embrace meditation and contemplative prayer. It's a book that I continually pick up and read from and has probably done more to transform my religious self-limiting thinking. I will never again feel "separated" from the God who lives within.

I have thrououghly enjoyed reading this book (bought it on the Kindle). I appreciate Mr. Goll's treatment of contemplative prayer, quiet times and practicing the presence of God.

I kept a copy of Brother Lawrence's "Practicing the Presence of God" next to me while I read this book. Reading through Brother Lawrence's 15 letters from his book while reading Mr. Goll's book provide a great insight into daily contemplative prayer and walking your whole day through with God always in your thoughts.

I recommend this as a good place to start with a modern "mystic". Then I would suggest reading some of Richard Foster's work as well as Thomas Merton.

Enjoy reading!

This is one of those books that you read at a very slow pace so that you can absorb everything written. I have learned so much from reading this book. I've learned about other authors, but mainly about pursuing an awesome relationship with God. I highly recommend it to anyone who is trying to develop the art of being in His Presence.

I am in the midst of a 4 month focus on being in God's presence. This book showed me how and I recommend it to anyone!

This is one of the best books I have read on understanding what it really means to get into God's presence. It has help me in my intimate time with God & has helped me to develop a stronger pray life.

Im very pleased,

Thank you,

Pat Kelley