Sanctuary of the Soul: Journey into Meditative Prayer [Hardcover]

Richard J. Foster (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 8, 2011

2011 Leadership Journal Top Book of the Year! "At the very heart of God is the passionate disposition to be in loving fellowship with you. . . . From the human side of this equation it is meditative prayer that ushers us into this divine-human fellowship." Richard Foster, bestselling author and founder of Renovaré, writes these words as one who has experienced what they describe. And in this new book he will beautifully guide you in this transformational way, that you might come to know deeper fellowship with God. Weaving together quotes and stories from the lives of mothers and fathers of the faith as well as powerful encounters with God from his own life, Foster describes the riches of quieting your mind and heart in order to listen to and obey God more closely. Along the way, at perhaps his clearest, most practical best, he also provides the biblical teaching and step-by-step help you need to begin this prayer practice for yourself. The journey into meditative prayer is not easy, but it is essential. And, as Foster shows, it's possible, even in the midst of the noisy, often chaotic world we live in. Your soul can become a sanctuary where you fellowship with the very God of the universe, who knows you and loves you deeply. These pages point the way.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is Richard Foster at his best--describing the inner life with clarity and wisdom gained from his own experience. The content of this book, as experienced through his teaching, changed my life thirty years ago, opening me to a real, vibrant relationship with God through silence and listening. Over time this teaching has matured, and is destined to become a classic. If you want to experience an intimate relationship with God, simply read this book and put it into practice. Heaven awaits!" (James Bryan Smith, author, The Good and Beautiful God )

"Full of depth and substance, Foster's writing on meditative prayer is a winsome invitation to intimacy with God that engages us at every level of our being." (Ruth Haley Barton, founder, Transforming Center, and author of Sacred Rhythms )

"Richard Foster diagnoses this generation's major threat to the mature life in Christ as distraction. In response he does again what he does so well: tunnels to the roots of our deep-rooted ancestors and makes us firsthand participants in the church's practice of a life of meditative prayer." (Eugene H. Peterson, translator of The Message )

Product Details

• Hardcover: 165 pages
• Publisher: IVP Books (August 8, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830835555
• ISBN-13: 978-0830835553
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,529 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #13 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Spirituality > Meditations
  • #29 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Worship & Devotion > Meditations

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gentle tour into the sanctuary of the soul, September 12, 2011

By 

Jeffrey Borden "Pastor" (Pacific Northwest) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sanctuary of the Soul: Journey into Meditative Prayer (Hardcover)

Sanctuary of the Soul: Journey into Meditative Prayer

"Tell my people, tell my children, that my heart is broken. Their distance and their preoccupation wound me... Tell them. Tell my children to come home." (Richard Foster; Sanctuary of the Soul. pg150)

I think this, arguably, might be the heart and soul of this book; a call to slowing down and lessening the distance between ourselves and our Father, God.

I love the pace and the tone that Richard Foster shares this journey into meditative prayer. From the very opening pages of the book, Foster shares with gentleness, humility, and the patience of a wizened teacher the lessons he has learned during his years of study and experience in the discipline of meditative prayer.

The book is divided into three main sections: Part One, Laying the Foundation; Part Two, Stepping into Meditative Prayer; and Part Three, Dealing with Everyday Distractions. Each section is comprised of three chapters with an average length of nine pages. The book is a relatively quick read and moves along at an engaging pace. I didn't have any difficulty following the flow of the book at all, but I do have a somewhat studied background on the topic of meditative (aka "centering" and "contemplative") prayer and I am familiar with most of the sources cited by Foster in Sanctuary. I took note that it seemed as though special attention was given to avoiding esoteric terms that might be unfamiliar to a broad audience. I think this is important to making a book of this nature accessible to the masses and I think this is exactly what Sanctuary of the Soul is... accessible, readable, and understandable regardless of where a person may be with respect to their spiritual journey and maturity therein.

There were several things I appreciated at a personal level about this little exposition on meditative prayer. First, there is what I believe is a hallmark of Foster's writing, a deep and rich sharing from the traditions, ancient and contemporary of the various streams of Christianity. These references are annotated well and there is a list of recommended resources for additional study and reading. Secondly, I appreciate and respect the decision to avoid making this book into a "how to" or " ______ steps to perfecting meditative prayer." There are several pauses throughout the book where Richard Foster is deliberate in pointing out that it is God who initiates and completes process of "listening prayer;" we are willing and surrendered partners in the process, but it is God who is the author and the facilitator of the work. Additionally, Foster reminds the reader that individual personalities vary, and experience as well as maturity plays into the equation of how God will define each individual's journey into this style of prayer. He goes on to explain while there are some commonalities to the process and experience of meditative prayer, there is not a iron-clad rule to follow aside from the desire to grow closer to God and the discipline to provide the space facilitate the growth. I was also encouraged (as I've already mentioned) by the gentle, non-threatening, and humble approach with which Foster shared his journey with the reader. It is only my opinion, but I think anyone reading the book would be encouraged to try this style of prayer without feeling intimidated.

I was thankful for chapter nine (one of the last sections of the book) as it summarized the lessons of the preceding chapters in the form of a Potpourri of Questions. Points that had already begun to fade from my memory were resurrected in this chapter. The highlights and main points were driven home again in a succinct yet inspiring fashion.

Finally, I don't think this is the definitive work or "one-size-fits-all" book on meditative prayer; neither does Foster because he has shared the recommended resources at the end of the book. My reason for this observation is meant as another point of encouragement to continue research and study and practice this beautiful and necessary form of prayer. To paraphrase one of my personal mentors on this topic: "There is no failure or wasted moment when we turn and surrender our hearts to God. He is delighted and continues the good work in us with every moment we turn to him and seek his face.

This is another wonderful resource from Richard Foster and I'm sure I will be turning to it again and again. I recommend it most highly to every Christian, wherever they may be on their journey with Jesus.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A spiritual classic in the making, September 13, 2011

By 

David S., Young - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sanctuary of the Soul: Journey into Meditative Prayer (Hardcover)

What a wonderful guide to meditative prayer, rich in scriptural reference, deep in exploration into spiritual classics, and personal in touching the heart of spiritual formation. In my estimation this book is a spiritual classic in the making. The words lift off the page and move one into the very heart of meditative prayer and to the heart of God. It can be read for instruction but also to move into the journey of meditation.

Richard Foster gives very helpful steps into the heart of prayer. In a real sense this is spiritual guidance at its best, providing a format that draws us into the very presence of God. The opening part of moving from the mind into the heart is a beautiful description of creating a space for God and entering into the inner sanctuary of the heart. His treatment of sanctifying the imagination and spiritual reading of scripture, lectio divina, is extremely well done, allowing the meaning of the text to flow into us and giving a personal word for our life.

Richard Foster gives very helpful instructions on meditative prayer, first in recollection, which includes glad surrender, repentance and confession, and accepting the ways of God. The second part on "Beholding the Lord" is particularly striking in terms of setting the mind on Christ. He calls this holding our heart in God's presence. What nourishing thoughts. The third part of the prayer of listening giving inward attentiveness to divine motions speaks so clearly of what happens in extended prayer discerning the voice of God.

In this book the author tells three moving stories of experiences of meditative prayer where he goes for retreat. Rather than just some ethereal sense, this book on prayer draws one into the practice of taking those times of solitude for a life guided out of the center of communion with God. For this he also gives tips on the wandering mind in times of prayer as well draws on prayers that express protection as well as guidance even in times of difficulty. The Sanctuary of the Soul is a guide into our own journey of heart transformation.

I call this a spiritual classic for a number of reasons. One is that it causes me to read and re-read the pages on one level for instruction. But then I read it even more slowly because the thoughts and selections of scripture and words of devotional classics draw me into the heart of extended prayer. This is a book that I have already taken with my Bible to my weekly extended prayer time. Each time I see something new. There is something about the way the book is crafted that makes it a work of art where one always sees a new perspective.

This book is a very important gift for the renewal of the church for at the heart of spiritual renewal is developing the life of prayer for all God's people. We will certainly use it in the Springs of Living Water Initiative in church renewal as people discover the spiritual journey. I can see this book used in seminary classroom, denominational office, for pastors, congregation members, and for a neighbor or friend. People are hungering for a life of prayer and spiritual guidance and this guide is an extremely helpful resource for all.

Richard Foster closes with such beautiful words of hope, welcoming us home to the heart of God. His grand invitation of grace at the close leaves us with the image of God's arms stretched out wide to take us in. "Welcome home." "Welcome home to the sanctuary of the soul."

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Listening to and Abiding With God as a Posture of Prayer, October 17, 2011

By 

Benjamin A. Simpson (De Soto, KS) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sanctuary of the Soul: Journey into Meditative Prayer (Hardcover)

In 1 Kings 19, the prophet Elijah flees from Queen Jezebel, who has commanded that Elijah be killed to avenge the humiliation of the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel. Elijah fears for his life, but is met by God and equipped for a journey to Mount Horeb, where God will reaffirm Elijah's prophetic calling, provide him with hope, and teach him to listen.

After arriving at the mountain, you will recall that Elijah witnesses a great wind, a mighty earthquake, and a consuming fire, but the Lord is not found in these displays. It is not until Elijah hears the sound of sheer silence that he comes to a knowledge of God's presence. Only then is he prepared to listen.

Richard Foster, in Sanctuary of the Soul: Journey into Meditative Prayer, encourages his readers to enter the silence, to quiet the soul, and to assume a posture of attentiveness. Foster's writings have consistently named our greatest spiritual problem as distraction, and through this small book, he shares wisdom with his readers and helps them to learn the fine art of listening to and abiding with God.

Foster's work is structured according to three primary themes: foundational concerns, the practice of meditative prayer, and assistance in resolving everyday problems. Prayer is challenging for many people, and the notion that we might enter in to an extended period of solitude, silence, or attentive listening as an act of prayer may seem foreign. Oftentimes, we are accustomed to tailoring our prayers according to our wants and needs, rather than engaging with God as a willing recipient of grace, wisdom, and guidance.

First, Foster begins with foundational matters. The book opens with a simple affirmation:

"Jesus Christ is alive and here to teach his people himself. His voice is not hard to hear; his vocabulary is not difficult to understand. But learning to listen well and to hear correctly is no small task."

Christians believe this to be true. Many Christians, however, express reservations concerning our ability to hear a direct word from God. We find it hard to fathom that God may speak to us directly beyond what we find in the pages of Scripture. We go beyond Foster's claim that learning to listen well and hear correctly is "no small task," and instead regard it as impossible. But it is not impossible. God has issued the invitation, desiring to commune with you. Such communion requires stepping beyond the Bible as God's revealed Word toward the Word Jesus Christ. This in no way demeans the Bible. Rather, it illuminates its true purpose. According to Foster the Bible is a dynamic text that instructs and leads us into a dynamic relationship with Jesus himself. Within the context of that relationship, Foster persuades the reader to develop "a familiar friendship with Jesus," a phrase helpfully borrowed from Thomas A'Kempis.

This friendship requires a transformation of the heart, first through a recognition that such transformation will be the result of a Presence outside of ourselves. For the Christian, the Reformer of Hearts is none other than the Lord God. Our re-making is an act of sheer grace and divine power. Foster acknowledges that it is the condition of the human heart that God must address, eradicating that which is false, and establishing that which is true, rooting out wickedness and renewing us in righteousness. God must recast our character according to the image of the Son. In order to accomplish the task of renewed character, Foster helpfully describes a movement of descent from mind to heart. It is not only our intellect that must be reformed, but our affections as well.

Next, Foster identifies three postures for entering meditative prayer: being present, beholding the Lord, and cultivating an inward attentiveness. Each of these postures is the subject of a short chapter, and it is here that I believe many of the true gems of this book are found. Modern people often live as though God does not exist, even if they are actively involved in a church, and these chapters help to counteract this supposition, helping the practitioner--the ordinary, everyday person--to realize a continual awareness of God's voice and leading.

Lastly, Foster addresses practical concerns. First, he gently encourages those of us who suffer from a wandering mind, giving pastoral wisdom and strategies for how we might become more focused. Secondly, Foster provides biblical instruction on the reality of our adversary, the devil, who seeks to lead us astray and prevent us from communing with God. Lastly, Foster addresses common questions that have arisen through his years of teaching about contemplative prayer.

Sanctuary of the Soul is a practical and clear guide to a life of prayer. Foster is focused on the individual--he uses personal illustrations and experience to provide life-on-life instruction for those seeking to enjoy God's presence and attune themselves to God's voice. He does not provide instruction on how this might in turn affect a body of people, such as a church or small group who engage in the practice of contemplative prayer. This does not mean that the book is without benefit. Though it is individually focused, the degree to which this book can affect change at the personal level could make an impact on others. Churches and other groups of Christians are in deep need of those who have learned to listen carefully to God. They in turn help us to hear God as well.

This small book, a quick and very useful read, is one I would recommend.