Opening to God

Most Christians want to experience spiritual transformation. But many are frustrated by the limited progress of our spiritual self-improvement efforts. We find our praying burdened by a sense of obligation and failure.

But prayer is not merely something we do; prayer is what God does in us. Prayer is not just communication with God—it is communion with God. As we open ourselves to him, God does the spiritual work of transformation in us.

Spiritual director and psychologist David Benner invites us to discover openness to God as the essence of prayer, spirituality, and the Christian life. Prayer is far more than saying words to God; all of life can be prayer when offered to God in faith and with openness. Using the four movements of lectio divina, Benner explores prayer as attending, pondering, responding, and being. Along the way he opens us to a world of possibilities for communion with God: praying with our senses, with imagination, with music and creativity, in contemplation, in service, and much more.

Learn how prayer can be a way of living. Move beyond words to become not merely someone who prays, but someone whose entire life is prayer in union with God.

This expanded edition includes a new afterword and an experiential guide with questions for individual reflection or group discussion.



David G. Benner (PhD, York University) is an internationally known depth psychologist, author, and wisdom teacher whose life's work has been directed toward facilitating human unfolding through a journey of awakening and transformation. He is the founding director, teacher, and mentor of Cascadia Living Wisdom. He has authored many books, including The Spiritual Journey trilogy: Surrender to Love, The Gift of Being Yourself, and Desiring God's Will.

Acknowledgments


Introduction: Transforming Openness to God


1. More Than You Can Imagine


2. Preparing for the Divine Encounter


3. Lectio Divina and Four Classic Prayer Paths


4. Prayer as Attending


5. Prayer as Pondering


6. Prayer as Responding


7. Prayer as Being


8. Life as Prayer, Prayer as Life


9. Transformational Prayer


Afterword: Trusting Openness


Study Guide for Reflection and Discussion


Notes