A Guidebook to Prayer

Why is prayer so hard?Many of us have asked that question. We want to pray. We intend to pray. But, as spiritual director and professor MaryKate Morse notes, " we don't pray as consistently or as meaningfully as we might like."And yet prayer offers us such spiritual riches. Prayer



- draws us to experience love and to be love

- increases our faith

- expands our vision of God

- helps us grow in self-understanding

- gives us perspective on life and death

Morse continues: "Through prayer, we experience forgiveness, guidance and peace. We are healed physically and emotionally. We experience the mystery of God, see truth and receive spiritual gifts. We receive vision and courage for God's mission. Faith becomes more beautiful, more real."This guidebook is designed to move you from lamenting over prayerlessness to the joy of praying. Whether you are a beginner or a lifetime person of faith, you will find a treasure trove of riches here to guide you into a deeper experience of prayer.Each chapter explores a different angle of prayer with sections focusing on each of the persons of the Trinity—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And each chapter offers specific ways to pray both on your own, with a partner or in a group. Sprinkled throughout are reflections from the author's former students describing on their own experience with these practices.A treasure trove of both resources and encouragement, you will find this book to be an indispensable guide to your life of prayer.



MaryKate Morse is professor of leadership and spiritual formation at George Fox Evangelical Seminary in Portland, Oregon. She is the author of Making Room for Leadership. She holds an M.A. in biblical studies and an M.Div. from Western Evangelical Seminary (now George Fox Evangelical Seminary), and her doctorate in leadership from Gonzaga University.In addition to teaching she also serves as a consultant to churches and organizations in transition or with leadership challenges. She has planted two churches with leadership teams in Portland, Oregon. Along with being a Quaker minister and a trained spiritual director, she also does conference and retreat ministries and mentors leaders.



Joshua Choonmin Kang (ThM, Talbot School of Theology; MDiv, Azusa Pacific University) is founding pastor of New Life Vision Church in the Koreatown area of Los Angeles, California. He is a speaker and has written books such as Deep-Rooted in Christ and Scripture by Heart. Kang is also the author of thirty books in Korean, including God's Grace That Turns the Life Around, with over 1.5 million copies in print.

Contents


Foreword by Rev. Joshua Choonmin Kang


Acknowledgments


Introduction: Prayer as Roadness to God
Part One: God the Father


1. Community Prayer—God as One in Community


2. Creative Prayer—God as Creator


3. Work Prayer—God as Active


4. Contemplative-Rest Prayer—God as Rest


5. Prayer of Confession—God as Holy


6. Blessing Prayer—God as Loving-Kindness


7. Worship Prayer—God as Worthy
Part Two: God the Son


8. Reflection-Examen Prayer—Jesus as Human


9. The Lord?s Prayer—Jesus as Lord


10. Servant Prayer—Jesus as Servant


11. Simplicity Prayer—Jesus as Reconciler


12. Prayer in Play—Jesus as Love


13. Scripture Prayer—Jesus as Teacher


14. Relinquishment Prayer—Jesus as Suffering Son of God


15. Forgiveness Prayer—Jesus as Savior


16. Sacrament Prayer—Jesus as Head of the Body