Central to the Christian life is the practice of prayer. But what, theologically speaking, is going on when we pray? What does prayer have to do with religious belief and action? Does prayer make a difference? Prayer: A Guide for the Perplexed addresses these and other key questions regarding the Christian theology of prayer. Beginning with Evagrius of Ponticus's 'On Prayer', Ashley Cocksworth finds in this early document a profound expression of the 'integrity' of the experience of prayer and theological thought. Seeking throughout to integrate systematic theology and the spirituality of prayer, individual chapters explore the meaning of some of the core doctrines of lived Christian faith – the Trinity, creation, providence, and the Christian life – as they relate to the practice of prayer. Complete with an annotated bibliography of sources on prayer to promote further reading, this volume appeals to academics and general readers alike.

Central to the Christian life is the practice of prayer. But what, theologically speaking, is going on when we pray? What does prayer have to do with religious belief and action? Does prayer make a difference? Prayer: A Guide for the Perplexed addresses these and other key questions regarding the Christian theology of prayer. Beginning with Evagrius of Ponticus's 'On Prayer', Ashley Cocksworth finds in this early document a profound expression of the 'integrity' of the experience of prayer and theological thought. Seeking throughout to integrate systematic theology and the spirituality of prayer, individual chapters explore the meaning of some of the core doctrines of lived Christian faith – the Trinity, creation, providence, and the Christian life – as they relate to the practice of prayer. Complete with an annotated bibliography of sources on prayer to promote further reading, this volume appeals to academics and general readers alike.

Life-Changing Teaching on Prayer from One of the Topic's Leading Authors Based on years of ministry and experience, international prayer leader and bestselling author Dutch Sheets presents a real-world, hands-on foundation for prayer. With wisdom and practical insight, he helps you develop the core of an effective prayer life: a stronger, lasting relationship with God as Father and friend. He also shows you how to: · make prayer a vital part of your life · pray alone and in groups · persist in prayer until you see God's answers · become a powerful intercessor for those you love · and more! He even includes questions at the end of each chapter to help you immediately implement what you're learning. "This book is really for all prayer warriors, whether just beginning or advanced."--Cindy Jacobs

“There is only one way to perfection and that is to pray; if anyone points in another direction then they are deceiving you.” ~ Saint Teresa of Ávila If we want to become the people God made us to be, we need to set aside time every day for prayer. It sounds simple enough, but we often allow distractions, temptations, and our busy lives to keep us from daily prayer. And what is prayer? Prayer is our “no” to self and “yes” to God. Prayer is the place where we freely choose to receive God’s love. As we daily try to raise our minds and hearts to God, giving our time to be present with him, God gives us the love that alone can transform us into his image and likeness. In How to Pray: A Practical Guide to the Spiritual Life, spiritual theologian David Torkington offers everyday guidance for entering more deeply into prayer, whether you are a beginner or looking to go deeper in your prayer life. The forty short, easy-to-read chapters in this guide can be read as a devotional, for meditation, or alongside Sacred Scripture. Through prayer, our soul becomes like a lightning rod allowing the Holy Spirit to enter our hearts. The more regularly and the more persistently we pray, the more we are changed.

The author of the world wide best-seller, Small Is Beautiful, now tackles the subject of Man, the World, and the Meaning of Living. Schumacher writes about man's relation to the world. man has obligations -- to other men, to the earth, to progress and technology, but most importantly himself. If man can fulfill these obligations, then and only then can he enjoy a real relationship with the world, then and only then can he know the meaning of living. Schumacher says we need maps: a "map of knowledge" and a "map of living." The concern of the mapmaker--in this instance, Schumacher--is to find for everything it's proper place. Things out of place tend to get lost; they become invisible and there proper places end to be filled by other things that ought not be there at all and therefore serve to mislead. A Guide for the Perplexed teaches us to be our own map makers. This constantly surprising, always stimulating book will be welcomed by a large audience, including the many new fans who believe strongly in what Schumacher has to say.

Pete Greig is a worldwide authority and the face of a generation when it comes to prayer. One of the founders of the 24-7 prayer movement, he has seen, experienced, and chronicled amazing works of God in the world. While you might imagine him to be puffed up, Pete Greig is entirely the opposite. He is enchanting, down-to-earth, friendly, and most of all, very normal–and yet he tells preposterous tales about prayer (and they’re true). He is basically a regular dude who loves to talk with God. How to Pray is written to evoke a passion for prayer in everyone—the committed follower of Jesus as well as the skeptic and the scared. The enormous blessing of How to Pray is that it is accessible, full of surprising stories of answered prayer, and tremendously engaging. The basic idea is that prayer is a conversation between you and God. Pete Greig demystifies and reenchants prayer, helping you to find prayer achievable and enjoyable, and ultimately life-giving and life-changing. How to Pray is designed to be used together with The Prayer Course (a free video curriculum associated with the Alpha course), making it useful for personal and group or church-wide reading.

“I often shrink from books about prayer, because they usually produce in me feelings of inadequacy. I was delighted to find Tim Jones to be a sympathetic, not intimidating, guide. He writes with humility, clarity, and practicality–exactly the qualities I want in a book on prayer.” –Philip Yancey Revised and Expanded Edition with Study Guide Included “Timothy Jones…guides us into a life of prayer not by cramming us with knowledge and technique, but by quietly returning us to simplicity of soul and the presence of God.” –Eugene Peterson Something within us wants to grow closer to the God who loves to relate to us. But we often hesitate. Even though we have a desire to pray, questions nag us: Can I pray when I feel distant from God? Is it okay to ask God for help in “little” things? What do I do when I don’t know what to say? What sense can I make of seemingly unanswered prayer? How do I keep growing closer to God? In The Art of Prayer, Timothy Jones honestly shares his own struggles with prayer and invites you to be honest–and hopeful–as well. Offering biblically wise, warmly instructive explorations of our questions, Jones considers how you can become fluent in the world’s simplest language: talking with God. Includes a full-length inductive Bible study guide on prayer, ideal for small groups or individual readers. “…wisely human, spiritually practical, and wonderfully interesting.” – the late Lewis Smedes, author of My God and I “…luminous prose and…lucid insights.” –Publishers Weekly