Opening to God: Lectio Divina and Life as PrayerMost 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 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 your life. Move beyond words to become not merely someone who prays, but someone whose entire life is prayer in union with God. |
Contents
9 | |
Transforming Openness to God | 11 |
More Than You Can Imagine | 15 |
Preparing for the Divine Encounter | 31 |
Lectio Divina and Four Classic Prayer Paths | 47 |
Prayer as Attending | 65 |
Prayer as Pondering | 87 |
Prayer as Responding | 109 |
Prayer as Being | 129 |
Life as Prayer Prayer as Life | 149 |
Transformational Prayer | 163 |
Notes | 175 |
Other editions - View all
Opening to God: Lectio Divina and Life As Prayer (Large Print 16pt) David G. Benner No preview available - 2012 |
Common terms and phrases
Abraham Kuyper allow asked Basil Pennington become begins Benner breathing bring called centering prayer chapter Christ Christian prayer Christian spirituality church communication communion contemplative prayer conversation core deep deeper desert father Eastern Orthodox Church ence engage expression faith Father feel flow form of prayer gift God’s presence God’s Word grace healing holistic prayer imagination important inner InterVarsity Press invitation Jesus Prayer lectio divina listening living Lord Lord’s means meditation movements ness notice offer open ourselves openness to God pay attention phrase pilgrimage pondering prayer pray prayer as pondering prayer experience prayer involves prayer practice prayer response Psalm reading relationship reminds rience Scriptures seek senses silence Simone Weil simply soul space speak spiritual practice stillness surrender things Thomas Keating thoughts tion transformational trusting openness turn understanding unworded walk Walsh New York welcoming prayer worded prayer Yahweh