Beginning Prayer

by John Killinger

For the person who is fairly new at prayer, this is a fundamental book, a primer--on prayer. It is about attitude in prayer, about times of day for praying, about places for praying, about posture in prayer, and about mood in prayer. Most importantly, Beginning Prayer offers specific methods for beginning to pray.

Genres: Nonfiction

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

The Rev. Dr. John Killinger lives with his wife, Anne, in Warrenton, Virginia. A former pastor in Baptist, Presbyterian and Congregational churches, he also taught for fifteen years at Vanderbilt Divinity School and was Distinguished Professor of Religion and Culture at Samford University in Birmingham. He is the author of over 50 books, among them God, The Devil, and Harry Potter. Because Dr. Killinger's interests are broad, his writings have touched on many subjects: Christian history, personal spirituality, world religions, preaching, worship, church politics, a female Christ figure, the Gospels as devotional literature, secular writers and artists, the nature of pastoral ministry, and the relationship between theology and contemporary culture. His prayers and utterances often find their way into Sunday church bulletins and other ministers' sermons. You will find inspiration and spiritual sustenance within.

Reviews

[Jon Kidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had the pleasure of reading this fine work by John Killinger.

A relatively short book, but nonetheless full of wisdom and inspiration and some really good ideas.

What struck me most about this book is that the author is addressing Christian prayer, but over and over throughout the book, I see similarities to prayers, meditations, reflections and spiritual practices often linked to other religious traditions. One sees mindfulness practices, silence practices, the speaking of tongues (glossalalia), in his chapter entitled "The Use of Mere Syllables".

A mainline denominational pastor and scholar, Brother Killinger talks about both the unfamiliar and familiar in the prayer life of an evangelical. Many topics were familiar, and yet, many brought fresh insights and ideas to incorporate into my own prayer life.

Perhaps my favorite chapter in the book was where he talked about the various postures of praying. Raised in the United Methodist faith, and later joining the Southern Baptist denomination, praying often takes place in our churches either while seated in a pew, or standing at the offeratory or benediction. Occasionally, we are moved to go the altar and bow at the railing. Only in recent years have I really studied and become familiar with lying prostrate.

Even in the practical sense, Killinger even talks about changing positions while praying for long periods, as the body aches and knees stiffen from being in the same position for a duration. In my own prayer life, I've found that lying prostrate before the Lord is edifying, as I'm making a conscious act to approach in my most reverent humility. I, too, find that after a period of time, I am forced to change positions.

To help with my own health and flexibility, I have begun using a dynamic yoga program. Only for the exercise, there is no "spiritual" experience taking place. I have found that the most comfortable prayer position for me is a position called "the child pose". From a kneeling position, one leans forward and brings their forehead approaching or touching the floor. Then one extends and stretches their arms forward on the floor. Not only is it a humbling position of prayer, but also offers a physical respite of total relaxation and stretching out the back.

I suppose I may have gone overboard in discussing positions of prayer, but I must say that this book has opened up my creativity as I approach my own prayer life.

The one thing that I took from this book that I am going to start tomorrow, (or as soon as I can obtain one) is the use of a Catholic Rosary. Not for praying "Hail Marys", but to count the repeated prayers of "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me". I see this as bringing additional focus and discipline in praying, and was first mentioned in the 19th century book, "The Way of the Pilgrim".

What I learned is simple... "When is the best time to pray?... Anytime. Where is the best place to pray?... Anywhere. What is the best position for prayer?.... Any position." One needs to cultivate the personal discipline and focus in order to establish a regular, meaningful, and effective style of prayer.

I live in a small home and don't have the luxury of my own "prayer closet". However, I have a specific place to sit in my time of prayer and devotion. And, to symbolically block out the world and draw into the secret place of the most high, I cover my head and shoulders with a tallit. (a Jewish prayer shawl).

I highly commend this work to you and trust you will not only be inspired and taught, but that your heart and mind will be drawn to the Lord in a new and dynamic way.

This review may also be found on: www.GoodReads.com; www.Amazon.com; www.NetGalley.com, and my personal blog: BookReviewsByJon.Wordpress.com.

[Michelle's Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

beginning Prayer
John Killinger
Upper Room Nashville (c) 2012

Synopsis
A great reminder on the different approached to prayer on a daily basis. Each chapter provides a prayer technique, an example of how to use that prayer and reflection by the author.

Reflection:

In the beginning of this book, Mr. Killinger made the suggestion that a mature Christina may not need this book. I would suggest that everyone regardless of their stage of Christian development would find this book helpful.

Some of the suggestion I found helpful (I am not a mature Christian):
- find a quiet place
-ask God questions
-listen to God as he asks you questions
-have a ritual in place
-think or reflect on a dream
-reflect on blessings
-reflect on good memories of a person or time

There are more, but those are the suggestions that i found particularly helpful. I, particularly thought the suggestion to reflect on good memories of a person who hurt or critiqued you. I have been trying to forgive some individual who were particularly hurtful. They weren't hurtful once but over a long period of time and deliberately so towards me. One in particular hurt me during a very tough time in my life. I have prayed for the strength to forgive them, but every so often a memory triggers how hurtful they were and I go over the whole thing in my mind again.
I used this suggestion and a small knot lessen inside of me. It will take more time, but the fact that this lessen it a bit suggests it will work.

Read this book, regardless of where you are in your journey and I think you will find it helpful.