Be Still and Know: A Study in the Life of Prayer

by Arthur Michael Ramsey

Here is Ramsey's best-loved book, a luminous meditation on the art of praying and the way prayer shapes the heart of the believer. This book searches out the biblical roots of prayer as they are revealed in New Testament scriptures and makes that wisdom available for contemporary readers.

Genres: Theology, Prayer, Nonfiction, Christian, Christianity

Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Served as the 100th Archbishop of Canterbury from 1961 - 1974.

Reviews

[Sara Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not a long work, but it is a pithy one; I recommend reading it slowly and prayerfully.

[Adam Shields · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short review: This is an ok book on prayer. Nothing special, nothing heretical. First section looks at the prayers of Jesus and the Apostles. The second section is more about the theory and practice of prayer in history. Lots of better books on prayer. My full review lists a number of aspects of prayer and what I think is the best book on that aspect of prayer.

Full review at http://bookwi.se/be-still-and-know-a-...

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most helpful books on prayer I've ever read. Archbishop Ramsey starts out exploring how and where Jesus prayed and how he advised us to pray. Then he explores how we've followed Jesus' example and provides help in how we might improve our own prayer life.

[Rex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a solid albeit very brief study of prayer in Christian teaching and practice. My one quibble is that although intended (to all appearances) as a lay introduction, the approach is not very practical. Ramsey gives us a nice summary of what prayer is, but it really begs another hundred pages or so on how we ought to incorporate the modes and attitudes of prayer he discusses into daily life. As neither an in-depth theological/historical analysis nor fully a primer, it is a mere worthwhile meditation. There is nothing wrong with that, and again, his insights are valuable, but most will find other studies of prayer more immediately helpful.

[Pollymoore3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The chapter on the Communion of Saints illuminates and explains this concept wonderfully well.