Joyce Rupp opens up the Scriptures that teach us how to pray and applies them to our daily lives. She encourages us "to pray always" through an awareness of God "in whom we live and move and have our being."
Filled with personal experiences, examples, and life-lessons, Prayer is spiritual reading at its best for Christians of all denominations.
Joyce Rupp is well known for her work as a writer, a spiritual "midwife," and retreat and conference speaker. She has led retreats throughout North America, as well as in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Joyce has a B.A. in English, a M.R.E. in Religious Education, and a M.A. in Transpersonal Psychology. She is a member of the Servites (Servants of Mary) community and was a volunteer for Hospice for fifteen years. She currently resides in Des Moines, Iowa. A list of Joyce's works can be found in the left column of this page. Click on the book title to find out more information about that title.
Filled with personal reflections and Rupp's poetic views of the world, this book was a perfect addition to my year immersing myself in books about prayer and personal prayer practices.
The theme I take away most from this book is compassion. Our prayer life leads us deeper into compassion for ourselves and others.
“... all of life is a doorway to the divine.” -71
“Prayer is never done. Our growing is never finished. The giving of our goodness is never completed. Our journey with the Holy One goes on and on.” -111
"It only takes one person with a heart full of love and a desire to alleviate suffering to make a significant difference in a larger sphere of humankind."
A beautiful reminder that our journey with God is strengthened through prayer. Joyce Rupp's anecdotes and poems are affirmations that prayer grows us. It is not a means to an end.
Our prayer life may not be as consistent as we want it to be, but He will meet us where we are.
"Humans have always sought meaningful ways to describe and relate to the vast, divine mystery known as God." Joyce Rupp is a shares her perspective of connecting with God as a Catholic, a woman, and a seeker of truth. Chapters include poetry, questions for reflection, prayers and prompts to embrace quiet, reflective daily prayer.
Excellent read on prayer that inspires a relationship with God through different prayer methods. That listening to His "still small voice" is just as important as talking. It's communication at its best...talking and listening.
This is a great resource for developing your prayer life. It is relevant to someone who is struggling or questioning whether prayer matters. It also provides references for those who are looking to go deeper in their prayer life, or revitalize it. Bottom line - prayer is different for each person, and there is no 'right' way to pray. Good resource.