I love Foster's work on Spiritual Disciplines, but it always felt so high-level. This was an awesome deep dive into prayer. I learned so much and felt convicted, encouraged, and generally spurred on. Foster breaks down different types of prayer and provides personal examples and other stories that helped me better grasp the distinctions and feel motivated to pray more and differently.
I want to own this one because I flagged so many things and want to remember and share the content with others. Here's what I flagged:
Chapter 2
"To come to the possession you have not, you must go by a way in which you possess not." St. John of the Cross
We may not see the end from the beginning, but we keep on doing what we know to do. What we learn to do in the light of God's love, we continue to do in the dark
When you are unable to put your spiritual life into drive, don't put it into reverse, put it into neutral. Trust is how you put it in neutral. Trust is confidence in the character of God..."I do not understand what God is doing or even where God is, but I know He is out to do me good."
Chapter 3
Not a journey into ourselves, but a journey through ourselves so that we can emerge from the deepest level of self into God
Chapter 4
"Cease not, wet eyes, His mercies to entreat, to cry for vengeance, sin doth never cease, in your deep floods, drown all my faults and fears, nor let his eye see sin but through my tears"
When you cannot weep outwardly, shed tears before God in your intention, have a weeping heart - the mind and spirit can be broken before God even with dry eyes
Chapter 6
The covenant of place calls us to stability - we need to be anchored somewhere
Chapter 10
Body prayer - Ancient Christian dance: tripudium - locked arms and walk 3 steps forward 1 step back on repeat - proclaiming theology with their feet - theology that moves us forward, but not without setbacks
There is no mode of life more pleasing and more full of delight than continual conversation with God
One's love of God should run before breathing
Chapter 12
Falling asleep in prayer is no problem - you can rest in God's presence. Besides, to be next to the heart of God is a good and safe place for sleeping.
Book: The Cloud of Unknowing (thank God in prayer if you fall asleep unawares)
Chapter 15
It is precisely in the slop bucket job, the work we abhor where we will find God the most. We do not need to have good feelings or a warm glow in order to do work for the glory of God. All good work is pleasing to the Father, even the jobs that seem meaningless and mindless to us are highly valued in the order of the kingdom of God. God values the ordinary.
In time, I do not hear God speaking anymore and I think to myself, "Good, I got away with that one" - No I didn't. Deafness has come in part. Blindness has come in part. The dulling of our spiritual sensitivities is something I hope we will come to fear.
Chapter 20
Authoritative prayer - calling forth the will of the Father upon the earth - not so much speaking to God as speaking for God - we are not asking God to do something, rather we are using the authority of God to command something done
Example of authoritative prayer with a baby and an ear infection
Prudence, example of not praying for healing for a friend
The prayer of command - Luke 9:1-2
In my concern over falling off the deep end, I realized I just might fall off the shallow end - my desire to maintain religious respectability could easily result in a domesticated faith. I must be willing to step out even if the waters look deep
Authoritative prayer is not a substitute for disciplined habits of living - many times people need not deliverance, but discipline
Chapter 21
Social holiness - by our praying and living we sabotage race, status, and class distinctions - Jesus healed the sickness in a society that would cast people aside - He was declaring people blessed and precious though society deemed them unblessed and unblessable
Christian community questions:
What experiences of prayer and meditation have you had this week?
What temptations did you face this week?
What movements of the Holy Spirit did you experience this week?
What opportunities to serve others have you had this week?
In what ways have you encountered Christ in your study of the Bible this week?