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13 Powerful Ways to Pray
Prayer can nourish your soul in wonderful ways. Just as there are many different foods for the body, so too are there many different types of prayer for the soul. And a healthy prayer diet will include a variety of them for different times and seasons. But what are these different methods of prayer?
In this practical book by Fr. Eamon Tobin, you'll discover thirteen of the most common ways to communicate with God. You'll also gain a deeper understanding of why prayer is essential to your life, how it comforts and transforms you, and what to do when it seems dry or difficult.
Some of the prayer methods suggested in this book can be easily incorporated into your everyday life, while others require taking time away from your normal activities to intentionally meet God in solitude. But the goal is always the connecting with God and learning to know him more intimately. When it comes to prayer, there's something here for everyone.
In this practical book by Fr. Eamon Tobin, you'll discover thirteen of the most common ways to communicate with God. You'll also gain a deeper understanding of why prayer is essential to your life, how it comforts and transforms you, and what to do when it seems dry or difficult.
Some of the prayer methods suggested in this book can be easily incorporated into your everyday life, while others require taking time away from your normal activities to intentionally meet God in solitude. But the goal is always the connecting with God and learning to know him more intimately. When it comes to prayer, there's something here for everyone.
175 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1989
44 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 2, 2019
Father Eamon Tobin is a native of Kilkenny Ireland and the pastor of a local parish here in Melbourne FL.
He has written 3 books and this, his latest, is a wealth of information on prayer. It is practical as well.
Father Tobin is a prolific writer and more of his writings can be found on his parish website
www.ascensioncatholic.net.
I have a desire to increase my prayer life and this book has helped me immensely.
5 stars
He has written 3 books and this, his latest, is a wealth of information on prayer. It is practical as well.
Father Tobin is a prolific writer and more of his writings can be found on his parish website
www.ascensioncatholic.net.
I have a desire to increase my prayer life and this book has helped me immensely.
5 stars
May 1, 2024
wowowowowowowowow
April 29, 2022
Good guidebook if you are looking to deepen your praying.
November 30, 2022
Awesome book to enhance and get you to think about your prayer life and how you can grow your relationship with God. Highly recommend!
October 6, 2024
It made me rethink my relationship with God.
April 23, 2023
It took me a while to get into this, but about mid-way through, I decided I would keep this on my shelf of resource books to continue to revisit. At the end is a resource for facilitators wishing to use this for small groups. It would be good for that purpose. Each section ends with questions to contemplate and an exercise for the reader. Most were valuable to me. Very broadly, the 13 ways to improve (each getting a section of its own) are thanksgiving, petition, intercession, contrition, forgiveness, examining conscience, journaling, decisioning, spiritual reading, contemplation, adoration, the rosary, and prayers in times of spiritual dryness.
May 29, 2017
I found this book to be very helpful. Father Tobin starts off with a defining of what prayer is to him. He points out that we all pray differently. Then he relates four keys to an effective prayer life. They are developing a positive image of God, being honest with God when praying, connecting prayer with daily life, and listening to God in prayer. The last chapters are the thirteen ways to pray. They include prayer of Thanksgiving, prayer of petition, prayer of intercession, prayer of contrition, prayer of forgiveness and many more. This is a book that is meant to be reread. It is also a book that would be good in group discussions.
December 4, 2024
This is a book about prayer. The author begins by describing 4 keys to prayer life, and then discusses 13 ways to pray, differentiated by intention and method.
I enjoyed this book. I think everyone should read the section about the first key to prayer life, which is developing a positive image of God and self; I thought these words were really valuable and something I needed to hear. I appreciated what the author said about our relationship with God and the role of prayer in life. I don’t have a strong prayer habit but this book was good food for thought.
I enjoyed this book. I think everyone should read the section about the first key to prayer life, which is developing a positive image of God and self; I thought these words were really valuable and something I needed to hear. I appreciated what the author said about our relationship with God and the role of prayer in life. I don’t have a strong prayer habit but this book was good food for thought.
February 3, 2019
Part 1 is a bit of a primer on what prayer is, I found that section a bit weak but I believe it's more geared towards an audience only starting in their prayer life. Part 2 I found to be much more engaging for me and more applicable to me. Certainly a quick read, I'd just recommend if it's something you're picking up for a fresh look at your prayer life rather than a starter pack to skip along to Part 2.
September 16, 2024
Read for 75 Hard, again. Continuing my religious rabbit hole…This was so fascinating. My favorite was definitely the chapter on the Rosary. I love the Rosary, so it was really neat seeing a new way to say it. I still believe, next to the Mass, the Rosary is the most powerful prayer (or it has been in my life).
This could be added to my list of books to read annually, or maybe my favorite chapters to read annually.
This could be added to my list of books to read annually, or maybe my favorite chapters to read annually.
May 28, 2018
I read this book as part of a book club/prayer group. We only read 2-3 chapters at a time, which was a great way to soak in everything. I enjoyed Part One -Four Keys to an Effective Prayer Life as much if not more than the actual 13 ways. A good solid spirtual read that I'd recommend to anyone looking to jumpstart their prayer life.
December 31, 2023
Tobin does an excellent job of exploring prayer as a way of building a relationship with God. Some of his suggestions are easily incorporated into daily life. Others require taking time away from the everyday to intentionally meet God in solitude. I found Tobin's explanations clear, his metaphors helpful, and the suggested activities worthwhile.
August 9, 2019
Father Tobin brings a new and easy way to put prayer back into you life.
June 18, 2022
Good and practical, easy to read in little spurts as each chapter can stand alone.
July 26, 2023
this book is simply, easy and applicable. i love the prayer exercises at the end of each chapter to put into practice what i read. so good!
March 14, 2025
One of the best Christian books I've ever read!
June 9, 2017
This was my first book by Eamon Tobin but it will not be the last. I have already added two of his others to my to be read list, because this book was so good. The book begins with a statement from Tobin:
“Remembering that I come from a race of people who for hundreds of years have been praying in the Christian way comforts, challenges, and sustains me in my efforts to be a praying person. Reflecting on the fact that my people have been a praying people for so many generations motivates me to keep alive such a wonderful praying tradition and to add to it in some small way.”
And from reading this book, he does so in more than a small way. He gives us in this small volume not only thirteen ways to pray but he begins with 4 foundations to having a prayer life that is effective. It does not matter if you have a solid prayer life, or you are just beginning to get serious about growing it, this book will be an excellent resource for your prayer life. But he is also honest about his own dry seasons in prayers he states:
“Personally I find prayer to be both a consoling and difficult experience. It is consoling and enjoyable when I believe I am making contact with God whether on a feeling or faith level, when I discover new insights into his ways, when I receive answers to my petitions, and when I simply experience his loving presence and mercy. Praying is difficult for me when I am distracted or unfocused, when my prayer is dry, when I think my efforts to pray are going nowhere, and when I think I have lost contact with God.”
The chapters in this book are:
Preface
What Is Prayer?
PART ONE
Four Keys to an Effective Prayer Life
Key One: Developing A Positive Image Of God
Key Two: Being Honest With God
Key Three: Connecting Prayer With Daily Life
Key Four: Listening To God In Prayer
PART TWO
Thirteen Forms of Prayer
One: Prayer Of Thanksgiving
Two: Prayer Of Petition
Three: Prayer Of Intercession
Four: Prayer Of Contrition
Five: Prayer Of Forgiveness
Six: Prayer Of Consciousness Examen
Seven: Praying With A Spiritual Journal
Eight: Decisioning Prayer
Nine: Prayer Of Spiritual Reading
Ten: Prayer Of Contemplation
Eleven: Prayer Of Adoration
Twelve: Praying The Rosary
Thirteen: Prayer In Times Of Spiritual Dryness
Conclusion
Appendix: How to Use This Book for Small-Group Discussion
Each chapter in this book has a main teaching section, and then at the end of the chapter it has a section of Questions, and an exercise. The questions can be used for personal reflection or for small group discussion. And those exercises are followed by a prayer exercise. These exercises explore a lot of different aspects of prayer, from writing a letter to God; to a gratitude list, and many more. Since I have read the book I have gone back to it a few times and just picked an exercise at the end of the chapter and used it as a different way to pray.
One of my favorite statements by Fr. Tobin in the book is: “Prayer is to my spirit what food is to my body. It is the bread of my spiritual life.” This book is amazing in and of itself. But Fr. Tobin also provides an amazing bibliography at the end with numerous references that can be jumping off points to go even deeper into different aspects of prayer and living the Christian life.
This book will provide encouragement, no matter where you are at in your prayer life today. It will also help you draw deeper from the well of prayer. This book is practical, easy to apply, and easy to read. The tools outlined take minutes to learn but you can grow them over a lifetime. And though written by a Catholic and for Catholics any Christian would benefit from reading this wonderful little book.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2017 Catholic Reading Plan!
“Remembering that I come from a race of people who for hundreds of years have been praying in the Christian way comforts, challenges, and sustains me in my efforts to be a praying person. Reflecting on the fact that my people have been a praying people for so many generations motivates me to keep alive such a wonderful praying tradition and to add to it in some small way.”
And from reading this book, he does so in more than a small way. He gives us in this small volume not only thirteen ways to pray but he begins with 4 foundations to having a prayer life that is effective. It does not matter if you have a solid prayer life, or you are just beginning to get serious about growing it, this book will be an excellent resource for your prayer life. But he is also honest about his own dry seasons in prayers he states:
“Personally I find prayer to be both a consoling and difficult experience. It is consoling and enjoyable when I believe I am making contact with God whether on a feeling or faith level, when I discover new insights into his ways, when I receive answers to my petitions, and when I simply experience his loving presence and mercy. Praying is difficult for me when I am distracted or unfocused, when my prayer is dry, when I think my efforts to pray are going nowhere, and when I think I have lost contact with God.”
The chapters in this book are:
Preface
What Is Prayer?
PART ONE
Four Keys to an Effective Prayer Life
Key One: Developing A Positive Image Of God
Key Two: Being Honest With God
Key Three: Connecting Prayer With Daily Life
Key Four: Listening To God In Prayer
PART TWO
Thirteen Forms of Prayer
One: Prayer Of Thanksgiving
Two: Prayer Of Petition
Three: Prayer Of Intercession
Four: Prayer Of Contrition
Five: Prayer Of Forgiveness
Six: Prayer Of Consciousness Examen
Seven: Praying With A Spiritual Journal
Eight: Decisioning Prayer
Nine: Prayer Of Spiritual Reading
Ten: Prayer Of Contemplation
Eleven: Prayer Of Adoration
Twelve: Praying The Rosary
Thirteen: Prayer In Times Of Spiritual Dryness
Conclusion
Appendix: How to Use This Book for Small-Group Discussion
Each chapter in this book has a main teaching section, and then at the end of the chapter it has a section of Questions, and an exercise. The questions can be used for personal reflection or for small group discussion. And those exercises are followed by a prayer exercise. These exercises explore a lot of different aspects of prayer, from writing a letter to God; to a gratitude list, and many more. Since I have read the book I have gone back to it a few times and just picked an exercise at the end of the chapter and used it as a different way to pray.
One of my favorite statements by Fr. Tobin in the book is: “Prayer is to my spirit what food is to my body. It is the bread of my spiritual life.” This book is amazing in and of itself. But Fr. Tobin also provides an amazing bibliography at the end with numerous references that can be jumping off points to go even deeper into different aspects of prayer and living the Christian life.
This book will provide encouragement, no matter where you are at in your prayer life today. It will also help you draw deeper from the well of prayer. This book is practical, easy to apply, and easy to read. The tools outlined take minutes to learn but you can grow them over a lifetime. And though written by a Catholic and for Catholics any Christian would benefit from reading this wonderful little book.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2017 Catholic Reading Plan!
March 9, 2021
There’s so many inspiring words of wisdom in this book, not just from the people Fr. Tobin quotes from but his own words and experiences. I got out a lot out of reading this and highly recommend it to others looking to better their relationship not just with God but with others as well.
June 19, 2023
So many ways and ideas to pray. Have earmarked pages and written and underlined.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews