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The Life Of Prayer
As an outgrowth of her concern that individuals gain a proper perspective on prayer's potential and proven effectiveness, Schaeffer provides spiritual, practical insight into this mystical communion available to God's people. Lessons learned by various Biblical figures offer spiritual insight, practical application and instructional foundation for discussions.
255 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1992
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136 people want to read
About the author
Edith Schaeffer
37 books131 followersEDITH SCHAEFFER is the widow of Francis Schaeffer, and with him co-founder of L'Abri Fellowship. Her many books include A Celebration of Children and The Life of Prayer. She passed away in 2013.
Recognized internationally for his work in Christianity and culture, Francis A. Schaeffer authored more than twenty books, which have been translated into a score of languages and sold millions worldwide. He and his wife, Edith, founded L'Abri Fellowship international study and discipleship centers. Schaeffer passed away in 1984, but his influence and legacy continue worldwide.
children: Susan Schaeffer Macaulay
Recognized internationally for his work in Christianity and culture, Francis A. Schaeffer authored more than twenty books, which have been translated into a score of languages and sold millions worldwide. He and his wife, Edith, founded L'Abri Fellowship international study and discipleship centers. Schaeffer passed away in 1984, but his influence and legacy continue worldwide.
children: Susan Schaeffer Macaulay
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 1, 2020
Though Edith is not a theologian, she was married to one of recent times greatest theological thinker Francis Schaeffer. While there were times that her descriptive, in-depth discussions bogged down my reading, the content continually drew me back.
When I reached the final chapter "Creativity and Prayer", I read slowly, as one who savors a splendid feast lingers over the meal for an extended time. Even though no one ever had suggested before that playing piano was a prayer offering, I have felt that for the past decade or so. And here, in this book copyrighted in 1992 and purchased nearly twenty years ago, Edith Schaeffer says exactly that "..the awesome possibilities of communicating to God with our diverse forms of creativity, even as we are enjoying His communication of His love and His glory to us in His creation."
Our world is overloaded with stimulants, even if we only focus on books, or music, or art, or architecture, or gardening, or cooking, or textiles. The challenge is to direct all of what we do as prayer and praise to our Creator.
When I reached the final chapter "Creativity and Prayer", I read slowly, as one who savors a splendid feast lingers over the meal for an extended time. Even though no one ever had suggested before that playing piano was a prayer offering, I have felt that for the past decade or so. And here, in this book copyrighted in 1992 and purchased nearly twenty years ago, Edith Schaeffer says exactly that "..the awesome possibilities of communicating to God with our diverse forms of creativity, even as we are enjoying His communication of His love and His glory to us in His creation."
Our world is overloaded with stimulants, even if we only focus on books, or music, or art, or architecture, or gardening, or cooking, or textiles. The challenge is to direct all of what we do as prayer and praise to our Creator.
September 13, 2015
I love Edith Schaeffer's perspectives on life, and what it means to be a human being, which "flavor" all of her writings.
This book was very helpful to me in revitalizing my prayer life. I read it slowly, over about 3 months, and tried to put into practice what I was learning, as I read a few pages each day.
This book was very helpful to me in revitalizing my prayer life. I read it slowly, over about 3 months, and tried to put into practice what I was learning, as I read a few pages each day.
April 6, 2024
No secret that i love the schaeffers and all they have done for the church at large. Their hearts for God and his kingdom. They are some of my favorite Christian writers to read. And Edith did not disappoint. This book challenge me more on my approach and though on prayer. Edith takes you through scripture after scripture. Can drag on at times. Overall definitely worth a read.
1. “He loved us enough to open a way to come to Him and to be accepted on the basis of the substitution of his only begotten son, the Lamb, the Messiah who came to be our substitute, to die for us.”
2. “Have i been listening?”
3. If you want communication to develop, if you want to have a relationship, it takes listening, as well as talking.”
4. “May we be as sensitive to the need to notice answers and thank God, but also to be more humble as a result.”
5. “A place where there is privacy and a time that is protected should be treasured as precious gifts by those who have them.”
Let’s honor Edith Schaefer as much as we honor her husband. She is brilliant and faithful. Thankful for her work and faith.
1. “He loved us enough to open a way to come to Him and to be accepted on the basis of the substitution of his only begotten son, the Lamb, the Messiah who came to be our substitute, to die for us.”
2. “Have i been listening?”
3. If you want communication to develop, if you want to have a relationship, it takes listening, as well as talking.”
4. “May we be as sensitive to the need to notice answers and thank God, but also to be more humble as a result.”
5. “A place where there is privacy and a time that is protected should be treasured as precious gifts by those who have them.”
Let’s honor Edith Schaefer as much as we honor her husband. She is brilliant and faithful. Thankful for her work and faith.
July 30, 2019
This was truly a great book! I really enjoyed it and will continue to benefit from reading it for a long while. It really is one of the best books on prayer that I have ever read and I have read many! I am planning to reread it again very soon, this time with a highlighter. There are so many wonderful truths in it.
July 9, 2013
Schaeffer's book on prayer contains a vast array of biblical teaching on prayer with abundant illustrations from her own family. Being the wife of Francis Schaeffer, it is natural that she begins with the assertion that, in reality, prayer can only be made to The God who is there-the true God.
She then continues in chapter two by discussing prayer and affliction/suffering. She points out the fallacy of believing that the prayer of faith should result in healing. We live in an abnormal, fallen world where suffering occurs. If absolute faith in prayer would ensure perfect healing why did God not deliver Christ from the cross. Prayer is a gift purchased for us through the terrible suffering of Christ.
More gems from Edith Schaeffer. Why can we not demand deliverance through prayer from suffering? We live in a fallen, abnormal world. Suffering is part of living in this devastated world. Not only that but suffering serves to help us understand Christ, find comfort from God, create an opportunity to learn what we need to learn and prove to Satan that we really love God not for the good things He gives, but because He is God.
Edith Schaeffer prays: Lord, don't let me waste this opportunity to learn what You want me to learn, to be what You want me to be, to prove to Satan that I really love You, as Job did, not just the good things You give....Lord forgive me for the waste of that never-to-be-repeated combination of circumstances to grow in the midst of afflication and to pray with trust before the suffering beocmes a part of past history.
She continues, "may I not sin against Thee now by complaining: may I keep loving You now, and may I truly thank You that that moment is ahead of us when the trumpet will sound, and that which is a mystery to us now will be our greatest reality forever."
Only in this life will we have the opportunity to show Him we love Him in the midst of pain, etc.
In chapter 3 she goes on to talk about the need to be real, transparent in prayer. In chapter 4 and 5 she discusses the role of fasting and prayer. We are not self-sufficient. We need God's help and we need to be serious about seeking it, but not using prayer as an excuse not to work.
In chapter 6 she discusses when and where to pray and how to pray in the midst of people and busyness by talking to God in one's mind. We need to be senstitive to God's interruptions. May I not be rigid in my schedule and inflexible to what You would insert into my time. But please help me to be disciplined to do what is important to do and not to turn easily aside. Pray throughout the day. Pray immediately a person or need arises.
In Chapter 7, she discusses prayer through the centuries; how prayer affected history as demonstrated in the prayers of Hannah, Hezekiah, Isaiah, and Daniel. Even the cries of despair by Job, Jeremiah, Ezekiel were heard by God. Then she takes us through the prayers of Jesus and Paul. She explains that through the Spirit, prayer is a relay, in which we pass the baton to each new generation.
In chapter 8 she illustrates this continuity of prayer through the centuries. These multiplied prayers are gathered by God and together with all God's people become His jewels, His treasured possession.
In a unique thought, she explains that prayer is a kind of hospitality in which we gather up the names of those for whom we intercede; we give our time to those whose names come to our minds or into our homes. Especially imperative is it that we pray for the coming generations.
In this section she transcribes wonderful samples of prayers from NT writers, Clement, Irenaeus, Basil, Augustine, Patrick, Thomas a Kempis, book of common prayer, George Herbert, Luther, Charles Wesley, Hudson Taylor, Amy Carmichael.
In chapter 9 she deals with human freedom and why we shuld pray when God is sovereign. She closes off the book with one of her favourite topics, prayer and creativity.
I read through this book over a long period of time, making notes and trying to digest the wisdom Edith Schaeffer has gathered. Sometimes I felt she was too lengthy in description. For that reason I would give her a 4 instead of a 5.
She then continues in chapter two by discussing prayer and affliction/suffering. She points out the fallacy of believing that the prayer of faith should result in healing. We live in an abnormal, fallen world where suffering occurs. If absolute faith in prayer would ensure perfect healing why did God not deliver Christ from the cross. Prayer is a gift purchased for us through the terrible suffering of Christ.
More gems from Edith Schaeffer. Why can we not demand deliverance through prayer from suffering? We live in a fallen, abnormal world. Suffering is part of living in this devastated world. Not only that but suffering serves to help us understand Christ, find comfort from God, create an opportunity to learn what we need to learn and prove to Satan that we really love God not for the good things He gives, but because He is God.
Edith Schaeffer prays: Lord, don't let me waste this opportunity to learn what You want me to learn, to be what You want me to be, to prove to Satan that I really love You, as Job did, not just the good things You give....Lord forgive me for the waste of that never-to-be-repeated combination of circumstances to grow in the midst of afflication and to pray with trust before the suffering beocmes a part of past history.
She continues, "may I not sin against Thee now by complaining: may I keep loving You now, and may I truly thank You that that moment is ahead of us when the trumpet will sound, and that which is a mystery to us now will be our greatest reality forever."
Only in this life will we have the opportunity to show Him we love Him in the midst of pain, etc.
In chapter 3 she goes on to talk about the need to be real, transparent in prayer. In chapter 4 and 5 she discusses the role of fasting and prayer. We are not self-sufficient. We need God's help and we need to be serious about seeking it, but not using prayer as an excuse not to work.
In chapter 6 she discusses when and where to pray and how to pray in the midst of people and busyness by talking to God in one's mind. We need to be senstitive to God's interruptions. May I not be rigid in my schedule and inflexible to what You would insert into my time. But please help me to be disciplined to do what is important to do and not to turn easily aside. Pray throughout the day. Pray immediately a person or need arises.
In Chapter 7, she discusses prayer through the centuries; how prayer affected history as demonstrated in the prayers of Hannah, Hezekiah, Isaiah, and Daniel. Even the cries of despair by Job, Jeremiah, Ezekiel were heard by God. Then she takes us through the prayers of Jesus and Paul. She explains that through the Spirit, prayer is a relay, in which we pass the baton to each new generation.
In chapter 8 she illustrates this continuity of prayer through the centuries. These multiplied prayers are gathered by God and together with all God's people become His jewels, His treasured possession.
In a unique thought, she explains that prayer is a kind of hospitality in which we gather up the names of those for whom we intercede; we give our time to those whose names come to our minds or into our homes. Especially imperative is it that we pray for the coming generations.
In this section she transcribes wonderful samples of prayers from NT writers, Clement, Irenaeus, Basil, Augustine, Patrick, Thomas a Kempis, book of common prayer, George Herbert, Luther, Charles Wesley, Hudson Taylor, Amy Carmichael.
In chapter 9 she deals with human freedom and why we shuld pray when God is sovereign. She closes off the book with one of her favourite topics, prayer and creativity.
I read through this book over a long period of time, making notes and trying to digest the wisdom Edith Schaeffer has gathered. Sometimes I felt she was too lengthy in description. For that reason I would give her a 4 instead of a 5.
January 16, 2012
This book took me almost a year to finish. Maybe because it was boring. Maybe because it read like a poorly written research paper. Or maybe because it didn't really say anything new. I really wanted to like this book, but I just didn't. I think the only reason I ever finished it is because I have completion issues.
May 6, 2013
Edith Schaeffer is someone I would love to have as a prayer partner. Such a wise woman who teaches the depth and range of prayer that goes far beyond what we normally regard as prayer.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews