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Beginning to Pray
A new, attractive edition of this modern spiritual classic. †
- GenresReligion
91 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 14, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 6, 2025
It’s okay to address God with nicknames and personal names. This minimizes the boundary in your relationship and adds familiarity and makes it more personable rather than formal and cold.
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January 31, 2026A Reflective and Experiential Reading of Prayer
Anthony Bloom’s Beginning to Pray stands out among the many books on prayer I have read, not because it offers new techniques or spiritual formulas, but because of its radical honesty. Unlike many devotional or instructional works on prayer that tend to idealize spiritual experience, Bloom writes from within the concrete, often uncomfortable realities that believers actually encounter when they first attempt to pray. This distinctiveness, I believe, is inseparable from the author’s own life experience. The concepts he introduces are not abstract theological constructions, but carefully articulated reflections on the lived spiritual experience of ordinary believers learning to stand before God.
What unifies the first five chapters of the book is a coherent experiential logic: Bloom does not describe prayer as a skill to be mastered, but as a relationship that must be entered truthfully over time. Each chapter addresses a stage that many believers recognize intuitively, yet rarely hear named so explicitly. Together, these chapters form a spiritually realistic map of the beginning of prayer.
The Absence of God: Facing the Truth of Early Prayer
In the first chapter, Bloom introduces the striking concept of “the absence of God.” This idea resonated deeply with my own early experiences of prayer. When one first attempts to pray seriously, the dominant experience is often silence, emptiness, or the unsettling sense of speaking into the air. Unfortunately, this experience is rarely acknowledged honestly. Instead, believers may be told—by others or by their own inner religious voice—that the problem lies in insufficient faith, inadequate spirituality, or improper technique.
Bloom’s uniqueness lies in his willingness to expose this spiritual illusion. He names what many feel but hesitate to admit: the felt absence of God is not a sign of failure, but a spiritual reality at the beginning of genuine prayer. Like the proverbial emperor without clothes, Bloom unveils a truth that many would prefer to conceal beneath religious language and spiritual performance. Even those who have prayed for many years may still be shaped by this illusion, maintaining the appearance of prayer without confronting its underlying reality.
Bloom’s insight here is deeply pastoral and theologically sound. A person may possess extensive biblical knowledge or theological training, yet their actual relationship with God may only just be beginning. Expecting immediate spiritual richness ignores the nature of real relationships. Just as David’s deep intimacy with God in the Psalms emerged through a lifetime of walking with Him, so prayer must be understood as a long journey rather than an instant experience. Bloom’s honesty invites readers not to abandon prayer in disappointment, but to approach God with humility, longing, and perseverance—entering not a religious activity, but a genuine life journey.
Knocking at the Door: Learning Humility as “Outsiders”
The second chapter develops this realism further through the metaphor of “knocking at the door.” Bloom describes the praying person as a “beginner” or even an “outsider”—not in the sense of ignorance, but in terms of lived relationship. From a theological perspective, God is always present and accessible; yet from the human, subjective perspective, intimacy with God unfolds gradually and often painfully slowly.
I found Bloom’s emphasis here particularly illuminating. Our relationship with God, though unique, shares an important similarity with human relationships: familiarity grows through shared history, trust, and lived experience. One does not become close to a new friend instantly; nor does one become deeply attuned to God simply by deciding to pray. Recognizing oneself as “outside” becomes a gift rather than a failure. It cultivates humility, honesty, and dependence on grace.
In this sense, continual “knocking” is not an act of striving but an expression of faith. It acknowledges both the vast distance between God and the human heart and the confidence that God, by grace, invites us closer. Bloom frames this posture as the beginning of repentance—not repentance for specific moral failings, but a fundamental reorientation of the heart away from spiritual self-assurance and toward trusting dependence.
Going Inward: Discovering God Within the Heart
The third chapter, “Going Inward,” addresses a dimension of prayer that is often misunderstood or bypassed. Bloom insists that prayer cannot remain external, for God is not an object among other objects. God is transcendent, yet also intimately present—dwelling not only beyond creation but within the depths of the human heart. This truth cannot be grasped fully through rational analysis or psychological introspection, yet it is a core biblical and spiritual conviction, especially for Christians who affirm the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
To go inward, then, is not self-absorption but spiritual awakening. As one turns inward in prayer, one inevitably encounters the inner fragmentation shaped by desires, fears, habits, and worldly attachments. Bloom does not suggest bypassing this reality. On the contrary, he argues that facing inner brokenness is an unavoidable and necessary stage of prayer. Under the light of Scripture and the prompting of the Spirit, the believer learns not to flee from this truth but to present it honestly before God, seeking mercy, cleansing, and transformation.
Here I also appreciate Bloom’s openness to diverse prayer practices. Beyond petitionary prayer, practices such as praying through Scripture—what is often called lectio divina—can create a space in which God’s word frames our inner awareness. Within that scriptural environment, we learn to discern God’s movement, recognize our brokenness, and respond to divine guidance. Such practices embody Bloom’s vision of prayer as relational attentiveness rather than mere verbal activity.
Managing Time: Reframing Time as Grace
The fourth chapter shifts from inner awareness to the structure of daily life, focusing on time. Bloom challenges the deeply ingrained assumption that time is a resource to be controlled and optimized by the self. Instead, he invites readers to see time as a gift—indeed, as grace. Each breath, each day, each moment of consciousness is received, not possessed.
This perspective transforms the question of prayer. Prayer is no longer an activity squeezed into an already crowded schedule; it becomes a way of inhabiting time itself. Developing a prayerful posture toward time means recognizing God’s presence in decisions, struggles, joys, and sorrows as they arise. Prayer thus becomes continuous—not through constant verbalization, but through a sustained orientation of the heart toward God within time.
Addressing God: Who Is the God We Pray To?
In the fifth chapter, Bloom raises what may be the most fundamental question of all: to whom are we praying? God is vast, mysterious, and inexhaustible. While metaphors such as Father or Friend are meaningful, none can fully capture God’s reality. Each believer’s actual image of God is shaped by personal history, prayer practice, and the internalization of Scripture.
Bloom’s insight here is both liberating and sobering. The God we pray to is never identical with God in Himself, yet prayer must begin with the God we truly perceive, not an abstract theological construct. Through Scripture, spiritual discipline, and lived encounter, this perception is gradually purified and deepened. True prayer, then, is not primarily intellectual but relational—a process in which the heart enters into real, transforming relationship with the Creator and Redeemer.
Conclusion
Taken together, the Beginning to Pray offer a profoundly realistic theology and reflection of prayer. Bloom does not promise spiritual success or emotional fulfillment. Instead, he invites believers into truth, humility, and perseverance. Prayer, in his vision, is not a religious technique but a lifelong journey of becoming real before God—and allowing God, by grace, to become real to us.
Anthony Bloom’s Beginning to Pray stands out among the many books on prayer I have read, not because it offers new techniques or spiritual formulas, but because of its radical honesty. Unlike many devotional or instructional works on prayer that tend to idealize spiritual experience, Bloom writes from within the concrete, often uncomfortable realities that believers actually encounter when they first attempt to pray. This distinctiveness, I believe, is inseparable from the author’s own life experience. The concepts he introduces are not abstract theological constructions, but carefully articulated reflections on the lived spiritual experience of ordinary believers learning to stand before God.
What unifies the first five chapters of the book is a coherent experiential logic: Bloom does not describe prayer as a skill to be mastered, but as a relationship that must be entered truthfully over time. Each chapter addresses a stage that many believers recognize intuitively, yet rarely hear named so explicitly. Together, these chapters form a spiritually realistic map of the beginning of prayer.
The Absence of God: Facing the Truth of Early Prayer
In the first chapter, Bloom introduces the striking concept of “the absence of God.” This idea resonated deeply with my own early experiences of prayer. When one first attempts to pray seriously, the dominant experience is often silence, emptiness, or the unsettling sense of speaking into the air. Unfortunately, this experience is rarely acknowledged honestly. Instead, believers may be told—by others or by their own inner religious voice—that the problem lies in insufficient faith, inadequate spirituality, or improper technique.
Bloom’s uniqueness lies in his willingness to expose this spiritual illusion. He names what many feel but hesitate to admit: the felt absence of God is not a sign of failure, but a spiritual reality at the beginning of genuine prayer. Like the proverbial emperor without clothes, Bloom unveils a truth that many would prefer to conceal beneath religious language and spiritual performance. Even those who have prayed for many years may still be shaped by this illusion, maintaining the appearance of prayer without confronting its underlying reality.
Bloom’s insight here is deeply pastoral and theologically sound. A person may possess extensive biblical knowledge or theological training, yet their actual relationship with God may only just be beginning. Expecting immediate spiritual richness ignores the nature of real relationships. Just as David’s deep intimacy with God in the Psalms emerged through a lifetime of walking with Him, so prayer must be understood as a long journey rather than an instant experience. Bloom’s honesty invites readers not to abandon prayer in disappointment, but to approach God with humility, longing, and perseverance—entering not a religious activity, but a genuine life journey.
Knocking at the Door: Learning Humility as “Outsiders”
The second chapter develops this realism further through the metaphor of “knocking at the door.” Bloom describes the praying person as a “beginner” or even an “outsider”—not in the sense of ignorance, but in terms of lived relationship. From a theological perspective, God is always present and accessible; yet from the human, subjective perspective, intimacy with God unfolds gradually and often painfully slowly.
I found Bloom’s emphasis here particularly illuminating. Our relationship with God, though unique, shares an important similarity with human relationships: familiarity grows through shared history, trust, and lived experience. One does not become close to a new friend instantly; nor does one become deeply attuned to God simply by deciding to pray. Recognizing oneself as “outside” becomes a gift rather than a failure. It cultivates humility, honesty, and dependence on grace.
In this sense, continual “knocking” is not an act of striving but an expression of faith. It acknowledges both the vast distance between God and the human heart and the confidence that God, by grace, invites us closer. Bloom frames this posture as the beginning of repentance—not repentance for specific moral failings, but a fundamental reorientation of the heart away from spiritual self-assurance and toward trusting dependence.
Going Inward: Discovering God Within the Heart
The third chapter, “Going Inward,” addresses a dimension of prayer that is often misunderstood or bypassed. Bloom insists that prayer cannot remain external, for God is not an object among other objects. God is transcendent, yet also intimately present—dwelling not only beyond creation but within the depths of the human heart. This truth cannot be grasped fully through rational analysis or psychological introspection, yet it is a core biblical and spiritual conviction, especially for Christians who affirm the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
To go inward, then, is not self-absorption but spiritual awakening. As one turns inward in prayer, one inevitably encounters the inner fragmentation shaped by desires, fears, habits, and worldly attachments. Bloom does not suggest bypassing this reality. On the contrary, he argues that facing inner brokenness is an unavoidable and necessary stage of prayer. Under the light of Scripture and the prompting of the Spirit, the believer learns not to flee from this truth but to present it honestly before God, seeking mercy, cleansing, and transformation.
Here I also appreciate Bloom’s openness to diverse prayer practices. Beyond petitionary prayer, practices such as praying through Scripture—what is often called lectio divina—can create a space in which God’s word frames our inner awareness. Within that scriptural environment, we learn to discern God’s movement, recognize our brokenness, and respond to divine guidance. Such practices embody Bloom’s vision of prayer as relational attentiveness rather than mere verbal activity.
Managing Time: Reframing Time as Grace
The fourth chapter shifts from inner awareness to the structure of daily life, focusing on time. Bloom challenges the deeply ingrained assumption that time is a resource to be controlled and optimized by the self. Instead, he invites readers to see time as a gift—indeed, as grace. Each breath, each day, each moment of consciousness is received, not possessed.
This perspective transforms the question of prayer. Prayer is no longer an activity squeezed into an already crowded schedule; it becomes a way of inhabiting time itself. Developing a prayerful posture toward time means recognizing God’s presence in decisions, struggles, joys, and sorrows as they arise. Prayer thus becomes continuous—not through constant verbalization, but through a sustained orientation of the heart toward God within time.
Addressing God: Who Is the God We Pray To?
In the fifth chapter, Bloom raises what may be the most fundamental question of all: to whom are we praying? God is vast, mysterious, and inexhaustible. While metaphors such as Father or Friend are meaningful, none can fully capture God’s reality. Each believer’s actual image of God is shaped by personal history, prayer practice, and the internalization of Scripture.
Bloom’s insight here is both liberating and sobering. The God we pray to is never identical with God in Himself, yet prayer must begin with the God we truly perceive, not an abstract theological construct. Through Scripture, spiritual discipline, and lived encounter, this perception is gradually purified and deepened. True prayer, then, is not primarily intellectual but relational—a process in which the heart enters into real, transforming relationship with the Creator and Redeemer.
Conclusion
Taken together, the Beginning to Pray offer a profoundly realistic theology and reflection of prayer. Bloom does not promise spiritual success or emotional fulfillment. Instead, he invites believers into truth, humility, and perseverance. Prayer, in his vision, is not a religious technique but a lifelong journey of becoming real before God—and allowing God, by grace, to become real to us.
October 1, 2024
this is an absolutely incredible book. it is so simple, so profound, and so genuinely helpful. it is the only book on prayer i’ve read that is genuinely helpful in practice. he most spoke to me through his starting point- “the absence of God.” something all who have prayed have felt, and he moves out from this locus into a bit of contemplative prayer, as well as liturgical prayer, and extemporaneous prayer. each one he talks about so beautifully as well as agreeably.
beautifully written , articulated, and a clear window into the soul of one who has seen God and loved God. full recommend to anyone who is seeker a deeper encounter with all that is Good.
ps evangelicals are hardcore encouraged to read and get over themselves that Father Anthony Bloom is eastern orthodox and just learn from this King
beautifully written , articulated, and a clear window into the soul of one who has seen God and loved God. full recommend to anyone who is seeker a deeper encounter with all that is Good.
ps evangelicals are hardcore encouraged to read and get over themselves that Father Anthony Bloom is eastern orthodox and just learn from this King
July 2, 2024
A fantastic book on prayer for any Christian going through challenges in "connecting" with God.
August 21, 2024
Stunning work on prayer. A lifetime of praying and seeking after God will still leave us as amateurs dependent on grace.
September 2, 2024
Everyone should read this. It is simple yet profound and meets you where you’re at.
March 12, 2025
Thank you TB for allowing me to read this book! It's been a joy and gave me more words to describe the power of prayer!
April 26, 2025
4.5 stars; insightful, helpful, and easy to read
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews