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Doors Into Prayer: An Invitation
Whether you are a beginner at prayer or fully engaged in the life of prayer, this little book will offer profound insight and encouragement. Emilie Griffin discusses the relentless human hunger for prayer, the seeming elusiveness of God, the pitfalls of discouragement and doubt, and the whispers of consolation that come through prayer. She invites us ultimately to put the book down, to mend the ragged edges of our own prayer lives, and to set out once again on the remarkable adventure that is prayer.
136 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2001
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68 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 30, 2020
Summary: A collection of short thoughts on prayer.
In a paywalled podcast, Griffin says that she wanted to write a book on prayer that was good for standing in line or other short reads. Something that can be read in a few minutes and not tightly connected to the material around it. And that is what this is.
I think of it kind of like those readers digest humor stories. Most topics (chapters) are less than two pages. And while I often read two or three at a sitting, I rarely wanted to read more than that. These are things you want to read and then step away and think and/or pray about.
I am not a fan of books on prayer that are not oriented toward helping us actually pray. We learn to pray by praying. It is not that theology of prayer or practical help style books are not helpful, but that it is easier to read about prayer than do it. In general, I try not to pick up books about prayer unless I am ready to try to put it into practice right away.
There is not a lot here that is unique, but there is a lot of accumulated wisdom that I think is helpful to have collected together. If you are looking for a book to read standing in line, or as a morning thought before you go on your way, or something to read right before bed, this is worth reading.
Doors into Prayer is not a book I would have picked up on my own. It is well worth reading, but I would not have picked it up except that it was part of the Renovaré Book Club. (The next book is Interior Castles.)
I do not participate much in the online discussion, and I do not attend a local in-person discussion (although those are available for interested people). But I do read the supplementary articles and listen to the podcasts. Most of that is paywalled and only for those that participate in the group, but this is a free talk that Emilie Griffin gave at a Renovare conference that is worth listening to (Dallas Willard joins her for some Q&A at the end).
In a paywalled podcast, Griffin says that she wanted to write a book on prayer that was good for standing in line or other short reads. Something that can be read in a few minutes and not tightly connected to the material around it. And that is what this is.
I think of it kind of like those readers digest humor stories. Most topics (chapters) are less than two pages. And while I often read two or three at a sitting, I rarely wanted to read more than that. These are things you want to read and then step away and think and/or pray about.
I am not a fan of books on prayer that are not oriented toward helping us actually pray. We learn to pray by praying. It is not that theology of prayer or practical help style books are not helpful, but that it is easier to read about prayer than do it. In general, I try not to pick up books about prayer unless I am ready to try to put it into practice right away.
There is not a lot here that is unique, but there is a lot of accumulated wisdom that I think is helpful to have collected together. If you are looking for a book to read standing in line, or as a morning thought before you go on your way, or something to read right before bed, this is worth reading.
January 17, 2020
I read this book as part of the Renovare Book Club for 2019-2020.
I had previously read Griffin's book, Clinging: The Experience of Prayer, and was thrilled to see that we would be reading another of her books during this book club season.
Doors Into Prayer is a small book, only 119 pages in paperback form. But this was intentional, as the author says she was trying to come up with a sort of pocketbook, one that could be carried around without being inconvenient.
The "chapters" are very brief. In fact, that probably shouldn't even be called chapters. They are, in fact, considered to be "invitations," and each one is less than three pages, many of them being only a single page.
There are two sections of the book. The first, and larger, section is called "Invitations," and consists of 91 invitations or "doors" to help us pray. Carolyn Arends, one of the directors of Renovare, even said that she likens this book to a large Advent calendar. You know the ones . . . they have all these little doors on them, and behind each one is a surprise (the best ones are chocolate!), and you open one each day during the Advent season. I believe Carolyn makes a good point, as this book doesn't need to be read sequentially. One could easily pick up the book and turn to a random invitation and launch a prayer time with it.
The invitations have titles like "Emergencies," "Wonder," "Longing," "Structure," and so on. I really like something she said in the "Emergencies" invitation. " "If we pray in emergencies, and only then, we can hardly say we have a relationship to God. But the prayer of emergencies tells us, without question, that such a relationship is possible."
There are many, many nuggets of wisdom throughout this little book, all inspiring us to pray, not necessarily more, but certainly better.
The second, shorter, section consists of five exercises to be used to help us along our way. These range in length from twenty minutes to an hour or more. They are very helpful, as well.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is seeking a better path in their prayer life.
I had previously read Griffin's book, Clinging: The Experience of Prayer, and was thrilled to see that we would be reading another of her books during this book club season.
Doors Into Prayer is a small book, only 119 pages in paperback form. But this was intentional, as the author says she was trying to come up with a sort of pocketbook, one that could be carried around without being inconvenient.
The "chapters" are very brief. In fact, that probably shouldn't even be called chapters. They are, in fact, considered to be "invitations," and each one is less than three pages, many of them being only a single page.
There are two sections of the book. The first, and larger, section is called "Invitations," and consists of 91 invitations or "doors" to help us pray. Carolyn Arends, one of the directors of Renovare, even said that she likens this book to a large Advent calendar. You know the ones . . . they have all these little doors on them, and behind each one is a surprise (the best ones are chocolate!), and you open one each day during the Advent season. I believe Carolyn makes a good point, as this book doesn't need to be read sequentially. One could easily pick up the book and turn to a random invitation and launch a prayer time with it.
The invitations have titles like "Emergencies," "Wonder," "Longing," "Structure," and so on. I really like something she said in the "Emergencies" invitation. " "If we pray in emergencies, and only then, we can hardly say we have a relationship to God. But the prayer of emergencies tells us, without question, that such a relationship is possible."
There are many, many nuggets of wisdom throughout this little book, all inspiring us to pray, not necessarily more, but certainly better.
The second, shorter, section consists of five exercises to be used to help us along our way. These range in length from twenty minutes to an hour or more. They are very helpful, as well.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is seeking a better path in their prayer life.
January 10, 2020
Teach Us to Pray
The older I get, the more prayerful I become. Gratefully, others have walked these paths and left spiritual markers for spiritual seekers. Others walk with us through their words of truth and life which flow from a deep and abiding relationship with Jesus. Emilie Griffin is such a soul. The simplicity of her observations is a form of profundity. Having read these sparse pages all too quickly, I shall return to them again and again.
The older I get, the more prayerful I become. Gratefully, others have walked these paths and left spiritual markers for spiritual seekers. Others walk with us through their words of truth and life which flow from a deep and abiding relationship with Jesus. Emilie Griffin is such a soul. The simplicity of her observations is a form of profundity. Having read these sparse pages all too quickly, I shall return to them again and again.
May 29, 2023
This is the second book of Griffin's I've read recently and I so enjoy her engaging way of writing. It's soulful and sensibly straightforward. We can become a little too 'religious' about prayer sometimes and be hard on ourselves when we repeatedly struggle to 'do it right'. The more we pray and the more we engage with others who have an intimate friendship with Jesus that fuels their prayer we slowly begin to appreciate there isn't a 'right way to do it'.
Griffin in this small book provides 3 sections. The first which takes up most of the book is simply titled "Invitations". These are half page invitations that present themselves during our days that can serve as opportunities to pray. It might be the beauty of nature, reading spiritual books, praying familiar prayers, or dialoguing with God, to provide some examples. I appreciated how Griffin demonstrates that there are multiple opportunities that may stimulate different ways of praying.
The second section simply provides five or six 'prayer exercises', ie, it takes a handful of examples from the first section to demonstrate how to do it.
The final section is an 'Afterword' where Griffin shares some other resources that she's found useful in developing greater intimacy with God.
I fully expect to refer to this book repeatedly in the future.
Griffin in this small book provides 3 sections. The first which takes up most of the book is simply titled "Invitations". These are half page invitations that present themselves during our days that can serve as opportunities to pray. It might be the beauty of nature, reading spiritual books, praying familiar prayers, or dialoguing with God, to provide some examples. I appreciated how Griffin demonstrates that there are multiple opportunities that may stimulate different ways of praying.
The second section simply provides five or six 'prayer exercises', ie, it takes a handful of examples from the first section to demonstrate how to do it.
The final section is an 'Afterword' where Griffin shares some other resources that she's found useful in developing greater intimacy with God.
I fully expect to refer to this book repeatedly in the future.
February 3, 2020
I started reading this book in the airport on an anniversary trip to Boston. For someone who is distracted by noisy crowds, it's an easy read-being cut up into small 1 to 2 page topical sections. I found the content highly applicable to my life and extremely helpful with regards to prayer. The last exercises were where I spent the bulk of my time in the book, practicing one each morning on those during which I prayed in the guest room. I am grateful to the author for this engaging little book and recommend it to fellow students of Jesus Christ who are seeking healthy spiritual formation.
*2019-20 Renovare Book Club*
*2019-20 Renovare Book Club*
February 17, 2020
Many people love this little book.
I liked it.
I would recommend Emilie Griffin's Clinging over this one, though there is certainly nothing objectionable about Doors Into Prayer. It's just a little episodic read of many different invitations into methods and means of prayer. Well and good in and of itself, but Clinging had me in tears because it gets right a the heart of our dilemma of being earthly creatures whose telos is rooted in the infinite Beatific Vision.
I liked it.
I would recommend Emilie Griffin's Clinging over this one, though there is certainly nothing objectionable about Doors Into Prayer. It's just a little episodic read of many different invitations into methods and means of prayer. Well and good in and of itself, but Clinging had me in tears because it gets right a the heart of our dilemma of being earthly creatures whose telos is rooted in the infinite Beatific Vision.
February 6, 2020
Griffin has put together a quick primer on prayer for those who wish to discover a wider variety of prayer. I did not find a lot of new or unique takes on practices of praying. For someone well-versed in spiritual practices there is not a lot to recommend. The book includes five prayer experiences at the conclusion that were the most helpful to me. I will likely use them in the future.
July 27, 2020
Great way to meet with God
Our prayers can become so meaningless when we are just uttering words and not allowing our heart to speak. This book helped me to search my heart and how to get in the presence of God. The doors that seemed closed were opened with invitation.
Our prayers can become so meaningless when we are just uttering words and not allowing our heart to speak. This book helped me to search my heart and how to get in the presence of God. The doors that seemed closed were opened with invitation.
November 25, 2019
A good review for those comfortable in prayer, or excellent for those who are still asking, "Lord, teach me to pray."
April 24, 2020
Book was helpful but not inspiring. High spot discussion on prayer. 1 to 3 page chapters, which fit well into a morning study.
April 30, 2020
A very special little book on a big subject. The author shows how, where, and why we are able to "pray without ceasing."
May 15, 2023
I will re read this again and again!
February 11, 2011
One of the best books on prayer I have read. It is simplistic in its approach, really allowing the reader to stop at any point to pray. I definitely did multiple times. It addresses all emotions and types of prayers. I feel encouraged and inspired to pray. I will be keeping this tiny book near by anytime I need a little extra oomph to get me praying.
August 4, 2021
Very short chapters with little thoughts on how to get started praying. Plus some things to practice in the back part of it.
Okay, but nothing new or different.
Okay, but nothing new or different.
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