Sanctuary of the Soul: Journey into Meditative Prayer

by Richard J. Foster

Overview

"At the very heart of God is the passionate disposition to be in loving fellowship with you. . . . From the human side of this equation it is meditative prayer that ushers us into this divine-human fellowship." Richard Foster, bestselling author and founder of Renovaré, writes these words as one who has experienced what they describe. And in this new book he will beautifully guide you in this transformational way, that you might come to know deeper fellowship with God. Weaving together quotes and stories from the lives of mothers and fathers of the faith as well as powerful encounters with God from his own life, Foster describes the riches of quieting your mind and heart in order to listen to and obey God more closely. Along the way, at perhaps his clearest, most practical best, he also provides the biblical teaching and step-by-step help you need to begin this prayer practice for yourself. The journey into meditative prayer is not easy, but it is essential. And, as Foster shows, it's possible, even in the midst of the noisy, often chaotic world we live in. Your soul can become a sanctuary where you fellowship with the very God of the universe, who knows you and loves you deeply. These pages point the way.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780830869039
Publisher:	IVP Formatio
Publication date:	07/11/2011
Series:	Renovare Resources
Sold by:	Bookwire
Format:	eBook
Pages:	165
File size:	298 KB

About the Author

Richard J. Foster (D.Th.P., Fuller Theological Seminary) is founder of Renovaré in Denver, Colorado. He is the author of many books, including Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth, which has sold over two million copies worldwide, Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home, Freedom of Simplicity: Finding Harmony in a Complex World, and coauthor (with Gayle Beebe) of Longing for God: Seven Paths of Christian Devotion.

Richard J. Foster (DThP, Fuller Theological Seminary) is founder of Renovaré in Denver, Colorado. He is the author of many books, including Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth, which has sold over two million copies worldwide, Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home, Freedom of Simplicity: Finding Harmony in a Complex World, and coauthor (with Gayle Beebe) of Longing for God: Seven Paths of Christian Devotion.

Table of Contents

A Beginning Word
Part One: Laying the Foundation
1 God Speaking, Teaching and Acting
2 A Familiar Friendship with Jesus
3 Descending with the Mind into the Heart
Entering the Experience: Worship at Quaker Meadow
Part Two: Stepping into Meditative Prayer
4 Being Present Where We Are
5 Beholding the Lord
6 An Inward Attentiveness
Entering the Experience: Trek to Cuthbert's Cave
Part Three: Dealing with Everyday Difficulties
7 Wandering Minds
8 Like a Roaring Lion
9 A Potpourri of Questions
Entering the Experience: Encounter at Jalama Beach
A Concluding Word
Acknowledgments
Resource Books for Your Journey
Notes

What People are Saying About This

Ruth Haley Barton

"Full of depth and substance, Foster's writing on meditative prayer is a winsome invitation to intimacy with God that engages us at every level of our being."
— Ruth Haley Barton, founder, Transforming Center, and author of Sacred Rhythms

James Bryan Smith

"This is Richard Foster at his best--describing the inner life with clarity and wisdom gained from his own experience. The content of this book, as experienced through his teaching, changed my life thirty years ago, opening me to a real, vibrant relationship with God through silence and listening. Over time this teaching has matured, and is destined to become a classic. If you want to experience an intimate relationship with God, simply read this book and put it into practice. Heaven awaits!"
— James Bryan Smith, author, The Good and Beautiful God

Eugene H. Peterson

"Richard Foster diagnoses this generation's major threat to the mature life in Christ as distraction. In response he does again what he does so well: tunnels to the roots of our deep-rooted ancestors and makes us firsthand participants in the church's practice of a life of meditative prayer."
— Eugene H. Peterson, translator of The Message

Editorial Reviews

This plainspoken book by bestselling author Foster (Celebration of Discipline) addresses the problem of listening for God (Jesus) in a world of noisy distractions. Dividing his work into three parts, Foster describes how God longs to communicate with each of us, how we can become present and surrendered to God, and how we can cope with common obstacles in our quest for communion with the divine. After each section, Foster recounts a story from his own life to demonstrate how one might practice meditative prayer in a real-world situation. At the end of the book, he answers typical questions about prayer. Foster leans heavily for guidance not only on his Quaker heritage but also on classic Christian mystics, including Brother Lawrence, Teresa of Avila, and Julian of Norwich, and he is not afraid to mention Satanic opposition. His quiet writing style models the listening stillness he wishes to impart. Amid many books on meditative prayer, Foster’s stands out for its clarity, simplicity, and focus. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"Full of depth and substance, Foster's writing on meditative prayer is a winsome invitation to intimacy with God that engages us at every level of our being."

Ruth Haley Barton

"Foster's writing is lyrical, his advice sensible, his encouragement profound as he urges Christians to tap into the 'listening side' of the 'interactive communication that transpires between God and ourselves.' Those who follow Jesus can only benefit from Foster's newest book."

Ann E. Byle

"This is Richard Foster at his best—describing the inner life with clarity and wisdom gained from his own experience. The content of this book, as experienced through his teaching, changed my life thirty years ago, opening me to a real, vibrant relationship with God through silence and listening. Over time this teaching has matured, and is destined to become a classic. If you want to experience an intimate relationship with God, simply read this book and put it into practice. Heaven awaits!"

James Bryan Smith

"This is a very useful guide that should be beneficial to those new to the practice as well as those who are familiar with this approach to prayer. . . . His passion for this practice, and for the teachers who have shared their experiential wisdom, makes this a highly enjoyable read."

Lisa Rand

"One can pick up books on prayer at the local supermarket that promise a richer, deeper and more spiritual life - all in 29 days! They are all bogus, along with many other popular books on prayer. Leave them on the shelves and read this one."

Roy W. Howard

"You can only read so much elegant prose inviting you to pray before you feel guilty for not actually praying. Richard Foster notes this difficulty, quoting Thomas Merton: 'You cannot learn meditation from a book. You just have to meditate.' True enough, but good books help, and Sanctuary of the Soul is a good one."

Jason Byassee

"Richard Foster diagnoses this generation's major threat to the mature life in Christ as distraction. In response he does again what he does so well: tunnels to the roots of our deep-rooted ancestors and makes us firsthand participants in the church's practice of a life of meditative prayer."

Eugene H. Peterson

"This book demonstrates why meditative prayer is one of the church's most precious assets in this moment of widespread distraction."

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