When the Soul Listens: Finding Rest and Direction in Contemplative Prayer

by Jan Johnson

Overview

Do you long for depth and authenticity in your relationship with God? Do you want purpose and daily direction but can’t seem to find the right prayer to receive it? When the Soul Listens will guide you away from formulas and step-by-step prayer plans toward contemplative prayer, “the lifestyle that allows you to experience God’s presence,” writes author Jan Johnson. Learn to find rest and guidance in God, opening yourself to God’s presence and direction through this practical approach.

If you are disillusioned, experiencing spiritual dryness, or simply looking for the next step in your spiritual growth, When the Soul Listens offers a clear path to a fulfilling connection with God.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781631466861
Publisher:	Tyndale House Publishers
Publication date:	07/18/2017
Edition description:	Enlarged
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	952,020
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.10(h) x (d)

About the Author

JAN JOHNSON enjoys speaking at retreats and conferences, hoping to ignite within listeners a burning desire to know God in an authentic way and to live out a kingdom life in the daily companionship of Jesus. Unwilling to minimize the mystery of God or the human struggle, Jan presents biblical principles and characters in down-to-earth ways so that people can connect with God and become more thirsty for God. Her observations about life's dilemmas give listeners a lot to study, ponder, and laugh about. As an author and spiritual director, Jan holds degrees in Christian education and spiritual direction (D.Min.), which along with many years of Bible teaching, have equipped her to write hundreds of published Bible study sessions. She is also the author of sixteen books and more than a thousand newspaper and magazine articles. Jan is the author of 13 books and more than 1000 Bible studies. You can find out more information at www.janjohnson.org.

Table of Contents

Foreword James Bryan Smith ix

Introduction: A Different Kind of Life with God xv

1 When Prayer Stops "Working" 1

2 The Contemplative Way of Prayer 15

3 Cultivating a Listening Heart 29

4 Interacting with God in Scripture 43

5 Variations in Meditation and Contemplation 55

6 Focused, Alert, and Attentive? 67

7 Asking God Questions 79

8 The Contemplative Request 93

9 What Usually Happens in Contemplative Prayer 103

10 Snares: Hearing God with Clarity 117

11 God Loves, Values, and Empowers Us 129

12 God Goes with Us to Our Dark Places 141

13 God Leads, Challenges, and Confronts Us 151

14 Contemplation and Action 165

15 A Contemplative Lifestyle 175

Conclusion: What Difference Does This Make? 187

Acknowledgments 196

Notes 197

What People are Saying About This

Carolyn Arends

Deeply rooted in Scripture, animated by Jan’s own lively friendship with the Trinity, When the Soul Listens is a sane and refreshingly simple guidebook to the sort of intimate, interactive journey with God for which we were designed.

Mindy Caliguire

Jan Johnson’s warm and honest wisdom illuminates the hidden, often shadowy parts of the interior world and guides us toward truth, love, and service. If you’re ready to take that journey, When the Soul Listens is a practical guide to help you better understand yourself and God’s purposes in your life.

Kellye Fabian

Jan Johnson proves a faithful and trustworthy guide in helping me learn how to open space in my soul to listen for God’s transformative, loving voice, and out of that listening to bring God’s love and goodness into our world.

NATHAN FOSTER

A gentle and engaging doorway to an intimate and transformative life with God. For those stuck in a dry, lifeless, impersonal prayer practice, this book is a must-read!

Editorial Reviews

Narrator Sarah Zimmerman guides listeners through Johnson’s thought-provoking book on contemplative prayer with a clarity that invites action. Her tempo and tone signal listeners of coming shifts in the author’s train of thought. Furthermore, her delivery accurately reflects the author’s use of emphasis in putting forth complicated ideas. Though many books of this type work best in written format, Zimmerman enhances this audio version by sounding like a gracious spiritual teacher. Both author and narrator encourage listeners to take advantage of the title’s promise by putting the audiobook’s concepts into practice daily. V.C. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

AUGUST 2017 - AudioFile