Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God

This book is exactly what I was looking for... Invaluable insight, also many tools to help and challenge your prayer life. If you don't improve your prayer life after reading this book, look in the mirror.

Over the past twenty-five years, I have read books on prayer by thekeller Puritans and Reformers, the Quakers and the contemplative writers, the Desert Fathers, and even some living authors who think they have something unique to contribute to the discussion.

Timothy Keller's newest work, Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy With God is quite frankly the best book I've ever read on prayer. This short review will only touch the tip of the iceberg; so I encourage readers of Veritas et Lux to read this incredible book for themselves.

Keller's work is divided into five parts:

Desiring Prayer
Understanding Prayer
Learning Prayer
Deepening Prayer
Doing Prayer
The book aims to show that "prayer is both conversation and encounter with God" and demonstrates that prayer is both "awe and intimacy, struggle and reality."

Keller rightly notes, "A book on the essentials of prayer should contain three components: the theological, experiential, and methodological." The author succeeds in presenting a lucid theological framework for understanding prayer. He presents the experiential side of prayer by citing numerous Scriptural examples and drawing on the work of many Christ-followers in Church history. And he sets forth a workable methodology, which in the final analysis includes many different forms that may appeal to different kinds of people." Keller's book is biblical, engaging, God-centered, gospel-centered, and Spirit-fueled.

Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy With God will confront readers with the God-centeredness of Jonathan Edwards, the earthiness and practicality of Martin Luther, and the theological precision of John Calvin. This work will undoubtedly be used by God to encourage faithful prayer, enlist new prayer warriors, and revitalize a church that has neglected the important discipline of prayer.

I found this book a very comprehensive treatment of prayer. Not only did it give the theology of prayer, but also very practical methods of praying--of coming into the presence of God. I appreciated that it did not dictate one method, but suggested many ways to come into God's presence. The teaching was cognizant of the various personalities who would read this book. I found it helpful in my ow n prayer life and know I will refer back to it in the future.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in deepening their own prayer life. It is a readable book.

What I like most was the thoroughness of Pastor Keller in laying out the Biblical truths around this Psalm. The cover title says it all. What I dislike most is the newsprint paper. It makes it difficult to make notations and highlight.

Dr. Keller has integrated the classroom style he is famous for with a personal touch. While at times the book book becomes a bit technical, it overall is a great study and challenge worth using as a personal or group study.

Keller did a great job bringing the topic of prayer back to the basics. Along with drawing great stories from historic theologians he provided some easy to follow formulas which help reduce the intimidation a lot of people feel when approaching the topic of prayer

This is an excellent set of guidelines for prayer. It clarifies common understandings and pushes you toward a deeper prayer life in the Christian tradition. Highly recommend it for anyone who wishes to know Christ more through prayer. Much of what is said here is echoed in Keller's sermons and other texts. His consistency alone is useful for understanding his perspective and the consistency of the gospel

The is an excellent guide to structuring and improving prayer. It is not an easy read and I found myself dwelling for long periods of time in specific areas. Read and disgust slowly and you will be rewarded

Fantastic book.
I am going slowly through this book devotionally as well as going through the book as a guide to what prayer should look like in our local church.
Keller does a great job of balancing basing our prayer on Scripture and at the same time having prayer be a time of experiencing God.
I highly recommend this book!

Directed my prayer life to a more concrete route. Not diminishing the importance of instant communication throughout the day. The meditation techniques were very helpful have
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The bible studies gave me New insights into how to pray and use the scriptures
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Kellor's work is very clear and thoroughly researched. He makes fair assessments of the catholic and evangelical church prayer practices currently in use and speaks to reasons some need to be changed. Particularly helpful were the examples of how to pray for those. Who maybe new to the ideas shared in the book. Many ideas to consider for use In personal times of prayer.

Keller writes Prayer explicitly clear and understandable, while simultaneously with bottomless insight. I cannot express the debt I owe to Keller for teaching me the importance and benefits of prayer. After reading Prayer, I am thoroughly convinced that the only way to sense and experience the power, presence, joy, and peace of God is through prayer. May this book extinguish prayerlessness in the lives of God's blood-bought saints.

Kellor's work is very clear and thoroughly researched. He makes fair assessments of the catholic and evangelical church prayer practices currently in use and speaks to reasons some need to be changed. Particularly helpful were the examples of how to pray for those. Who maybe new to the ideas shared in the book. Many ideas to consider for use In personal times of prayer.

Rev. Keller writes extremely well and addresses not only the benefits of prayer but also how hard it is. It requires discipline and perseverance and as a result cultivates a close intimate relationship with God.

Keller writes Prayer explicitly clear and understandable, while simultaneously with bottomless insight. I cannot express the debt I owe to Keller for teaching me the importance and benefits of prayer. After reading Prayer, I am thoroughly convinced that the only way to sense and experience the power, presence, joy, and peace of God is through prayer. May this book extinguish prayerlessness in the lives of God's blood-bought saints.

This book delivered exactly what I had expected of Tim Keller: a rational and intellect driven treatment on prayer. If you love his preaching, you will enjoy this well-balanced book. I especially enjoyed Keller bringing in historic voices as he discusses the Lord's prayer.

Thoughtful approach to a very important topic for the Christian life. Tim Keller uses a lot of references from the reformers and base his views on the shoulders of great thinkers, and on the Bible, of course.

Keller goes beyond the typical vague, fuzzy, sentimental book on prayer and examines prayer from scripture and Christian history. He bases his conclusions and thoughts on years of Christian tradition and biblical truth.

This book is a Biblical and practical guide that draws on great historical traditions, teaching readers how to commune with Christ through prayer and meditation on the Word of God relying on help from the Holy Spirit.

This is a very comprehensive book, and one of the best overall that I have read on prayer. Keller quotes many other authors on prayer (who I have read as well), and does a very nice job on a difficult subject.

A great encouragement to prayer. So very helpful in grabbing both the heart and mind. I particularly loved the Owen studies. I really think this and his book on Suffering are two great helps for the saint in his heavenly journey.

Kickstarted my prayer life, think of it as really good multivitamins but for your spiritual health. Tim Keller is such s good writer. I think if there is any book on spiritual discipline to read, especially prayer (it does touch briefly on bible reading) it is this book. Very substantial.

This book is not only an insightful book on prayer, but it is very informative and helpful in assisting individuals on how to pray effectively without selfish motives. He includes helpful views and reflection on prayer from historical Christian figures, such as Martin Luther and St. Augustine. This book has tremendously helped my prayer life. If you are searching for a book on prayer, I would strongly recommend this book.

I found the book very helpful in suggesting ways to improve my prayer life. The references to his sources gave me the option of delving further into particular aspects of prayer. I checked this book out of the public library and found it so helpful, I decided I needed to own it.