Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
Sanctuary of the Soul: Journey Into Meditative Prayer
2011 Leadership Journal Top Book of the Year! "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 Renovar?, writes these words as one who has experienced what they de...more
Hardcover, 155 pages
Published
August 8th 2011
by IVP Books
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
This book is not yet featured on Listopia.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
360)
I love just about everything that Richard Foster writes. So, when I saw that he was writing a new book on meditative prayer I pre-ordered it immediately. It came out a little early, and I have been slowly plodding away at reading this book. I just finished Foster's book, and I have to tell you, it exceeded my expectations.
Sanctuary of the Soul is a guide to help believers in understanding and practicing meditative prayer. I have always found meditative prayer and contemplative prayer difficult....more
Sanctuary of the Soul is a guide to help believers in understanding and practicing meditative prayer. I have always found meditative prayer and contemplative prayer difficult....more
Sanctuary of the Soul is a wonderful little book. Foster once again reminds us how important meditation is, and what a lost art it is in modern Christianity. There is very little teaching in the church today on how to successfully meditate on Scripture, so most of us just think that meditation is simply spending a couple of minutes thinking about a Bible verse we just read. Far from it. Meditation requires extended periods of silence, something else that we are both unfamiliar with, AND very unc...more
Read like he still hasn’t figured out his stance on meditative prayer, odd since he wrote his highly acclaimed and inspired Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home 20 years earlier. Read also like his editor said “Meditation is so popular now. How about a Christian perspective?” His heart's not in it, except for a lengthier than the topic required discourse on Satan and the evils of other non-Christian "spiritual" practices. Neither Buddhist nor non-denominational mindfulness meditation are ever m...more
Nice little book. Nothing really new from Richard Foster, but a lovely book on contemplative prayer. Foster adds some personal experiences that are nothing out of the ordinary but helpful for persons who are seeking the contemplative prayer life and think there have to be mystical experiences all the time. Foster always does a great job of realistically describing the spiritual life that necessarily is steeped in scripture, discipline, and faithfulness. What I like best is the list at the back o...more
This isn't as good as Foster's other books. I did not glean any new insights and I found his stories of personal experiences with meditation unhelpful. Still, it's not a bad book. If you are interested in meditation, it would be worth a read. If you have not read Foster before, I would start with Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth or Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home.
There are many amazing books on prayer and meditative prayer. I would rate this as one of the most useful modern books for a number of reasons. It is short which means you can stop reading and start listening sooner. It covers all the basics with great flair. The first section lays foundations, the second gives the "how to"(although that is not an adequate phrase for meditative prayer), while the third section covers practicalities, problems, and questions. Given these qualities it is also a tre...more
The world population is in great need of developing a personal relationship with God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ through the whisperings of the Holy Spirit. Sanctuary of the Soul shows us the importance of waiting on the Lord through meditative prayer. Richard Foster does not set himself up as an all knowing expert but as a petitioner to God. Foster states this is an ongoing process which can be lost if we are not diligent in our efforts to stay close to God and do His (God's) will. No...more
view 1 comment
As I am someone who is at a crossroads in my spiritual journey, I frequently find myself looking for better ways to pray and be in the moment when I am communicating with God. This book is an excellent primer into prayer, however I chose not to give it five stars because it was not a book for me, personally, and I felt that it appealed mainly to those who were new to the Christian faith. I appreciated the scriptural basis of the information and that multiple views were examined by the author in...more
I love everything about this book it's small and light so you could carry it around with you all the time.The cover was very simple,calm,feels like felt soft to touch.It boost my spirituality even more,gave me strength and inner peace plus every part and sub parts of this great book taught me a lot of things in life and throughout life, it's very enlightening and filled with wonderful quotations,verses from the bible and prayers.I highly recommend it!
I won and received this book for free through...more
I won and received this book for free through...more
Foster’s book Prayer has been dubbed a modern spiritual classic. Many of the same themes he explored in that texts are examined in this shorter, more recent work. Foster seems to have an ability to read the mind of the person exploring his text. Universal pitfalls and experiences of a person who prays are addressed in his work. A reader can be taken to a deeper level spiritually with the guidance of his texts.
I can see how many people would think that this book is fantastic. On the surface it deals with a spiritual view of prayer that is very familiar to Quakers. However I find that the methodology of prayer and listening for a response from God is very mystical to me. I prefer to hear from Him sola scriptura. Bible without prayer leads to legalism and prayer without Bible study leads to mysticism. Dangerous ground my friend because you rely on your own intellect to speak to you like God.p
This is a smaller, manageable book on meditative prayer. He has some nice things to ponder. The only aspect I don't especially value is his references to saints and wonderful people most of us have never heard of from previous centuries. He likes to use them as a point of reference and then end up on a contemporary note. Feels rather Catholic in style. A good book to revisit from time to time.
I really like this little introduction to meditative prayer. Are there places to quibble theologically? Indeed. But that would miss the point. It's about the practice and provides a terrific little primer for beginners and salient reminders for those who have attempted to engage prayer along the way.
This was a quick read, but also a good read. Foster gives some instruction and examples on Meditative prayer, but probably the best advice he gives is that you cannot learn this from reading a book, you learn it from doing it.
Foster combines insights from numerous practitioners of listening prayer along with his own insights. This book isn't original but is a good compilation of much wisdom.
I think this is one of Richard's best books ever -- clear, helpful, insightful, honest, welcoming, and warm. It's a book to which I'll return again and again.
It may sound silly but the feel of this book makes it one you want to hold it and read it. It's an easy book to read and is loaded with 'nuggets' that you can think over and apply to your life. I already planning to read it again and use it as a 'daily lesson' format.
Thank you goodreads for the 'first read' opportunity to read this gem.
Thank you goodreads for the 'first read' opportunity to read this gem.
I am just beginning this book on meditative prayer. So far it is good.
Very, very good. Foster says that the the major impediment to a mature Christian life in this generation is distraction. The practice of meditative prayer is the antidote for what ails us. Now I just need to do it.
Loved this book! One of Foster's best!
Short, but very good.
Richard Foster teaches the spiritual discipline of meditation. An excellent, practical read for anyone wanting to master this discipline.
Good and timely book.
This is a beautifully written book. I wasn't certain how I would like it when I won it through goodread's first reads, but this book reminds us of the art Christianity holds. The book is also very informative and makes a reader honestly want to try to be closer to God. Great read, highly recommended.
Dec 14, 2012
Penny
added it
A classic, must-read.
Classic Foster...good advice and direction.
Nov 06, 2011
Charles Roberts
added it
I only have time enough to say that I highlighted many, many passages and that I expect to thumb through its' pages many times in the future.
May 12, 2013
Joanne Viola
is currently reading it
May 09, 2013
Starla Gooch
is currently reading it
May 04, 2013
Wewaite
added it
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Richard J. Foster is the author of several bestselling books, including Celebration of Discipline, Streams of Living Water, and Prayer, which was Christianity Today's Book of the Year and the winner of the Gold Medallion Award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. He is the founder of Renovaré, an intrachurch movement committed to the renewal of the Church in all her multifaceted...more
More about Richard J. Foster...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
