Imagebearer’s Weblog

Book Review: In Constant Prayer by Robert Benson

I think this one is a must read for those wishing to understand prayer better. Wow

In Constant Prayer is a book about the “Office of Prayer.” In other words, Office means in this instance a “ceremonial observance.” The Office of Prayer has been around for 6000 years and again I say wow. It is said to date back before Jesus and that Jesus would have participated in this discipline of the church. A few years ago I would have had a hard time accepting that we were to read prayers from a book as though we are praying them to God but not anymore. After coming into the Methodist Church more than 10 years ago and finding the value or the Liturgy, this is similar.

The Office of Prayer gives one the discipline of praising God, praying the scriptures, confession, and the ability to pray with others across the globe. It is a tradition and discipline mainly practices today by Monks and Nuns.

If you are familiar with “The Book of Common Prayer” the office of prayer is in this book. If you are familiar with John Wesley, you may know that The Book of Common Prayer is one book that he valued greatly. It is a book he carried with him and used on a daily basis. As a matter of fact, our modern-day United Methodist Book of Worship, includes the Office of daily prayers. The daily office is filled with scripture, prayers, and praise to our Father and follows the lectionary.

The author makes such a convincing argument of how the words that we say over and over, they have the power to change us and eventually things rise up in us. Not every day and not with every day will you sense the power of God, matter of fact some days will seem just to be dull and exactly that, dull. However, it is through plowing, planting, weeding, and tending a garden that we grow fruit and that is what the “Office of Prayer” offers us, it is a tending to the garden of our souls.

I am convinced and I for one plan to dive in to the “Office of Prayer” and mine some of the riches that have handed down to us from many generations of believers and even participated in by Jesus Himself.

Get this book!

Ronnie

February 2, 2012 Posted by imagebearer | Uncategorized | 1 Comment