Book Review:Opening to God

 

Opening to God

Lectio Divina and Life as Prayer

by David G. Benner

Pub Date 13 Apr 2021 

 InterVarsity Press,  IVP

Christian

I am reviewing a copy of Opening to God:Lecito Divina and Life as Prayer through Intervarsity press and NetGalley;

A good majority of Christians want to experience spiritual transformation. But many are frustrated by the limited progress of our spiritual self-improvement efforts.   We often find that we feel burdened by a sense of obligation and failure. But prayer is not merely something we do; prayer is what God does in us.   Prayer is not communication with God, but it is communication with God as we learn to open ourselves up to him, God does the spiritual work of transformation in us.  

The author of this book David.G. Benner is a spiritual director and psychologist.  Prayer is far more than saying words to God; all of life can be prayer when offered to God in faith and with openness.   Benner explores prayer using the four movements of lectio divina, he explores prayer as attending, pondering, responding, and being. Along the way he opens us to a world of possibilities for communion with God: praying with our senses, with imagination, with music and creativity, in contemplation, in service, and much more. 

In this book you will learn how prayer can be a way of living. Move beyond words to become not merely someone who prays, but someone whose entire life is prayer in union with God. 

I give Opening to God five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!