Foreword: Prayer as "Coming Home"

(Bible study notes)

Foster describes God’s heart as an “open wound of love. He aches over our distance and preoccupation. He mourns that we do not draw near to Him. He weeps over our obsession with muchness and manyness. He longs for our presence.”

Is this the God we know? Do we believe this about God’s heart? If not, what are the internal barriers to this vision of God? What is the Scriptural basis of what Foster is saying?

The group talked with one another about the distractions of 'muchness and
manyness' in depending on God and talking with Him for all needs, wants,
and concerns. We also talked about the chief purpose of humans being to glorify God.

Foster then says that God is “inviting you—and me—to come home, to come home to where we belong, to come home for that which we were created. His arms are stretched out wide to receive us. His heart is enlarged to take us in…”

Again, do we believe this about God? The group discussed Revelation 3:20 and John 14:23 in connection with these ideas.

Foster says the key to “this home, this heart of God, is prayer.” And the door? Jesus, through his Redemption of the cross.

The invitation is open to us all—those of us who do not believe in prayer, because of profound disappointment with God; those of us scarred and broken by life; those of us whose prayers have grown “brittle and cold”; and those of us who consider prayer the delight of our lives.

We discussed Foster’s argument that “loving [is] the syntax of prayer,” or, “to be effective pray-ers, we need to be effective lovers.” Foster says this book is not a “how-to” on prayer, but a book on a “love relationship: an enduring, continuing, growing love relationship with the great God of the universe.” Love requires trust—the more we love, the more we trust. Do we FULLY trust God? (This is a process, an ever-growing aspect of our lives—and our God is patient with us!)

“Dear God, I am so grateful for your invitation to enter your heart of love. As best I can I come in. Thank you for receiving me. Amen~ ”

Preface: Naming Prayer--and God

(Bible Study notes)

First, a bit of background was discussed: Richard Foster, the author of this book, is a Quaker theologian, former pastor, teacher, and writer who started the international para-church organization Renovare', which encourages church renewal (through a focus on fundamentals of Christian life). The group discussed the Quakers’ rejection of religious symbolism such as baptism and the Eucharist/communion, but those who have read Foster indicated that one does not see that particular Quaker influence in his writing.

The book “names” prayer to help us more readily recognize God’s presence and work in our lives, and to be more intentional in our practice. The book names prayer in 21 different ways, and all apply to us in our walk and talk with God at one time or another.

“Countless people, you see, pray far more than they know,” says Foster. “Often they have such a ‘stained-glass’ image of prayer that they fail to recognize what they are experiencing as prayer and so condemn themselves for not praying.”

Foster mentions the “special problem” of naming God, since God is both Mother and Father: the group agreed with Foster’s point that God's “gender” encompasses and goes beyond “male” & “female.” We can't box God in—we don't have the ability.

Foster describes prayer as involving “movement,” and the group discussed his ideas that prayer takes us inward to Jesus, outward to the Holy Spirit, and upward to God. The 4 characteristics of  'Abba' praying (that is, praying to God as a Parent or intimate Being) were also touched on: strength, empowerment, nurturing, and caring.

Nota bene: Foster says, “Healthy prayer necessitates the frequent experiences of the common, earthy, run-of the-mill variety.” As Oswald Chambers has said, it’s no use to have spiritual “highs” on the proverbial Mt. of Transfiguration, if we cannot walk with Jesus down in the “demon-possessed valley” where the “rubber meets the road.” Remember…“Enoch walked with God 300 years…” (Gen. 5:22): the picture is one of steady, “ordinary” fellowship with God through all the different seasons and exigencies of life. “To be spiritually fit we need regular exercise in the hills and valleys of life!”