Do you long for a deep, fundamental change in your life with God? Do you desire a greater intimacy with Him? Do you wonder how you might truly live your life as God created you to live it?
Spiritual disciplines are activities that open us to God's transforming love and the changes that only God can bring about in our lives. Picking up on the monastic tradition of creating a "rule of life" that allows for regular space for the practice of the spiritual disciplines, Sacred Rhythms takes you more deeply into understanding seven key disciplines along with practical ideas for weaving them into everyday life. Each chapter includes exercises to help you begin the practices---individually and in a group context. The final chapter puts it all together in a way that will help you arrange your life for spiritual transformation.
Christian spiritual disciplines are all the rage, and joining the legions of
"how-to" books reintroducing contemporary Christians to ancient practices is
this offering by Barton, a spiritual director and retreat leader (Invitation
to Solitude and Silence). With elegant writing and a personal touch, she
covers the basics handily-the role of desire and longing in relationship with
God, praying with scripture, and the need for solitude, self-examination,
discernment and Sabbath. She concludes with an exercise that helps one develop
a "rule of life," or commitment to "structure and space for our growing."
What makes Barton's handbook different from the rest is her personality; she
describes the practices with the gentle touch of an understanding and knowing
mystic, telling her own stories along the way. Barton recounts the time she
and her bicycle were run over by a minivan (miraculously, she was not
seriously hurt) and as she recuperated, she pondered whether this accident was
a time to reconsider her need for Sabbath: "I did not want to acknowledge the
possibility that it was that hard for God to get my attention." This book is a
wonderful starting point for Christians eager to more deeply explore the life
of the Spirit. (Mar. 30) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
Average Rating: 5 out of 5 stars(5 out of 5 stars)
2 of 2 Reviews Showing:
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Becky Bjork (La Crosse, WI), February 21, 2008
From the first page, I felt the author understood the "busyness" of my work, family and church schedule. She provides disciplines that I could easily incorporate into my day. These calmed me during a time of difficult decisions and helped me to strengthen my relationship with God.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Megen Dowlen (Palm Desert, CA), December 16, 2007
Get ready to draw closer to Christ! If you are "stuck in a rut" and want to have a stronger communication with the Lord and hear His voice, this book will truly revitalize your relationship with God. This book has drawn me closer to God and opened my heart to listen to Him in new ways. I read this in a small group study, but you can easily read it on your own.
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