The Elements of Prayer: Learning to Pray in Real LifeWhat is prayer? How does one pray? How does one communicate with a higher power about the things that really matter in life? In his twenty-five years as a pastor, Joe Jewell has heard these questions more than any others. The Elements of Prayer is Jewell's answer. With the understanding that prayer, like writing, is something everyone can do but that many struggle to do well, Jewell uses Strunk and White's classic guide, The Elements of Style, as a model for his exploration of prayer. Through rules of usage, form, composition, and approach, along with a playful glossary, the book bolsters our understanding of, and confidence in, the art of prayer. Forgoing strict religious doctrine, Jewell's method seeks to “outline rather than fill in,” trusting readers to find their own authentic voice in this essential element of spiritual life. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
active voice Amen answers asked basics become Buechner called church Clarence Jordan communication concerns concrete language confession didn’t discipline Divine doesn’t E. B. White Elements of Style emotions Eugene Peterson expression faith feel figures of speech focus focused formal forms freedom fundamental George Orwell give God’s presence grace heart Higher Power honest hope humble idea journey keep listeners liturgical lives Lord Lord’s Prayer mean meaningful ment mercy Mount Horeb okay one’s ourselves pardon parish parishioner pastor poetry pray for vision praying in public present private prayer problems public prayer realized relationship religious reminder Richard Niebuhr ritual rule seek sense sermons simply sion someone speak spiritual Strunk and White Sunday worship takes talking teaching tell thanks theology things thought tion understand William Strunk word world peace writing Yahweh York
Popular passages
Page 2 - O divine Master, grant that I may not so much Seek to be consoled as to console; To be understood as to understand; To be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Page 2 - DIVINE MASTER, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Page 5 - Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is unquiet until it rests in thee...
Page 12 - ... for a scheme of procedure. In some cases the best design is no design, as with a love letter, which is simply an outpouring, or with a casual essay, which is a ramble. But in most cases, planning must be a deliberate prelude to writing. The first principle of composition, therefore, is to foresee or determine the shape of what is to come and pursue that shape.