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The Lord's Prayer

The Lord's Prayer

Jesus Teaches Us How to Pray  

by Mary Lou Redding
Paperback
Prayer

Many of us feel intimidated about our prayer life—we look at other Christians, and prayer seems to come naturally to them. But somehow we feel that we just don't "get it." Author Mary Lou Redding reminds us that the disciples were with Jesus continually, and still they had to ask him for help in learning how to pray. That should reassure us, she says.

Because the Lord's Prayer is so familiar, we run the risk of praying it by rote without really thinking about the meaning of the words. Redding explores this ancient prayer phrase by phrase and helps us see how it can be a model for all of our praying.

This insightful, practical study of the Lord's Prayer features

  • six brief chapters that can be read in 10 to 15 minutes
  • brief daily scripture passages
  • reflection questions for each chapter
  • suggestions for weekly group meetings

Rather than approaching scripture from a scholarly standpoint, Redding invites us to consider passages with our hearts. She encourages us to make connections between the scriptures and our daily lives.

As an added benefit, Redding leads us through several classic Christian spiritual practices, such as examen, journaling, and reflective reading of scripture.

This book is a great resource for a congregational study on the Lord's Prayer. It will help anyone enrich their faith and deepen their relationship with God.

6 weeks • Includes Leader's Guide

Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-8358-1066-1
Publisher: The Upper Room
Imprint: Upper Room Books
Publication Date: 08/01/2011
Pages: 144
Dimensions: 10.0000 x 7.0000

Mary Lou Redding is interested in many disciplines-art, literature, music, science, philosophy, religion, politics. She is a writer, thinker, feminist, loving mother and grandmother, as well as an outspoken and direct person. One of seven children, Mary Lou is the mother of an adult daughter and grandmother of two nearly perfect granddaughters. Before becoming an editor and writer, she taught basic and advanced prose writing and business communication on the college level. Teaching about writing and the Bible is one of her great loves. Mary Lou has a master of arts degree in rhetoric and writing and worked professionally as a writer and editor for many years, retiring as editorial director of The Upper Room daily devotional guide in 2012.


Reviews

Mary Lou Redding peels back a few more layers of the Lord’s Prayer to reveal something new and thoughtful about Jesus’ precious words. Rather than introduce us to the latest prayer fad, she invites us prayerfully into a time of prayer with the prayer and with each other. In writing this book she has (echoing her own observations on the words of Frederick Buechner) found the place where her deep gladness meets the world’s (and our!) deep hunger. After reading this book, it will be difficult to ever again pray the Lord’s Prayer by rote.
—Frank Ramirez,
Pastor, Everett (PA) Church of the Brethren, author of several books,
and frequent contributor to The Upper Room

In her compellingly candid style, Mary Lou Redding revisits the familiar model prayer in a uniquely familiar way. Approaching the Lord's Prayer as an invitation to discipleship, Redding gives heartfelt insight into the taken-for-granted meaning in this beloved prayer and challenges readers to become more reflective about the words they are praying.

Study groups hoping to enrigh their faith will appreciate this splendid guide that introduces them to classic Christian practices as they discover ways to enhance their prayer life and deepen their walk with God.
--Ruth Givens, Ed.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Foundations and Transdisciplinary Studies
School of Education
Azusa Pacific University


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