Longing to Pray: How the Psalms Teach Us to Talk with God

By J. Ellsworth Kalas

Book Overview

Includes Study GuideThis little book invites us to study with some ancient experts in prayer, the persons who wrote the Book of Psalms. We haven't read long in the psalms before we realize that the authors, like us, were altogether human, their lives marked by breathtaking highs and lows. But with all of that, they were saints who left us with the greatest collection of prayers in the possession of our human race. What was their secret? I believe it was the quality of their friendship with God. And of course the language of that friendship is prayer. The psalmists don't give us any formula for effective praying. They don't offer a set of rules. But if we read their prayers carefully, we will learn something of their secret, the secret of the Ultimate Friendship. -adapted from the Foreword

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0687495121
• ISBN13: 9780687495122
• Release Date: March 2006
• Publisher: Abingdon Press
• Length: 126 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.4" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

God's Our Real Bud!

Prolific writer and dedicated churchman Ellsworth Kalas brings prayer into the Old Testament Psalms with his 2006 126-page paperback "Longing to Pray". The books guiding principle is "how the Psalms teach us to talk with God". Dr. Kalas documents inside the text without footnotes or endnotes and he present a helpful 15-page study guide (by John Schroeder) for additional book teaching and illumination. Beginning with the concept that friendship is one of life's most important commodities (page 9) the remainder of his book draws upon various poems and songs from the Psalter to present God as humanity's closest and most permanent friend. In deed, each chapter proffers a different aspect of divine friendship for people (candor, time, beauty, gratitude, repentance, anger, etc.). Kalas presents these often ignored, or misunderstood, friend-tenants as "secrets". His secret, here, is that God is always with us ready to be our universal and longest lasting bud. Kalas' long career is narrative rich. He shares many of his experiences through this book giving it a comprehensive and helpful feel. His stories, alone, make good reasons for its purchase. Dr. Kalas entices the reader to prayer with his psalmic suggestions and illustrations. Through Kalas' interpretation the various psalms reviewed come alive with meaning and holy application. Read this book with your Scripture close at hand (you'll want to make notes). It's unfortunate that Kalas has neither the place nor opportunity with this small prayer book to review each of the 150 Psalms and their dispositions toward prayer. Such would be a brilliant study! As it is, this little book convinces that God the Creator is our closest and longest friend. This book is recommended to all studying the Psalms, any wishing to invigorate his or her prayer life, those looking for a short term small group study, and all preparing to supplement their personal Scripture study.

This one is a Winner

This book arrived promptly in excellent condition. I ordered it for my neighbor. She had read it before and wanted it to give as a gift. She called me today and asked me to order two more copies for gifts.

Thank goodness for your prompt delivery!

No local bookstores could provide this book for me in time for a weekend women's retreat, so I was pleased this arrived as promised.