Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Revolutionise your spiritual life, 16 Aug 2006
Mark Stibbe is vicar of St Andrew's, Chorleywood, with an international teaching ministry, and has written upwards of a dozen bestselling Christian books. He is a widely respected leader of the renewal movement in the UK and beyond.
Given these accomplishments we can surely learn much from his prayer life. In his latest book, `Drawing Near to God', he shares with us the structure of prayer which has sustained and empowered him over the past 20 years.
The model is based on the temple at Jerusalem, and takes us on a journey through the `gates of thanksgiving'; into the `courts of praise'; towards the altar of sacrifice where we confess our sins (and receive forgiveness through Christ's blood); into the holy place where, like the Old Testament high priests carrying Israel's tribes on their breastplate, we can bring people and situations close to our heart into God's presence; and finally we enter the `Holy of Holies', beholding the throne and enjoying deep intimacy with our heavenly Father and King.
In his foreword, the Middle East negotiator Canon Andrew White (a man for whom prayer is no optional extra!!) gives glowing praise. `Drawing Near' is, in fact, a rewrite of one of Stibbe's previous works, `A Kingdom of Priests'. Now out of print, the Stibbes received so many requests for copies, and so many encouraging testimonies, that his publishers agreed to an `upgrade', adding the benefit of a further 10 years experience.
On a personal level over the past few months I've found the temple model a great blessing in my own prayer life. As someone who has mainly used the traditional `ACTS' method (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) with mixed success, the temple model seems a big improvement, and I strongly doubt that I will return to the old ways. By picturing a `walk' through the temple (with objects such as the altar and table of shewbread to prompt prayer) I've been able to use my imagination more while praying, with my mind less prone to wander. Furthermore the model has a satisfying `journey' structure towards the Lord, and has enabled me to enjoy much greater intimacy with Him.
Although the temple was of course constructed in Old Testament times, Stibbe is very careful to contrast this with the new covenant - as Christians our altar is the cross of Christ, the veil has been torn in two, and through the power of the Holy Spirit all believers can now enjoy the presence of our heavenly Father. The book itself is beautifully written, with many fascinating facts, stories and encouragements to prayer even without the model.
Can I think of any criticism? Well Stibbe admits towards the end that the book perhaps covers only half of the picture - the Christian life is also about bringing God's presence to others, not just enjoying it ourselves!! But no book can cover every topic.
This book is thoroughly recommended. A final endorsement from Andrew White: "An exceptional book like almost no other. Read it, go on a journey to the Glory of God, and your prayer life will be changed forever."
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by Mark Stibbe
by William P. Young
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