Review of In Constant Prayer by Robert Benson

I have been a Christian for many years now and one of the areas in which I have struggled is establishing a steady prayer life. I found this book to be a good tool to encourage prayer in a new way. Well, at least new for me. He uses many ancient practices and books to discover what was a center piece for prayer throughout the early years of the church. The principles that he points out are not new and therefore, at least to some, the book could be considered old news. I found them refreshing. The tone of the book is conversational and intimate. It seems that he is allowing us to see his struggles and how prayer books of the past as well as set times were an avenue into a deeper understanding and practice of prayer. Is it possible that when the Reformers left the Catholic Church did they leave behind powerful means of encountering God? Did they throw the baby out with the bathwater? Throughout the generations many of the great practices of prayer that were life nourishing and empowering were neglected. He points out that one of the obstacles that we must get past our ignorance and fear of anything that is associated with Catholicism and begin embracing prayer through the ancient practices.These practices are a way to restore and strengthen the church. Because of my Protestant and Evangelical background I found some of the things that are mentioned in Benson's work uncomfortable and challenging. I might not be up for going all the way that he has and encourages but I have learned to value the faith and disciplines of those that have come before me.