Long Wandering Prayer: An Invitation to Walk with God
Easily distracted Christians who pray in fits and starts should abandon the misconception that prayer is only done on their knees, writes Hansen (The Art of Pastoring and A Little Handbook on Having a Soul). As a pastor who has engaged in "wandering prayer" for over 30 years, Hansen argues that most Christians do not understand the essential relationship between their physical bodies and their ability to pray over long periods of time. For Hansen, movement, action and even distraction are all vital components of wandering prayer. He admits that his best praying is done while fishing: Intermittent thoughts rise to God while a fish is reeled in, and prayers for his congregation reach the heavens as another line hits the water. After hours of such walking, fishing, thinking and praying, Hansen claims to gain fresh perspective, new peace and a ready sermon for Sunday. He discusses key aspects of wandering prayer, such as bringing down the barriers to long prayers, acknowledging the positive relationship between physical activity and mental wandering, recognizing that long prayer brings new introspective insight and learning how the Bible applauds the courage of persistent petitions. Each chapter also includes a lengthy prayer narrative written by men and women who have discovered the life-changing secret of wandering prayer. Hansen convincingly instructs fellow Christians on the spiritual joys they will encounter by embarking on wandering prayer journeys. (Feb.)Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.