Deepening Your Conversation With God

by Ben Patterson; David L. Goetz

Publisher:

Bethany House

, 1998

Overview

Pastors are maturing. Deepening. They want substance for their congregations—and nourishment for their own soul. THE PASTOR'S SOUL series unleashes pastors to do what really matters. To step beyond skills. To give of their unique gifts. To minister authentically and grow in the intangibles of ministry like integrity and character.

A GROUND BREAKING SERIES ON THE INNER LIFE OF PASTORS

In this changing culture, pastors know the importance of dedicating themselves to God's mission in the world. They desire to rediscover the wonder of prayer and to experience its result: knowing God.

One of the dangers of pastoral ministry is to fail to recognize that the work of God's kingdom is a spiritual battle, and that prayer is at the heart of the struggle. Evil and darkness are as intractable and entrenched as they were in the first century. To pray is to engage in radical warfare, to storm the gates of hell and uproot evil. Prayer is the work of the church, and it actually gets God's work done on earth.

Contents

Top Highlights

“Perhaps one reason God delays his answers to our prayers is because he knows we need to be with him far more than we need the things we ask of him.” (Page 28)

“‘Stupid, you have the same twenty-four hours each day when you’re sick as when you’re well. The trouble with you, Ben, is when you’re well, you think you’re in charge; when you’re sick, you know you’re not.’” (Page 15)

“Prayer is a discipline before it is a joy, and remains a discipline even after it becomes a joy.” (Page 51)

“That’s why Eugene Peterson says that the pastor who claims to be too busy to pray is really a lazy person. In busyness, he or she is procrastinating, avoiding the real work of prayer.” (Page 27)

“‘There are two kinds of pain: the pain of discipline, and the pain of regret.’” (Page 51)

Product Details

• Title: Deepening Your Conversation With God
• Authors: David L. Goetz and Ben Patterson
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
• Publication Date: 1998
• Pages: 173