Prayer for Beginners
by Peter Kreeft
Peter Kreeft has written heavy philosophy, but this little book from Ignatius Press is a different animal. It's a kick in the pants. Its message: you probably don't pray enough, and the problem isn't technique. You just haven't started. So Kreeft writes to get you started.
In short, unsentimental chapters he covers why prayer matters, what moves us to it and how to begin. Pick a time. Pick a place. Deal with distractions. Keep going when nothing seems to happen. Then he takes on harder ground: suffering, sin, dryness, and the roles of faith and grace. The tone is a frank, kind friend who won't accept your excuses, and his wit makes the medicine go down.
It suits inquirers who want to pray but feel awkward, busy people who keep putting prayer off, and catechists who want a simple, motivating book to hand out. You can read it in a weekend. The real test comes after you put it down. Kreeft would want you to go and pray.
Key Takeaways
- Why prayer matters more than technique.
- How to start: a time, a place and perseverance.
- Handling distraction and dryness.
- Prayer in suffering and sin.
It's a short, honest push to actually start praying.
