Simply Pray: A Modern Spiritual Practice to Deepen Your Life

“Simply Pray is an excellent and much needed bridge for people who struggle with a way to pray that is authentic to them and their sense of the Holy. —Rev. Dr. Tilden Edwards, Founder and Senior Fellow, Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation

Simply Pray offers fresh answers to the age-old question, “Why pray?” The practice of prayer appeals to something deep within many of us, especially those of us who grew up reciting Catholic prayers on a rosary, or those of us fascinated by the mala beads carried by Buddhist practitioners. But what if our journey has taken a path different from the traditional religions and the often-moving rituals they provide? In Simply Pray, Erik Walker Wikstrom reveals the universal qualities of prayer and offers a way to incorporate this spiritual practice into your personal journey. Simply Pray is an excellent guide for anyone seeking a unique spiritual practice that is deeply rooted in all of the world’s great religions.

The first two sections of the book unravel the meaning and practices of prayer within world religions and consider how these ideas are relevant to the individual. The third section, Making a Practice of Prayer, describes how to make your own set of prayer beads and begin to use them. The fourth section, Pray Like This, insightfully translates traditional prayers, such as the Lord's Prayer, into fresh new language, demonstrating how the practice of prayer may be shaped for your individual needs.

Erik Walker Wikstrom is the author of several books, including Serving With Grace: Lay Leadership as a Spiritual Practice; Teacher, Guide, Companion: Rediscovering Jesus in a Secular World; and Simply Pray: A Modern Spiritual Practice to Deepen Your Life. He has served as minister for congregations in Yarmouth, Maine; Brewster, Massachusetts; and Charlottesville, Virginia.