Prayer Meditation and Spiritual Trial: Luther’s Account of Life in the Spirit

Introduction Publisher: Hendrickson AcademicISBN: 9781683070184Type: Paperback But kneel down in your little room and pray to God with real humilityand earnestness, that he through his dear Son may give you his HolySpirit, who will enlighten you, lead you, and give you understanding.Martin LutherQuite often, theology and spirituality are separated, pursuedwithout reference to the othera classic example of thedisjunction between head and heart. But in Luther we find aprofound theologian exhibiting a profound spirituality, one thatstill speaks to us today. Luther sets out three rules for doing propertheology: oratio, meditatio, tentatio or prayer, meditation, andspiritual trial. These three rules, derived from David the psalmist,provide a way for readers to investigate more thoroughly whatLuther says about the important practice of theology or life in theSpirit. But they also serve as a simple way for Christians to live afuller spiritual life.The intention of Prayer, Meditation, and Spiritual Trial is to help readers enter into the worldof Lutherthe Augustinian monk and Reformer who prays,meditates, and suffers spiritual trial within the community offaith that extends over the centuries. Ever the teacher and pastorhimself, Gordon Isaac invites readers into the reality of living atheology of the cross, which helps make sense of our presentstruggles in this world and shows us how we can live in the love ofGod as revealed through Jesus Christ.ReviewsMartin Luther was not only the central figure in the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century, but also a spiritual master whose words give guidance to all Christians today. This volume explores his spirituality through his threefold rule of prayer, meditation, and testing. A good introduction to the heart of Luther’s faith. Timothy George, founding dean of Beeson Divinity School and general editor of the Reformation Commentary on ScriptureSome theologians transcend their day and generation in significance, both theologically and practically. Luther is just such a one, yet many people are probably more familiar with the spectacular moments of his public life than with the devotional convictions and practices that formed the foundation of his spiritual strength. In this book, Gordon Isaac takes Luthers famous tripletprayer, meditation, and spiritual trialsand uses it as a means of making the Reformers insights relevant to the Christian today, both for personal devotion and (of particular note) practical life in the community. Highly recommended. Carl R. Trueman, William E. Simon Fellow in Religion and Public Life, Princeton UniversityAuthor BioGordon L. Isaac (MTh, Luther Theological Seminary;PhD, Marquette University) is the Berkshire Associate Professor of Advent Christian Studies at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He is the author of Monastic Memoria in the Preface to the Complete Edition of Luthers Latin Writings 1545 in Luther Digest (Luther Academy, 2012), and coeditor of Great Awakenings: Historical Perspectives for Today (Hendrickson, 2016).Editor currently resides in Wenham, Massachusetts.