5 Books About Prayer and Meditation

Rites. Ceremonies. Traditions. Rituals. Meditation. Prayers. 

Honestly, the more I learn, the more I realize that these words all mean the same thing. We're all trying to do everything we can to feel connected to ourselves, others, and a higher power. Sometimes that takes objects, sometimes that takes, repetition, and sometimes that takes conversation.

Whatever method of connection you hoping to practice, here are 5 Books on Prayer or Meditation that I would give to anybody.

1. The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson

How do you feel about prayer? I’ve done it my whole life, but it’s always felt hippie-dippie to my practical side. Most of the time it feels like I’m praying to the wall. But I want to believe that there is a God who hears and cares, so I’m seeking out people who feel energized by prayer.

The Circle Maker is all about how to pray circles around the problems in your life. Batterson shares stories about how two parents prayed for their unborn child, but they kept thinking of two names, so they prayed for both; how his congregation prayed for nearly a decade for a place they could meet on Sundays and the wacky miracles that paved the way; and the legend of Honi the Circle Maker who prayed in his circle until God answered his petition.

I might not totally believe in prayer yet, but Circle Maker makes me want to keep trying.

2. The Power of Eight by Lynne McTaggart

Let’s ride on the coattails of The Circle Maker a little longer. Sometimes I get stuck in the connotation a title carries, so I decided to study prayer from the direction of “intentions”. The Power of Eight is all about McTaggart’s research on the power of thought. Originally, she was curious whether or not a group of people could think healing thoughts and influence a plant to grow. But soon her experiments had grown bigger, until one day she found that groups of people sending healing thoughts toward someone in the group were having measurable results.

The Power of Eight is an intriguing look throughout history of the many prayer rituals around the world and how anyone can harness the power of positive thoughts to change the world. 

Can my thoughts really heal people? I don’t know, but it certainly can’t hurt to try it out.

3. The Power of Stillness by Jacob Hess, Carrie Skarda, Kyle Anderson, and Ty Mansfield

When things aren’t going well, I naturally default to ramping up my efforts to get ahead of the crap. But current research has been finding that maybe “less is more” has been the answer all along.

Co-written by four therapists of different focuses, this book is full of numerous ways to slow down enough to hear ourselves think and feel what we feel. It's also written specifically for an LDS or religious audience, to be used in conjunction with religious practices already in place. 

Some chapters are more helpful for parents of young children and some for anyone under the sun, but this book is a simple way to start your journey of meditation.

4. Stillness is the Key by Ryan Holiday

Meditation seems to be the answer to everything these days. You can’t fall asleep? Meditate. You aren’t doing well at work? Meditate. You’re constipated? Meditate.

But if your temper seems to be getting the better of you lately, I would recommend meditation, at least how Ryan Holiday describes it. 

Holiday collected the stories and routines of some of the greatest movers and shakers in history, from sports stars to Holocaust hiders. All of these people existed day-to-day in hectic environments, but all of them used stillness to overcome them.

If you find that traditional meditation isn’t jiving with you, I’d highly consider reading Stillness is the Key.

5. Even in the Darkest Hour by Michael Huston

"It's always better to be grateful."

Well... after four years of hell, I'm realizing being grateful all the time can actually hold me back from God. Let me explain.

Even in the Darkest Hour took me through the Bible and Book of Mormon (if you are LDS) into how God's covenant relationship with us works. Yes, we should be grateful, but when things are going really bad, we should also give God our lament.

"Lament" is a little-used word in our society, and we often get it mixed up with "complaint". As a professional complainer myself, I can attest that complaining is rather passive-aggressive. I usually tell all my woes to everyone but the person I'm having the issues with, or I'm telling everyone so that that person feels bad. Lament, on the other hand, is when I take my grievances to the person in the middle of the problem with me to find deliverance.

Or, as the author explains it, "How can we have faith enough to be delivered if we do not even have faith enough to be honest about how we feel?" 

I feel like my trust in God has increased since I read this book.
And since I started praying more honestly. Add some lament, you'll feel... something pretty special.

Happy Reading.

If you need more book recommendations, check out Maren's List!

*All links are simply links, I don't get any money if you click them. I just want to make finding great stories as easy as possible for you!*

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