Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools

I'm a big fan of Tim Mackie.

So when I saw that he wrote the foreword and by extension, endorsed this book, I couldn't resist getting myself a copy.

And boy am I glad I did.

I grew up in a Christian home, so prayer isn't a foreign practice to me.

But at the same time, it is. Or at least, it was.

Prayer is one of those things that is never really taught. Rather it's a practice that is 'handed down' by imitating others.

Do as others do.

My very first impression of prayer took place when I was about 6 or 7. I remember trying hard to empty my mind and concentrate while someone (the person leading the prayer) told God our 'wishlist'.

I thought if I concentrated hard enough, I could will my wishlist to life.

I feel like an idiot now, and you may chuckle a little; but the truth is those prayer experiences shaped the way I thought about prayer.

As I grew older, my understanding of prayer grew, but it was still greatly flawed.

My prayers were always a monologue: me talking and God listening. And right after the 'Amen!', I was gone .... away to start my busy day.

The practice of using ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) as a framework for prayer was helpful, but it didn't change the monologue pattern.

It wasn't until I read this excerpt about an interview with Mother Theresa that my perspective changed:

A reporter once asked Mother Teresa what she often said when she prayed. Mother Teresa answered saying, “Well, I don’t say much. I mostly listen.”

The reporter then asked her, “So what does God say to you?” And again, Mother Teresa answered, “Well, He doesn’t say much — He just listens.”

Reading that opened my eyes to the true nature of prayer. I finally realized what I had been missing for so many years: Prayer is a conversation, not a monologue.

Prayer is me sharing my life, heart, and mind with the Lord; and Him doing likewise.

And this is EXACTLY what Tyler Staton explores in Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools.

This book took me on a journey to rediscovering prayer — not as an obligation, but as an intimate and transformative conversation with God.

Staton touches on a few key things that resonated deeply with me:

- Prayer is more than words we recite; it's an intimate conversation with God.

- God prefers a raw, honest, and vulnerable approach to prayer rather than polished or formulaic prayers. He isn't afraid of our doubts, frustrations, or questions, in fact He welcomes them.

- Prayer can be both simple and profound. God hears and cherishes our tiny prayers (i.e. a request for a parking spot) just as much as He loves our big prayers (i.e. for world peace).

- Prayer changes us, not just our circumstances. Prayer aligns us with God's heart, through the practice of intimate communication, we become more attuned to His voice, His purposes, and His love. We become more like Him.

That’s the beauty of prayer — it invites us into the mystery of who God is and who we can be if we allow Him to live in us.

Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools is more than a manual on how to pray—it’s an invitation to live fully, to embrace the 'foolishness' of faith, and to trust that God is listening, even when circumstances seem to show otherwise.

Whether you're looking for a guide on how to pray or seeking a deeper prayer life, Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools is an inspiring read for anyone longing for more intimacy with God.

Buy the book here