God Encounter:
Experiencing the Power of Creative Prayer

by Lisa Tawn Bergren
WaterBrook Press, 2002

Reviewed by Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur

In God Encounter: Experiencing the Power of Creative Prayer, Lisa Tawn Bergren encourages us to use our imagination in seeking God in prayer. Through a series of meditations, she invites us to set aside time to meet God in creative settings. Each reflection begins with a quote from scripture and a slowing down exercise to help create distance from the craziness of everyday life and set the proper mood and mindset for the meditations. Bergren states that as opposed to Eastern meditation which is designed to help the practitioner lose themselves, Christian meditation should help bring us "face to face with God in order that we might choose Him over ourselves, find Christ within us, hear what He has to say to us time and time again. . . When we truly encounter the living God, we find that Jesus is standing alongside us, ready to heal, teach, forgive, and give us hope for our future."

Each meditation is designed to help with a certain need in our lives. For example, "The Cabin" in which one imagines that she is lost in the woods to ultimately find Jesus in a cabin providing safety and shelter is designed to help when we feel lost, weary, and afraid. Among the other meditations are ones for when you need to leave justice in God's hands, when you feel orphaned by life, and when you are filled with awe by God's creativity. Perhaps the most shocking and powerful meditation is "The Prisoner" in which one is invited to imagine that she is a prisoner being sent to jail for many years. It is designed for when we need to seek forgiveness.

Bergren freely admits that these meditations are not meant to be exhaustive, but rather a starting point for creative prayer. She invites us to create our own meditations to walk with the Lord. "Clear your mind of the menial things that crowd it. Draw away to a quiet place. Focus on your Lord, your God. Invite Him to draw near, to let you feel His presence. . . Confess your sins, ask Him what you've longed to ask. Listen for His voice, that nudging in your heart, your gut, or the distinct words from His lips. See Him look at you, loving you, longing to make you His companion, servant, friend, and disciple in every way."




© Spiritual Woman Press, 2005. All rights reserved.