Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ (Library of Spiritual Classics, Volume 2)

A reviewer who gave one star (who boldly shares his name and who, in his other ratings, rates bluegrass highly so he can't be all bad!) said we should pray with our voice, as per other examples given in scripture, and above to the Kingdom of Heaven. Paul talks about prayer with "groaning too deep for words," and "praying without ceasing" and Jesus does say the Kingdom of Heaven is within (Luke 17.21). On the latter, Jesus is speaking about how it soon will be and uses the word "entos" which is used to describe the inside of a cup elsewhere; i.e., the Kingdom of Heaven really is within us and we really can receive and find Jesus inside our "interior castle" as another great mystic writes. Guyon's book of prayer is a masterful guide of how we can be in continual prayer, in the continual presence of the Prince of Peace.Don't read another modern Christian writer from a junk cluttered culture; read Guyon, and learn to pray without ceasing!

I have read other books by Jean Guyon and all are worthy of being read, however this book is one worthy of many readings. She was a deeply spiritual woman who was able of eloquently communicating with others what it means to experience the depth of Jesus Christ. Her writings provide amazing insights into what a relationship with Christ can be if one allows the Spirit to do what the indwelling Spirit can do within us. I've read it many times, and will no doubt read it many more times in the future.

Jeanne Guyon says this book is for new Christians, but I believe it's for anyone looking to go deeper in Christ. I read most of this book when I bought it a year ago, but this year I took the steps to truly deep dive, first reading Bob Sorge's Secrets of the Secret Place then re-reading Practicing His Presence by Brother Lawrence with an all-new sense of understanding. Then I re-read this book, and they all flowed together for me really well. I think my recommendation is when you realize you've gone higher (or deeper) in the Lord, re-read this for fresh perspective. It was awesome to be able to say I know what she's talking about!

I have been practicing centering prayer for 10 years. It came out of the Catholic tradition but I am a Protestant who always desired a deeper prayer of quiet than one where I just talked to God(even though that is very powerful also) Often I need to express in words my gratitude my anxieties and sins. But I believe also I need to just sit quietly in the presence of the Lord more often where transformation can take place. She describes her method of prayer beautifully in the first 4 chapters. While not an exact correlation to Centering prayer, it is very similar and deepened my practice. But to me where this book really shines are the following chapters. Great, just great!

Guyon has given the church a spiritual gem. And this gem has been mostly hidden... hidden by years of religious junk that is void of life-changing power! She writes of what many call "the deeper Christian life" when it is truthfully... the normal Christian life. Unfortunately, it is this Christian life that most believers never mature and grow up into.Guyon calls believers to learn a new way of prayer and a new way to read Scripture. This new way will ultimately lead us to experience the depths of Jesus Christ.Guyon recognizes that man is tripartite or trichotomous in nature. Meaning... man is composed of spirit, soul(psyche), and body. It is in the spirit of man that we meet Christ. It is through the denial of our soul-life (i.e. will, emotions, intellect) that we learn to meet with God in the spirit. The spirit then governs the soul and body as Christ intended in divine order.It is through abandonment and pressing through the "spiritual dryness" that we shall take hold of a deeper experience with Christ. Discerning the activity of your spirit vs. your soul... will allow you to come to Christ in the way he has placed before us. It is by turning inward to Christ that we discover his life in us."When your soul is once turned toward God---the God who dwells within your spirit---you will find it easy to keep turning within. The longer you continue to turn within, the closer you will come to God and the more firmly you will cling to him." p.54Many believers are led astray by external activities of the soul for years before they ever take seriously the spiritual things spoken of in this book. This is a common occurrence... but it is not normal and it never should be accepted as an inevitable delay of Christian maturity.Guyon writes, "If a new convert were introduced to real prayer and to a true inward experience of Christ as soon as he became converted, you would see countless numbers of converts go on to become true disciples."She goes on to say, "the present way of deaing only with external matters in the life of the new convert brings little fruit. Burdening the new Christian with countless rules and all sorts of standards does not help him grow in Christ. Here is what should be done: The new Christian should be led to God. How? By learning to turn within to Jesus Christ and by giving the Lord his whole heart." p.117This book is about how this happens. I have not read a more practical book about Christian living. I highly recommend this book to those who have exhausted themselves by attempting to live like Christ in the soul-life.For more of a thorough teaching on the tripartite nature of man... please read, "The Release of the Spirit" and "The Spiritual Man, vol.1" by Watchman Nee.I recommend the following books: The Release of the Spirit The Spiritual Man (3 volume set) The Centrality of Jesus Christ (Works of T. Austin-Sparks) Volume One The Pursuit of God: The Human Thirst for the Divine

This book is very helpful in getting to know the inner depths of self and exploring a relationship with the divine Lord. The author understood the way towards a true understanding of Jesus Christ and that is through an enquiry within through deep internal prayer and meditation and savouring reading of scriptural texts. It is all about inner practice and surrendering the self. Nothing more to be said. Read then PRACTICE. This book has opened my eyes and heart. I wish I had read a book like this years ago.Close the door and 'Be still and know'. This is the start of the inner journey and transformation. However, this is not the route to bliss. There will be many tough patches as you get to know the depths of the self. The journey is the same one very clearly pointed out in Teresa of Avila's 'Interior Castle'. In fact I recommend also reading Teresa of Avila's classic text to gain more depth into the inner journey after you have read 'Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ'.

You will find a great treasure in these pages if you with a willing heart let God lead you. It’s sound, it’s provoking, it’s eye-opening, it’s SIMPLE.It’s too many voices nowadays trying to disciple us that we completely forget that our truest teacher is inside of us. It’s time to calm down all of our confusing and untamed thoughts to again give ear to Gods voice and give ourselves completely to Him.

I am deeply grateful for this book. Currently using the guidance to discover depths of spirituality I never imagined possible

This book is very simply written and easy to understand. It shows you how to pray and how to become spiritual with the aid of Jesus.

Arguably the most important thing for a Christian, beyond any works, beyond even saving a million souls, is to know Jesus, and to seek His face. This book will help you to do that like no other.