Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home by Richard Foster
Week 4: Moving Inward — Formation Prayer & Covenant Prayer
Read Chapters 5–6 of Prayer by Richard Foster ("Formation Prayer" and "Covenant Prayer").
Previewing Week 4 of Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home
Read 3 of 8 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 14-week guide when you’re ready.
What if the deepest purpose of prayer is not to inform God of our needs, but to be formed into the image of Christ? These chapters invite you to consider a more radical, long-term vision of what prayer is for.
Discussion Questions
8 questions1.Foster describes 'Formation Prayer' as prayer that is specifically oriented toward character transformation — praying not just about our circumstances but for the renovation of our inner life. How does this differ from how you most commonly pray?
2.Foster emphasizes that formation prayer requires cooperation — we are not passive clay but active participants in God's shaping work. What spiritual habits or practices have most visibly shaped your character over time? What role did prayer play in them?
3.Foster draws on the idea that we are always being formed by something — by our fears, our habits, our culture, or by God. How aware are you, day to day, of the forces that are forming you? What would it look like to be more intentional about submitting that formation to God?