Book excerpt: If you are longing for a deeper and more meaningful prayer life, one that is far more empowered by communion with God and far less dependent upon rules of discipline to sustain your devotion, then this could be the book for you. In Spirit-Empowered Prayer, Manny Carlos uses examples from the formative years of his spiritual life to make an inescapable point--regimens and resolutions to pray more faithfully, passionately, and effectively are alone insufficient to sustain spiritual disciplines. His initial efforts to follow various formulas of prayer echoed the apostle Paul's frustration in Romans 7--desiring to do one thing but lacking the power to accomplish it apart from the help of the Spirit. He builds on this theme of spiritual empowerment with a description of Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, whose rule of discipline was a retreat from the heavy burden of monastic rules to a full-time contemplation of the love of God and a radically simplified approach to spiritual disciplines. Communion with God and the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit is the key--the only key--to genuine spiritual transformation. Spirit-Empowered Prayer serves as a practical guide to becoming a disciple fully engaged in Spirit-led prayer life. --- Manny Carlos serves as a bishop and the Chairman of Victory, Dean of Spiritual Life for Every Nation Seminary, and has been a pastor for over thirty years. He holds a doctor of ministry in Preaching and Leading from Asbury Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Mini, have four adult children, Jeremy, Daniel, Hannah, and Samuel.