Creating a Life with God

An Academy Recommends eCourse

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God is near, even when we are socially distant from nearly everyone else. During these uncertain times, author and Academy for Spiritual Formation faculty member Dan Wolpert reminds us to set aside time to create new life with God, especially now.

Recalling his own longing for a “deep conversation with God,” Dan encourages us to go beyond rote, formulaic prayers. In his book, Creating a Life with God: The Call of Ancient Prayer Practices, he explains that “Life with God…is about taking on the mind of Christ, a process that is a journey, the journey of prayer.”

The Creating a Life with God eCourse gives participants:

  • All essential content from the book, Creating a Life with God: The Call of Ancient Prayer Practices
  • Video introductions of each chapter
  • Video and audio recordings of guided prayer practices

You'll discover new ways to pray through solitude and silence, mind and imagination, body and creativity, and nature and community.

Join us in these uncertain times as we explore how classical prayer practices can help you create a new life with God.

Private eCourse classrooms with group rates are available upon request. If you are interested, email us at [email protected].


To purchase a print version of Creating a Life with God, visit The Upper Room online store.

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Your Instructor


Daniel Wolpert
Daniel Wolpert

Daniel Wolpert, a healer and student of the spiritual life, worked as a research scientist, psychologist, spiritual director, farmer, teacher, and construction worker before earning his Masters of Divinity degree at San Francisco Theological Seminary (SFTS). Over the past thirty years he has taught in the fields of psychology and spiritual formation, led retreats, and delivered talks in such settings as the Art of Spiritual Direction Program at SFTS, the Youth Ministry and Spirituality Project, national ministry conferences, UCLA, UND medical school, Luther Seminary, the 5-Day Academy for Spiritual Formation and numerous other settings around the world. He has also played key rolls in developing environments for contemplation and the formation of spiritual leaders as he has helped build or restore monasteries, theological schools, and retreat centers across North America. In addition to having full-time and interim pastoral positions over the past two decades, he also pursues his spiritual direction and healing work in private practice. Daniel is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Minnesota Institute of Contemplation and Healing (www.micahprays.org). He is the author of Leading a Life with God: The Practice of Spiritual Leadership (Upper Room 2006), Creating a Life with God:The Call of Ancient Prayer Practices (Upper Room 2003), co-author of Meeting God in Virtual Reality (Abingdon 2004), and The Collapse of the Three Story Universe: Christianity in an Age of Science (MICAH 2013) as well as numerous articles and book chapters on meditation and healing. Currently he is working on a new book on Spiritual Practice and Climate Change (Orbis expected Fall 2020).


Course Content


  Introduction
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  Solitude and Silence: The Journey Begins
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  Lectio Divina: Encountering Scripture through Sacred Reading
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  The Jesus Prayer: There is Power in His Name
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  Apophatic Prayer: Be Still and Know
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  The Examen: God in Day-to-Day Life
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  Creativity and the Divine: To Create is to Pray
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  Journaling: Writing What God Shows Us
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  Body Prayer: The Body and the Spiritual Life
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  Walking toward God: The Journey Made Visible
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  Praying in Nature: Contemplation and Creation
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  Prayer and Life in the World: The Rubber Meets the Road
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  A Praying Community: Bringing It All Together
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  Farewell!
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  Please share...
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Frequently Asked Questions


When does the eCourse start and finish?
The eCourse starts when you are ready to begin and will remain open indefinitely. It’s self-paced, so you can decide when to start and when to finish.
How long do I have access to the eCourse?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this eCourse for as long as you like—across any and all devices you own. We’ll give you plenty of notice should we need to close the eCourse.
What if I am unhappy with the eCourse?
We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us within the first 30 days and we will give you a full refund.
Who sponsors these eCourses?
This eCourse is brought to you by The Upper Room and The Academy for Spiritual Formation.

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