Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster is the first book written by and for Evangelicals on the traditional Christian spiritual life. For centuries, the Christian spiritual life — known then by its historical name of Christian mysticism — was seen as suspect by Protestants in general and Evangelicals in particular.
Foster cuts through that history of suspicion to lay out simply the history, theology, and implementation of Christian mystic practices, which he re-brands as “spiritual disciplines” to avoid any stigma surrounding the labels mystic and mysticism.
He introduces the practices of meditation (centering), prayer, fasting, study (Lectio Divina), simplicity, solitude, submission (obedience), service, confession, worship (liturgy), guidance (spiritual direction), and celebration.
While this work is definitely a basic introduction, it is an invaluable starting place for an Evangelical or for anyone who wants “just the facts” of how to begin practicing the spiritual disciplines. I know it worked for me!