A Praying Life: Connecting With God In A Distracting World (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
More than anything, this book fulfilled its purpose, setting me on a course of a greater prayer experience, not just as an activity to be done in the morning, meetings, or before bed, but as an integration of my whole life and relationship with God. Thus, it's the praying life. Plus the chapters were short, which was nice since it didn't take long for me to want to put the book down and start praying. I recently read this book as a morning devotional over a period of about a month. What a wonderful book!!! What I loved about this book is the encouragement throughout the chapters to "come messy" and to be completely honest with the Lord about who you are, where you are, what you're struggling with, and what you're hoping for. Far from just theoretical, this book actually helped me draw nearer to the Lord and incorporate prayer into my life in ways that I frankly wouldn't naturally have done. The author encourages you to pray "big and small". Big - huge, impossible, hoping-beyond-hope prayers that only God could fulfill. Small - everyday, mundane, help-me-live-my-life-today type prayers. (And the same for others in your life -- big prayers and small prayers for your kids, your spouse, your coworkers, etc.) He encourages us to pray first, work second, instead of the other way around. And one of my favorite things he said was (paraphrasing), "My most important work as a parent has been done through prayer." And even in unanswered prayer, there is helpful wisdom in this book about how to look for the "story" God is weaving in our lives. I will absolutely be reading this again (and hopefully again and again).
What do You think about A Praying Life: Connecting With God In A Distracting World (2009)?
I like the way the writer shares his life details instead of lecturing on how to pray.
—jenn
Very practical book on prayer. I like his suggestion to use prayer cards.
—ellenlu
The most encouraging book on prayer I've ever read.
—emcdermott15
Best book on prayer I've read - so far! :)
—zsoltcsengeri
