Special thanks to the publisher and Family Christian Bookstore for providing a sample copy of this book.
Can I make a confession? I’m one of those people who is known to fall asleep when they are praying at night. If I say that I’ll pray for you, I will. I pray right then and there as I know that I’m not good about remembering to pray later. I’ll pray for you when I think of you throughout the day. If I need to pray for a specific thing as a specific time, I put it on my calendar or set an alarm on my phone. I know the power of prayer, but I wouldn’t consider myself a natural prayer warrior.
The idea that someone like Max Lucado considers himself a recovering prayer wimp and not a prayer warrior caught my attention. It means that he’s writing before amen (affiliate link) from a place of knowledge that comes with a struggle with praying like we think we’re supposed to pray. I like how he talks about the Prayer 101 class where even Jesus’ disciples needed guidance with how to pray.
The book discusses why we pray and how we pray as it sets the foundation for beginning a better, deeper, stronger prayer life. It’s a very personal, down-to-earth approach to prayer which I appreciated. You won’t find a holier-than-thou attitude in the book. It’s not complicated. There aren’t difficult details and schedules to follow. It’s just about taking the simple steps and praying simple prayers. It’s about communicating with our Heavenly Father.
After covering the basics, the book starts to go into different types of prayers. It discusses asking for help for ourselves, asking for healing for ourselves, asking for forgiveness for ourselves, asking for help for others, and giving thanks. I particularly liked the chapter on giving thanks as it’s been a bit of a rough week here. We have so many changes going on and choices to be made with a bunch of not-so-great stuff thrown in. I needed that reminder that we have so much to be thankful for day in and day out. I don’t want to be an annoying, ungrateful, spoiled brat. In saying thanks to the Lord for what we have, I found that some of the other pray focuses fell in place more easily.
The book concludes with 2 different study guides. The first study guide is by Max Lucado and is meant for personal growth as it digs deeper into the different chapters and topics covered in the book. The second study guide was prepared by David Drury and focuses on personal prayer strengths as it goes through each chapter in the book.
Book Description:
We all pray . . . some.
We pray to stay sober, centered, or solvent. When the lump is deemed malignant. When the money runs out before the month does. When the marriage is falling apart. We pray.
But wouldn’t we like to pray more? Better? Stronger? With more fire, faith, and fervency?
Yet we have kids to feed, bills to pay, deadlines to meet. The calendar pounces on our good intentions like a tiger on a rabbit. And what about our checkered history with prayer? Uncertain words. Unmet expectations. Unanswered requests.
We aren’t the first to struggle with prayer. The first followers of Jesus needed prayer guidance too. In fact, prayer is the only tutorial they ever requested.
And Jesus gave them a prayer. Not a lecture on prayer. Not the doctrine of prayer. He gave them a quotable, repeatable, portable prayer. Couldn’t we use the same?
In Before Amen best-selling author Max Lucado joins readers on a journey to the very heart of biblical prayer, offering hope for doubts and confidence even for prayer wimps. Distilling prayers in the Bible down to one pocket-sized prayer, Max reminds readers that prayer is not a privilege for the pious nor the art of a chosen few. Prayer is simply a heartfelt conversation between God and his child. Let the conversation begin.
About the Author:
More than 120 million readers have found comfort in the writings of Max Lucado. He ministers at the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Denalyn, and a sweet but misbehaving mutt, Andy.
Book Details:
- Hardcover: 192 pages
- Publisher: Thomas Nelson (September 30, 2014)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0849948487
- ISBN-13: 978-0849948480
- Product Dimensions: 1 x 5 x 9 inches
- Retail Price: $19.99
Disclosure: I received a sample of this book from the publisher as a member of Family Christian Bloggers. My opinions are my own based upon my personal thoughts on the book. A positive review is never expected nor guaranteed.
