BOOK REVIEW

Many Christians struggle with their prayer lives. That is why I am excited to promote a tool that can actually help the Follower of Christ in their personal prayer lives and also in their public prayers.

The author states in his introduction that “spiritual growth is impossible apart from the practice of prayer”.

“Handbook to Prayer” was designed to make prayer a more enriching and satisfying experience by providing both form and freedom in the practice of prayer.
The Handbook is structured around eight forms of prayer that are based on the model of the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13):

“Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.”

The eight forms of prayer are Adoration, Confession, Renewal, Petition, Intercession, Affirmation, Thanksgiving, and Closing Prayer.

How To Use This Handbook:

• Part One:  Morning Affirmations -This is a tool to help you renew your mind at the beginning of each new day.
• Part Two:  This is the heart of the Handbook.  These prayers are on a three-month cycle.  You can adapt the prayers for each day to different time formats.
• Part Three: This is a seven-day prayer guide for longer times of meditation and devotional prayer.
• Part Four: Personal Prayer Pages – A place is provided in the back of the book to record your petitionary and intercessory prayers.

We, as Believers in the Lord, must be willing to admit our need for help in our prayer life.  The young disciples came to Jesus and asked Him, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1).

Also, please take a moment to read the article, “Who Killed the Prayer Meeting?  (https://www.crossway.org/articles/who-killed-the-prayer-meeting/)

If we desire to see change in our lives and churches and the nations, it must start with our humble and earnest prayers. (Matthew 9:38)

“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went to a desolate place and there He prayed” (Mark 1:35).

Let us grow in this grace of prayer both individually and as His Church.

“If my people…humble themselves and pray and seek my face…” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

I believe this tool can help equip you and guide you into a growing and regular practice in prayer.

Pastor Greg