Books on Prayer The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying…. The prayer of the feeblest saint on earth who keeps right with God paralyzes the darkness – that’s why he tries to keep our minds fussy in active work until we cannot think in prayer. Oswald Chambers Prayer is essential for our church as we begin a new year. Now is the perfect time to learn more about prayer and to commit to pray. As Jennifer Kennedy Dean says, “It is beyond our imaginations what prayer can effect in the earth.” Check out one of these excellent books from the FBC Library to learn more about the importance and the power of prayer. The reviews that follow are taken from the publishers’ book jackets. The Papa PrayerThe Papa Prayer: The Prayer You've Never Prayed by Larry Crabb. This groundbreaking book whispers of hope for change. Something new and real and deep started happening to Crabb when he began practicing a revolutionary, conversational approach to talking with and enjoying God. His insights and experiences will draw you into your own spiritual journey...a journey that can yield a close connection with your heavenly Papa. You'll learn to hear His voice as clearly as a child lost in the woods hears her daddy call her name. A Busy Woman’s Guide to Prayer A Busy Woman’s Guide to Prayer by Cheri Fuller. In her personable, transparent way, Cheri Fuller shows you how to creatively weave prayer through the fabric of your day, even when the busyness distracts you from the need – and joy – of close companionship with your heavenly Father. Cheri shows busy women how to lay hold of a vibrant prayer life and become more skilled in finding ways to connect with God. She gives a clearer vision – of the gift of prayer, the invitation to prayer, the longevity of prayer, and the all-out power of coming to God in the tornado of everyday life. Breakthrough Prayer Breakthrough Prayer by Jim Cymbala. Breakthrough Prayer helps you connect with God’s heart and obtain answers to your prayers. Jim Cymbala, pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle – a church built on prayer – explains the principles of faith-filled, mountain-moving prayer that can transform circumstances, change lives, and draw you closer to God than you’ve ever imagined. Prayer: Conversing with God Prayer: Conversing with God by Rosalind Rinker. “Prayer is a dialogue between two persons who love each other.” With this profound insight, Rosalind Rinker – writer, missionary, and dedicated evangelical worker – gives the key to a simple yet powerfully effective method of increasing the joy and meaning of your prayers. In February 2007 Christianity Today named this book the number one book in their list of the top 50 books that have shaped evangelicals. Hearing God Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God by Dallas Willard. Being close to God means communicating with him – telling him what is on our hearts in prayer and hearing and understanding what he is saying to us. It is this second half of our conversation with God that is so important but can also be so difficult. How do we hear his voice? How can we be sure that what we think we hear is not our own subconscious? The key, says Willard, is to focus not so much on individual actions and decisions as on building our personal relationship with our Creator. Willard provides rich spiritual insight into how we can hear God’s voice clearly and develop an intimate partnership with him in the work of his kingdom. Authority in Prayer Authority in Prayer: Praying with Power and Purpose by Dutch Sheets. In this powerful book, Dutch Sheets reminds believers that God is in charge and He intends His people to be overcomers. You don’t need to allow sin, Satan, or the circumstances of life to keep you from God’s amazing promises. Authority in Prayer will show you how to take hold of God’s promises and pray with the authority He wants you to have, changing your world through prayer. Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? by Philip Yancey. Does prayer change us or God? Or both? Does prayer work? More personally, does it work the way we think it should? What can we really expect from prayer? Yancey explores the questions surrounding prayer that many of us wonder but few of us know how to express. In his most powerful books since What’s So Amazing About Grace? and The Jesus I Never Knew, Philip Yancey probes the very heartbeat – the most fundamental, challenging, perplexing, and deeply rewarding aspect – of our relationship with God. Legacy of Prayer Legacy of Prayer: A Spiritual Trust Fund for the Generation by Jennifer Kennedy Dean. Prayer is not merely a tradition to pass down, but a time-transcendent power that dramatically transforms the hearts and lives of your children and generations after them. Author Jennifer Kennedy Dean shows through Scripture that God has initiated a covenant with believers to cover their children and prayer is the conduit that brings the power of that covenant into the circumstances of the earth. Dean notes, “Prayer is so effective that when our children are away from us, we can continue to parent them through our prayers. Our prayers are more powerful even than our presence.” Prayer Walking Prayer Walking by Dan R. Crawford and Calvin Miller. Prayer walking is on-site intercessory prayer that involves praying as you walk. God is using prayer walkers to prepare the way into the dark corners of our world. Prayer Walking is a practical book filled with ideas and helps to prepare you for a prayer walk, detailed stories of the triumphs and traumas of prayer walking and lists of prayer concerns for our world. It will both inspire and excite you about what God is doing in our world today. Can I Pray with My Eyes Open? Can I Pray with My Eyes Open? by Susan Taylor Brown. When I don’t know what I should do, is that a time to talk to you? This lyrical picture book offers an answer to every child’s question: Is there ever a wrong time or place to pray? Whether angry and upset, or playing games and counting stars, every child is assured that they can pray when, where, and how they want, and they will always be heard. A great resource for children ages 4 to 8.