My Review: I am a woman who knows she should pray more. The doing it is the challenge. Max Lucado brings a fresh perspective filled with child-like faith to the study of prayer in his new book before amen. That’s what struck me about the book. The way Max Lucado highlights the true father-child relationship of prayer. I read passages of this book to my husband because they so struck me. I also highlighted, underlined, and tweeted thoughts…not because they were so revolutionary. But because in their very simplicity, the concepts urge me to approach my Father God as a child. To curl up in His lap and share my days and concerns. Prayer doesn’t need to be complicated or pious. All that is needed is a heart ready for and seeking relationship.
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.