Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Before Amen By:Max Lucado

Overview: 

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.

My Thoughts:

 I have always been a fan of Max Lucado books.  This one is no different.  We all pray in our own way.  I love how Max makes it so simple and easy to understand.  So easy, anyone can understand.   Prayer is about talking to God.  Plain and simple.  No need for some formal prayers or recited out of repetition but prayers that are heartfelt and simple are what God desires.  He wants to hear out hearts. He already knows them but desires our heart to communicate with His.  I recommend this book as a simple read.  It is simple and not deep at all.  Plain and simple.