Prayer: Conversing with God

by Rosalind Rinker

Conversing with God [Paperback] Rosalind Rinker (Author) 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. As nearly one million readers have discovered, Conversing With God is a fresh and inspiring guide, based on the eternal 'For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them.

Genres: Prayer, Religion, Christian, Nonfiction, Christianity, Theology, Christian Living

117 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1959

Reviews

[Crossroads Ecc]

Christianity Today editors' description: In the 1950s, evangelical prayer was characterized by Elizabethan wouldsts and shouldsts. Prayer meetings were often little more than a series of formal prayer speeches. Then Rosalind Rinker taught us something revolutionary: Prayer is a conversation with God. The idea took hold, sometimes too much (e.g., "Lord, we just really wanna …"). But today evangelicals assume that casual, colloquial, intimate prayer is the most authentic way to pray.

[Shanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth reading to stoke the fire of interaction with God, truly talking to Him. Also lots of really good insight. Example: When we pray in a group, do we ever just interact conversationally together with God? With interruptions and additions naturally, the way we would with any other person we were talking to together? Or faith-sized prayer: praying for what you actually have faith for, the small steps leading to the bigger ones. I liked the spirit and energy Rinker has, so full of hope and belief.

[Diane Hidey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in the late 60s and it was my first book about Christianity. I was a novice at prayer and usually feared if called on to pray. This small book changed my prayer life and also my fellowship. Easy read. Practical tips. Insights into the 1950s and evangelism. Tips to reaching others for Christ. And some great helps in the back of the book. If you haven’t read it…get it!!

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s worth reading to the end! Taken as a whole, there was a great major theme and smaller nuggets throughout. Three stars because at times the ideas can be declared with high assurance of similar experiences if one follows the instructions detailed. It was challenging to withhold judgment while also not being overly persuaded by some of the notions presented.

[Joseph Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, easy read. I finished it in one day. There is some really good stuff in there!

I am intrigued by the concept of conversational group prayer and plan to further investigate and experiment with Ms. Rinker's ideas.

[Megan Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super practical, simple and rooted in the Bible. I’m keen to try out some of her tips on prayer in my own small group. Definitely recommend this quick read for some fresh tips on getting personal with God.

[Misty Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book on prayer! Highly recommend! Received it from my Grandmother and have had for several years. God knew just when I needed to read it. I will be keeping it to go back to over and over.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book for new believers, or someone who finds it hard to just talk to the Lord.

[Piper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good short book about prayer. Some helpful practical suggestions.

[Mrslee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of useful nuggets to help you in your prayer life.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very simple book with profound truths. Will revisit again. Thinking anew about certain aspects of my prayer life that have had new life breathed in...

[Reinhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most practical book on prayer I have read.

Over 50 years old, so not trendy. Plain spoken, conversational, and warm, this could only be written by a woman with a heart for God. She desires only to help people communicate with God.

Her method of group conversational prayer involved the group praying each subject or request before moving on to the next. More like a real group conversation. I have never had the opportunity to try this but it sounds like an improvement on the traditional pray around the circle.

Another concept I found helpful was the faith-sized requests. Pray for very specific things in short time frame that you can actually believe God can do. For example, don't pray for God to save your neighbour, pray for an opportunity this week to invite them over. And then, next time pray for an opportunity to help them with something this week. And eventually pray for the opportunity to talk about Jesus, and so on. Seems like excellent way to build a bigger faith step by step.

This best-selling tiny book has stood the test of time. Still providing practical advice to grow in prayer.

[Patty · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book in our church library and its age shows a bit. However, I have been interested in learning more about prayer,so I have been reading a variety of books.

There are two things that hit me hard in this book. First, all that Rinker has to say about conversational prayer is very useful. She gave me a reminder that I always need. Prayer is a conversation and so I should remember to talk to G-d as I talk to other important people in my life.

I am not sure that I believe in the other item that I am taking away from this book. And that is that you should pray for faith sized items. I do know that my requests could be more specific. However, I am not sure G-d needs me to break down my requests into little "bites". It is good to have something new to think about.

I will continue to think about my conversations with G-d.

[Meagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHY DOESN'T EVERYONE KNOW ABOUT THIS BOOK.
It's from the 50's, but the info. is timeless stuff. I did find myself giggling at one comment in the back: "I have a Bible class of young housewives, and they have read Prayer-Conversing with God chapter by chapter. Then they split into small groups and pray conversationally. You should see them, all dressed in pedal-pushers!" Seriously though, it's changing how I look at prayer. I plan to revisit this book over and over again until the ideas stick for good.

[Arne Teigland]

Mostly a primer on beginning a prayer group for those who have had no or little experience. Or the wrong kind of experience. The focus is on learning to speak to God "as one person speaks to another" (at's adaptation of scripture) as if in a group conversation.

The appendix, however, gives excellent guidance on personal worship.

This book was listed by Christianity Today magazine as one of the 100 most influential Christian books of the 20th century. And to think that Rinker's journey into these insights started in Devil's Lake, North Dakota.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was more of an autobiography on the author's experiences with prayer than it was a "how-to" book. For this reason I enjoyed it very much. She delves into topics such as praying alone or in a group, knowing who you address when you pray, and conversing with God. There are also devotionals at the end of the book. If you are interested in reading how another person learned how to pray then this is a good read.

[Marisa Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I forgot about this book, and don't even have it anymore, which means I gave it to someone else like an idiot! I think this is one of the first books about prayer that I read after becoming a Christian. Great book.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok. Not the best book I have ever read on prayer. She had some good ideas. But just ok.

[Faith Kilgore · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not my thing. Was brought a slough of Christian/Religious books while I was in the hospital. I am openly Wiccan, but read anything in front of me per-say. But I just, didn't care for it.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly practical guide on prayer. Recommend for every Christian.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a favorite of my mother’s. Now it is a favorite of mine.