Prayer, being the only way to communicate with God should be given an important emphasis in your life. To have an effective prayer life isn't an easy task, how often you pray reflects your level of relationship with God. Just like in our earthly life, the more you talk to someone, the more you'll get closer to him.
Oftentimes, we are too preoccupied with many things which keeps us from having an effective prayer life. And when we do pray, we tend to feel that little gap to the Lord because we are covered with guilt and shame for not talking to Him more than you should. This book discussed about how you can overcome the sin of prayerlessness. Additionally, he wrote about how the purpose and the privilege of prayer. Having the time to pray intentionally and to practice it effectively is one way of deepening your relationship with God.
Pastor Chuck helps lay the ground work for sensitivity to the will of God. He does so with scripture, insight, and humility. Explaining in a close relationship with God we are seeking His will and inviting Him to work. When we are praying in agreement to God's will with thanksgiving, it's powerful. The blessing our Father has when we go to Him as He desires is the heart of walking with God and being pleasing to Him. When we stop insisting on doing it our way God is able to bless us beyond what we imagined. More importantly He is glorified, others are benefited and we grow more like Him. Pastor Chuck does not have a formula but rather calls us to have the right heart, walk in the Spirit, and pray God's heart and will. He makes no mention of how long we should be praying but that we should always be of a prayful Spirit. The book convicted me not to just read about it but stop and devote more time than I previously had actually praying. Glory to God, may we listen and respond to Him.
Written in the 70s by the founder of Calvary Chapel, Effective Prayer Life is a great reminder of the importance and power of prayer. If the reader gets that out of this small book then that will be a win. However, Smith presents prayer techniques almost like magic potions, providing the right words to say and when to say them to get God to do our bidding. This is an unfortunate turn that could become very damaging for a believer. Prayer has always been about communicating with the Almighty. We simply need honesty and reverence, not a formula.
I really like Chuck Smith. I have listened to dozens of his sermons. I appreciate his plain-spoken style, which is reflected in this book. This book had some good nuggets, which I highlighted. There were also some areas where I am not sure I agree.. maybe it’s just the language used (unlocking, releasing, etc.)
If you are new to prayer or are doing a study/reading books on prayer, it is a quick read and worth a look.
Once again Pastor Chuck, lays it out in this very easy to both read and understand the need to pray always. He highlights the pleasure and beauty of prayer. This is an excellent book if you are seeking some profound but simple truths about prayer and it's enriching rewards.
We are all so lost, and so confused and so uninformed despite our constant bombardment of meaningless information. What is prayer? Why do it? How do we do it? It’s the most important thing to get right. This book is easy to read and it answers these questions. We need to read it and then practice what we’ve learned.
In this book, Chuck Smith tells how to have an effective prayer life, and why a life of prayer is necessary for a Christian. He talks about the different types of prayer, and gives examples of effective prayers. He even debunks some erroneous ideas about prayer positions and closing our eyes during prayer.
Prayer should be simple and he presents it in such a way that you understand the dynamics of what the Bible says about prayer. That is the most important thought is what the Bible says, and then he adds practical human failures about why prayer life is not that great for most people. It really is a simple matter of just talking to a friend.
Chuck Smith gives a full perspective on Prayer, based on this personal experience and the Bible. Chuck has a way of presenting God's truth in a simple and easy to understanding way.
One of the best books on prayer. Why? Because it is not about formulas, lofty things, theology, etc. It is. Practical. Useful. Helpful. Compelling. Powerful. I highly recommend to the most seasoned Christian to reinvigorate their prayer life.
Short, concise and full of wisdom, insight and practice advice with regards to our prayer lives. Would highly recommend to anyone that seeks to strengthen their prayer life
A power packed, practical book on prayer that I have thoroughly enjoyed. Author explores practical steps on our prayer life that answers superficial questions we have
This book has taught me several things about prayer but it has also confirmed numerous things to me. Such as how I pray, when I pray and how I pray for others.
Prayer is very important and sometimes we neglect it. This book helps to remind us how God listens to us when we pray. It does not mean we will always get an answer or what we want.
In this book, the author describes what is the prayer, different types of prayer, also the mistakes we make when we pray. This is a guidance for effective prayer.
Very easy read, well written. I would recommend to any all. Especially believers. Learning how and when pray is essential if we want our prayers answered.