Handbook for Praying Scripture: featuring the Legacy Standard Bible

by William Varner

"Lord, teach us to pray..." begins Jesus’ disciples’ request and, for His disciples today, the need for prayer remains constant.Dr. William Varner has collected and adapted prayers from the Legacy Standard Bible. The result is a useful thirty-one day prayer guide that allows for anyone to easily implement praying Scripture into their life. Even seasoned Christians will enjoy the refreshing use of addressing
God by His covenant name Yahweh, a hallmark of the
LSB translation.

This easily portable edition also includes a week’s worth of more intense prayers, seasonal prayers, and prayers to offer in difficult circumstances. The Handbook for Praying Scripture will enable you to cultivate a richer, more fulfilling prayer life.

Genres: Prayer

235 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 23, 2023

Reviews

[Rita L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this lovely gem while sorting through the books on my dear husband’s desk. What a sweet blessing. I confess, during this season of deep bereavement, my favorite sections for each day are ‘adoration’ and the closing ‘benediction.’ I’ve already given away one copy and it will likely be the book I gift to others most in the year ahead. Ladies, this is one to keep on your nightstand, in your purse for waiting rooms, to read and pray-aloud with the children (at least portions like the benedictions), and of course, for blessed help in private prayer and devotion. Most definitely recommend.

[Stephen Angliss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a phenomenal devotional tool. It goes through every day of the month and provides daily Scriptures that are intended to be read as prayers. This applies the concept proposed by Don Whitney in his book, "Pray the Bible." Each day categorizes Scriptures into different categories (e.g., confession, adoration, thanksgiving) with helpful prompts below each verse on potential ways to follow-up praying after praying a verse. The book ends with a collection of Scriptures to pray throughout the week and according to topic or occasion, making this a great pastoral tool for Sunday liturgies and mid-week visitations.

There are certainly wrong ways to use this book--prayer should be done in the Spirit and not merely rote recitation of written words. However, many people don't pray because, like the Disciples, they don't know what to pray. Using Scripture as prayer prompts does wonders for one's prayer life.

I give four stars because some of the verses are altered slightly to be read easier as a prayer. For example, some verses in the third person are changed to the first person. These alterations are done without any notation indicating so, causing one to potentially learn verses incorrectly. This work being a product of Master's Seminary, the verses are also all in the LSB--which I like enough--but would have preferred the ESV or NASB95.

[Tyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am very glad to own this handbook for praying. I think Mr. Varner did a great job assembling and organizing the prayers. There were many days I jotted notes in the margin as I prayed. On some days the pain in my heart was tangible but the prayer soothed my soul as communion with God should.

To my knowledge this is the only prayer handbook that uses the name Yahweh (this book features the Legacy Standard Bible) and that really makes it unique.

The three appendixes are great! Very useful.
Prayers from Church History (The Valley of Vision is beautiful)
Prayers for Christian Holidays
Prayers for Christian Life

This book is too nice to have such a cheap cover. I know it is supposed to be "portable", and I guess it is a thicker than average cover, but it really looks wimpy on my bookshelf. As a book appreciator I am always going to rotate books on and off my shelf.
(Compare Be Thou My Vision Jonathan Gibson or Creeds Confessions, & Catechisms A Reader's Edition Edited by Chad Van Dixhoorn which are very shelf worthy and have ribbon markers).

[Calvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good devotional tool

[Thomas Coletto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonder daily and monthly prayer devotional from my favorite Bible translation the LSB

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a wonderful experience reading this book! I hope you will, too (or did if you have already read it)!!