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Anything: The Prayer That Unlocked My God and My Soul
Safe. Comfortable. Happy.
Words we all love. Feelings we want. Even crave. We may love God, but being that he's invisible, words like comfortable seem to feel better faster.
We are all chasing something. Our hearts were made to run hard and fast after things that move us. But as a generation we are all beginning to stir and wake up, identifying that these words don't satisfy for long, especially when compared to God. If God is real, and we are going to live with Him forever, shouldn't He be everything?
Caught in this familiar haze of worldly happiness and empty pursuits, Jennie Allen and her husband Zac prayed a courageous prayer of abandonment that took them on an adventure God had written for them.
"God, we will do anything. Anything
Anythingis a prayer of surrender that will spark something. A prayer that will move us to stop chasing things that just make us feel happy and start living a life that matters. A life that is...
Surrendered. Reckless. Courageous.
If we truly know a God worth giving anything for, everything changes.
Words we all love. Feelings we want. Even crave. We may love God, but being that he's invisible, words like comfortable seem to feel better faster.
We are all chasing something. Our hearts were made to run hard and fast after things that move us. But as a generation we are all beginning to stir and wake up, identifying that these words don't satisfy for long, especially when compared to God. If God is real, and we are going to live with Him forever, shouldn't He be everything?
Caught in this familiar haze of worldly happiness and empty pursuits, Jennie Allen and her husband Zac prayed a courageous prayer of abandonment that took them on an adventure God had written for them.
"God, we will do anything. Anything
Anythingis a prayer of surrender that will spark something. A prayer that will move us to stop chasing things that just make us feel happy and start living a life that matters. A life that is...
Surrendered. Reckless. Courageous.
If we truly know a God worth giving anything for, everything changes.
193 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
816 people are currently reading
6361 people want to read
About the author
Jennie Allen
97 books2,334 followersJennie Allen, Bible teacher, author, and the visionary behind IF:Gathering and Gather25, a 25-hour global prayer gathering. Driven by a deep love for God and an unyielding belief in the potential of this generation, Jennie's mission is to disciple a generation of Jesus followers to live what they believe.
Through her writing and teaching, Jennie seeks to convey a simple yet profound truth: God sees you, loves you, and invites you to play your part in His unfolding story. She has witnessed firsthand the miraculous work of Jesus when people fully surrender to Him.
Jennie is a passionate leader following God's call on her life to catalyze a generation to live what they believe. Jennie is the New York Times' best-selling author of Untangle Your Emotions, Find Your People and Get Out of Your Head. Jennie has a masters in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary and lives in Dallas, Texas, with her husband, Zac, and their four children.
Through her writing and teaching, Jennie seeks to convey a simple yet profound truth: God sees you, loves you, and invites you to play your part in His unfolding story. She has witnessed firsthand the miraculous work of Jesus when people fully surrender to Him.
Jennie is a passionate leader following God's call on her life to catalyze a generation to live what they believe. Jennie is the New York Times' best-selling author of Untangle Your Emotions, Find Your People and Get Out of Your Head. Jennie has a masters in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary and lives in Dallas, Texas, with her husband, Zac, and their four children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 314 reviews
August 11, 2016
"God, I'll do anything" is the prayer encouraged in this personal testimony by Jennie Allen. She shares transparently about her journey of faith and how her family's life was changed when she and her husband Zac decided to surrender everything to the Lord. The story is inspiring and real, and her writing is casual with little pop-culture plugs thrown in as bonus, resembling the language of a blog.
However~
I read this book simultaneously with The Gospel According to Jesus by John MacArthur, and the truths therein greatly affected my opinion of Jennie's encouragement of a deeper reliance on God. More and more, I began to see how Jesus defined Christianity as slavery, as a "yoke" and a "cross." I understood that believers must surrender all in order to become children of God. So...the question kept emerging: What if this "deeper Christianity" is actually REAL Christianity? What if the other kind of religion--the kind that doesn't change your life--is fake? What if most of the church is deceived into thinking they are united with Christ when they are, in fact, walking on the broad path? Jennie talks to "Christians," encouraging them to take a step further in their faith and trust God wholly. But is that the message of the Bible? Step 1: Become a Christian. Step 2: Trust God completely. That cannot be it--it certainly isn't what Jesus preached Himself. This whole movement to "become sold out for Christ" gives false assurance that a lackadaisical approach to God is okay too. Yes, it's a push in the right direction...but does it stand on truth?
These are important questions, so I'm grateful to this book for raising them in me. However, I wouldn't recommend reading Anything unless you pick up John MacArthur's book too.
However~
I read this book simultaneously with The Gospel According to Jesus by John MacArthur, and the truths therein greatly affected my opinion of Jennie's encouragement of a deeper reliance on God. More and more, I began to see how Jesus defined Christianity as slavery, as a "yoke" and a "cross." I understood that believers must surrender all in order to become children of God. So...the question kept emerging: What if this "deeper Christianity" is actually REAL Christianity? What if the other kind of religion--the kind that doesn't change your life--is fake? What if most of the church is deceived into thinking they are united with Christ when they are, in fact, walking on the broad path? Jennie talks to "Christians," encouraging them to take a step further in their faith and trust God wholly. But is that the message of the Bible? Step 1: Become a Christian. Step 2: Trust God completely. That cannot be it--it certainly isn't what Jesus preached Himself. This whole movement to "become sold out for Christ" gives false assurance that a lackadaisical approach to God is okay too. Yes, it's a push in the right direction...but does it stand on truth?
These are important questions, so I'm grateful to this book for raising them in me. However, I wouldn't recommend reading Anything unless you pick up John MacArthur's book too.
July 22, 2018
If you want to shake up your apathy- this is your book. I’m forever changed.
September 19, 2023
It’s kinda wild reading this book when I did. I started casually then put it down for a few months and recently decided to pick it up and finish. It’s wild because not only does Jennie preach the Gospel over and over, reminding you that a life fully abandoned to His will is worth it, but now I work for IF & get to see where this prayer of Anything really took her and the team and the ministry.
I think I do and will live a life more surrendered to His will, His plan, & Him because of this book. I don’t want to miss out on His plan because I can’t get past my ego, my plan, my way I want this world to look. I want to keep praying Anything because I believe in my soul only He is worth it.
I think I do and will live a life more surrendered to His will, His plan, & Him because of this book. I don’t want to miss out on His plan because I can’t get past my ego, my plan, my way I want this world to look. I want to keep praying Anything because I believe in my soul only He is worth it.
March 10, 2018
“Anything hadn’t cost me much yet, really.” (Page 182) Pretty much sums up the book for me.
Look, I love the message, but her personal experience and story don’t hold much weight in backing it up. All I kept thinking was, you made a bold leap in faith, inspired by a young girl who truly gave up her cozy American life to live in Africa, and the result was your dreams came true? You became an author and Bible study maker and speaker, “famous” for IF Gatherings, and then adopted two children from Rwanda? Sounds sort of fairy tale ending to me, almost prosperity gospel. All it cost you was some fights with your husband and disagreements with friends who thought you were doing too much. What’s missing is genuine suffering, loss, pain....
Three stars for the message, but there will be a serious disconnect if you are a believer who’s truly paid a price this side of heaven.
Look, I love the message, but her personal experience and story don’t hold much weight in backing it up. All I kept thinking was, you made a bold leap in faith, inspired by a young girl who truly gave up her cozy American life to live in Africa, and the result was your dreams came true? You became an author and Bible study maker and speaker, “famous” for IF Gatherings, and then adopted two children from Rwanda? Sounds sort of fairy tale ending to me, almost prosperity gospel. All it cost you was some fights with your husband and disagreements with friends who thought you were doing too much. What’s missing is genuine suffering, loss, pain....
Three stars for the message, but there will be a serious disconnect if you are a believer who’s truly paid a price this side of heaven.
June 25, 2014
I approached this book from a different, less evangelical perspective than many of the other reviewers. I enjoy reading religious nonfiction, especially memoirs. The basic message of Allen's book was interesting, but the chapters read as disjointed and lacking in detail. To me, they read a bit like expanded blog posts.
This isn't the first Christian writing I've read recently where the white author experiences a call to adopt in Africa. I feel a little disturbed at the tone taken by the authors- it seems like there is little in the way of examining their own race and privilege at all, much less in relation to their call to adopt. In light of some of the horrific stories about international adoption in the news recently, I think that it's important to fully consider all aspects of the situation and pray on them (if that's your thing).
This isn't the first Christian writing I've read recently where the white author experiences a call to adopt in Africa. I feel a little disturbed at the tone taken by the authors- it seems like there is little in the way of examining their own race and privilege at all, much less in relation to their call to adopt. In light of some of the horrific stories about international adoption in the news recently, I think that it's important to fully consider all aspects of the situation and pray on them (if that's your thing).
May 4, 2020
Great book that challenged me to deepen my trust and faith that God is in control of my life and I can confidently put my life in His hands. It will be challenging at times, but this growth is what draws us closer to Him. I admire Jennie’s vulnerability in this book as she talks about her story and her prayer of “anything”.
April 22, 2014
Would you dare to pray Anything to God? A scary thought that this book made me wonder if I am brave enough to say to God. Another question the books asks "What if the thing we are trying to impress him with was the very thing keeping us from him? Often times we find ourselves saying yes to sooo many things saying we are doing it for him when really we need to think about the motive. God is with us always He is where we are, we are made for him and we tend to forget this. I am a woman that struggles with infertility but this book gave me so much hope God's story for me is not over yet. As Jennie says in this book" The story is just not over yet. All the battles aren't fought and tied up with pretty little bows."
January 25, 2018
I was truly sad to finish this book. Jennie Allen has a way of honestly, openly revealing all the Lord is teaching her in a way that challenges and inspires her reader. I'm stingy with my goodreads stars but she earned every one of the 5 with this one.
May 28, 2012
ANYTHING
The Prayer That Unlocked My God and My Soul
By Jennie Allen
Often our familiarity with the concept of God keeps us from the reality of God and Jesus. We bring them out for special occasions, like a holiday decoration that has become a tradition over the years. But how do we make God and Jesus a real and tangible part of our being and our life?
In Anything Jennie Allen takes us on a journey, a journey of turning over our lives to God. Until we give Him our anything we are incomplete. We will continue to live our lives trying to earn God's grace through works and outward shows, but grace cannot be earned. Jesus gave His anything to pay for my sin because He loved me. But to know God is a risk because He will reveal our true selves to us. God will sweep away all the pretense in our lives until realize we need Him.
Many obstacles keep us from a true relationship with God. We like, Adam and Eve, hide our nakedness behind leaves – leaves of religion, morality, and good works but God sees through our leaves and sees to our very soul. We are ashamed of our sin, but He already knows our faults and has already forgiven us.
We all desire approval, but instead of seeking after God's approval we turn to the world and make approval king of our lives to the exclusion of using our God-given gifts. We must let go of normal and embrace God and extraordinary that He is waiting to give us.
We must give Him everything and anything. Anything we hold back from God becomes an idol in our life. But when we trust God with everything He provides a stability that we cannot find in the things of this world. Following God is not a guarantee of an easy life, nor was it an easy life for the first disciples.
When we truly offer anything to God we are awakened to just how temporary this life and world are. We must let go and turn over control to God. We must to quit pretending our lives are perfect and worshiping this lie that we tell ourselves. When we surrender to God we are not consigning the rest of our life to bondage rather we are freeing ourselves to be who God created us to be.
Giving our anything to God sometimes keeps us right where we were before we placed our lives on the altar. When we've handed our life over we are more fulfilled in our lives and we are able to fulfill a need that was before us all along.
In giving His everything Jesus poured out His life to restore us, so how can we then refuse Him anything? We must be like Jesus. He loved me and He gave up for me. I, in turn, must give up for
Him. He will never leave me alone in my doubts and fears, I need only call out to Him and turn them over to Him. The difficulties of my life are an opportunity for me to grow and to rely on God.
Are you willing to give God anything or will you settle for the world? The choice is yours, are you willing to take the leap? Anything will help you take an honest look at your life. Is God king or have you allowed someone or something else to sit upon His throne? Anything will open the eyes of any reader and is perfect for either a personal or group study environment.
I received a copy of this title for my honest review.
The Prayer That Unlocked My God and My Soul
By Jennie Allen
Often our familiarity with the concept of God keeps us from the reality of God and Jesus. We bring them out for special occasions, like a holiday decoration that has become a tradition over the years. But how do we make God and Jesus a real and tangible part of our being and our life?
In Anything Jennie Allen takes us on a journey, a journey of turning over our lives to God. Until we give Him our anything we are incomplete. We will continue to live our lives trying to earn God's grace through works and outward shows, but grace cannot be earned. Jesus gave His anything to pay for my sin because He loved me. But to know God is a risk because He will reveal our true selves to us. God will sweep away all the pretense in our lives until realize we need Him.
Many obstacles keep us from a true relationship with God. We like, Adam and Eve, hide our nakedness behind leaves – leaves of religion, morality, and good works but God sees through our leaves and sees to our very soul. We are ashamed of our sin, but He already knows our faults and has already forgiven us.
We all desire approval, but instead of seeking after God's approval we turn to the world and make approval king of our lives to the exclusion of using our God-given gifts. We must let go of normal and embrace God and extraordinary that He is waiting to give us.
We must give Him everything and anything. Anything we hold back from God becomes an idol in our life. But when we trust God with everything He provides a stability that we cannot find in the things of this world. Following God is not a guarantee of an easy life, nor was it an easy life for the first disciples.
When we truly offer anything to God we are awakened to just how temporary this life and world are. We must let go and turn over control to God. We must to quit pretending our lives are perfect and worshiping this lie that we tell ourselves. When we surrender to God we are not consigning the rest of our life to bondage rather we are freeing ourselves to be who God created us to be.
Giving our anything to God sometimes keeps us right where we were before we placed our lives on the altar. When we've handed our life over we are more fulfilled in our lives and we are able to fulfill a need that was before us all along.
In giving His everything Jesus poured out His life to restore us, so how can we then refuse Him anything? We must be like Jesus. He loved me and He gave up for me. I, in turn, must give up for
Him. He will never leave me alone in my doubts and fears, I need only call out to Him and turn them over to Him. The difficulties of my life are an opportunity for me to grow and to rely on God.
Are you willing to give God anything or will you settle for the world? The choice is yours, are you willing to take the leap? Anything will help you take an honest look at your life. Is God king or have you allowed someone or something else to sit upon His throne? Anything will open the eyes of any reader and is perfect for either a personal or group study environment.
I received a copy of this title for my honest review.
July 26, 2013
This is a wonderful, wonderful book that every christian would greatly benefit from reading. It's a book about a prayer of surrender: that we would give our live to do "anything" God calls us to do. Through this book (and Bible study that I did along with it) I have seen the selfishness in my own heart. I have seen how through my sinfulness and living in this culture, I feel that I'm entitled to certain things that make no difference in light of eternity. I am praying a prayer of "anything" and can't wait to see what God has in store. Jennie says "A day is coming when our eyes will close and there will be no more chaos. No one will be preaching or writing books about God to help us remember, because we will be alive in that world with him forever. Anything is nothing in light of that. In light of forever. In light of him." (p.184) "This God is real and He is worth my surrender"!
"Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10
There is a wonderful, free Bible study resource that goes along with this book. For a Bible study guide, reading plan, kids reading plan, journal, and videos from Jennie Allen go to http://www.goodmorninggirls.org/anyth... You'll be glad you did! :)
"Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10
There is a wonderful, free Bible study resource that goes along with this book. For a Bible study guide, reading plan, kids reading plan, journal, and videos from Jennie Allen go to http://www.goodmorninggirls.org/anyth... You'll be glad you did! :)
October 27, 2017
Life. Changing.
November 11, 2021
What is your anything
This book has mirrored my life cause i want to surrender completely i would do anything to be different for God
This book has mirrored my life cause i want to surrender completely i would do anything to be different for God
September 17, 2021
Anything: The Prayer That Unlocked My God and My Soul is a book about surrendering to God. Not just the things that are comfortable and easy, but even the hard things that will challenge you to your very core.
I think most of us want to live a life surrendered to God, but we don't know how, or we are afraid to give Him everything because we are afraid of what He might ask of us.
God does great things through surrendered people.
Anything by Jennie Allen is a fairly quick read. It is written in first person, conversational style. While the tone is light, the content is anything but. It will challenge you, not only to surrender to God but to grow in your faith. If you are truly surrendered to God you can't help but grow in your faith.
We are supposed to want God all the time for everything and trust him with every aspect of our lives.
Jennie shares many personal stories with the reader, the trials and triumphs she faces as she attempts to live a surrendered life. She discusses the things that keep us from praying a prayer of complete surrender in section one. In section two she explains how she came to the point of being ready to surrender everything, and in section three she describes what her life has looked like as she has grown into the role of a surrendered life.
The very thought of doing anything demands everything.
I appreciate the flow of the book, the easy tone, and the many nuggets of truth that are woven into the fabric of the story. There is a lot we can learn from Jennie's book about living a life that is completely surrendered to Christ. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to go deeper in their spiritual walk.
I think most of us want to live a life surrendered to God, but we don't know how, or we are afraid to give Him everything because we are afraid of what He might ask of us.
God does great things through surrendered people.
Anything by Jennie Allen is a fairly quick read. It is written in first person, conversational style. While the tone is light, the content is anything but. It will challenge you, not only to surrender to God but to grow in your faith. If you are truly surrendered to God you can't help but grow in your faith.
We are supposed to want God all the time for everything and trust him with every aspect of our lives.
Jennie shares many personal stories with the reader, the trials and triumphs she faces as she attempts to live a surrendered life. She discusses the things that keep us from praying a prayer of complete surrender in section one. In section two she explains how she came to the point of being ready to surrender everything, and in section three she describes what her life has looked like as she has grown into the role of a surrendered life.
The very thought of doing anything demands everything.
I appreciate the flow of the book, the easy tone, and the many nuggets of truth that are woven into the fabric of the story. There is a lot we can learn from Jennie's book about living a life that is completely surrendered to Christ. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to go deeper in their spiritual walk.
December 7, 2023
This book didn't do it for me. On the surface, knowing what it is about it should. This is the type of message I love. But this time it didn't work for me.
First, her writing style was not one I liked. She writes a blog and this felt like a blog. I have nothing against blogs and I even read some, but when I read a book I don't want it to be a blog. This may work for some but it turned me off.
Second, and this is much more judgmental, I felt her "anything" was rather ordinary. I know so many people who have adopted foreign children. It seems like she could have gone down this path without having to pray anything. I was also struck when she goes to Rwanda, the feeling she had about taking her son from this place of joy. It made me wonder if a bigger "anything" would have been to put the money she used for adoption into this boys family or village and making life better for a group of people, instead of playing the white savior and rescuing one. (I told you this was judgmental.) Her "anything" really lead to book deals, Bible study offers, speaking engagements, and more, which I don't think is the norm for praying anything.
I did like that she put the study guide in the back, it could be a useful tool if anyone wants to lead this as a study.
First, her writing style was not one I liked. She writes a blog and this felt like a blog. I have nothing against blogs and I even read some, but when I read a book I don't want it to be a blog. This may work for some but it turned me off.
Second, and this is much more judgmental, I felt her "anything" was rather ordinary. I know so many people who have adopted foreign children. It seems like she could have gone down this path without having to pray anything. I was also struck when she goes to Rwanda, the feeling she had about taking her son from this place of joy. It made me wonder if a bigger "anything" would have been to put the money she used for adoption into this boys family or village and making life better for a group of people, instead of playing the white savior and rescuing one. (I told you this was judgmental.) Her "anything" really lead to book deals, Bible study offers, speaking engagements, and more, which I don't think is the norm for praying anything.
I did like that she put the study guide in the back, it could be a useful tool if anyone wants to lead this as a study.
June 3, 2024
Even though this is geared towards women, I was interested in reading through her book since her latest book last year was nominated for the annual K-love awards. I did not know "anything" about her "anything" prayers, but I was captivated right off the bat with her stories and their journey as a husband and wife on where God was allowing them to go with their careers and ministry (see IF: Gatherings - IFGATHERING.COM and subsequent events for Jennie Allen; sounds like college campuses are ripe to hear a word from God). She is obviously very authentic and does not take herself too seriously and mentions her latte from Starbucks quite often in a humorous way. The version I read from Hoopla includes an extensive Study Guide in the back with an introduction, vision, instructions and the ground rules she suggests for discussions in a small group setting. Lots of projects suggested after reading each chapter and "conversation cards" to help the discussion progress. Looks really good.
August 12, 2017
I love the concept of praying "Anything" that Allen lays out in her book. For the last couple years I have been a huge fan of her work through if:gathering and her if:tables. However, I did not feel this book delivered at a high level. I didn't want to keep reading, and I often struggled to finish a chapter. Allen does have great personal stories and examples to pull from, and is an effective persuasive speaker. I do feel more inclined to surrender my life in bigger ways than I might have before reading this book, but at the end of the day, I was not moved in huge ways. I recommend this book if you would like to know more of Allen's personal story, but I would not read it again.
September 10, 2019
Great book
Loved reading about her story and helped encourage me & start conversation that might not otherwise have happened! Thank you
Loved reading about her story and helped encourage me & start conversation that might not otherwise have happened! Thank you
March 8, 2024
This book left me wanting more of God. It left me knowing that I’ve prayed anything before but that it is a daily surrender.
January 17, 2024
Wow. This book is incredible. I truly believe that every single American Christian needs to read this book like yesterday. It was wildly convicting for me and the ways that I feel like I started falling asleep to the truth of God and trying to fight for comfort instead of fighting for God's kingdom. I think that so many American Christians have fallen into this lullaby of comfort and ease but that is not the life God calls us to live. I genuinely have found that so many Americans are not willing to be confronted with the fact that God's will for them is not comfort and an easy life with a beautiful house. God's will for our life is that we would be obedient to him and what he is asking us to do. There were so many incredible quotes in this book. I live internationally and feel like it offers a unique perspective when looking into my home culture and the culture of christians in where I am from and i really felt like this book was such an accurate description of how so many christians live their lives in the states. I deeply appreciated Jennie's honesty and willingness to share the ways that sin had crept in to her heart and the ways satan had put a veil over her eyes and the ways she allowed the Lord to transform her life because she realized our life here on earth is purely for glorifying the Father and obedience to him. Amen!!!!
My only negative comments which didn't necessarily have to do with the content of the book as a whole, just a small piece of it:
I didn't love how generalized "Africa" was haha. As someone who lived and worked in Africa, I think it's important to state the country in Africa, not the entire continent (especially with terms like "a heart for Africa"). I think specifics are important because a lot of americans just say Africa but Africa is a wildly diverse continent with various cultures and landscapes.
My second thing I didn't love was kind of the overly emotional pull of Africa/the nations. I think it's super important to humanize overseas work and workers and as someone who lives and works abroad I think it's way too easy for people to over romanticize living abroad - especially in developing countries. It's incredible but its also wildly difficult and God isn't any closer in one place than he is another. Every place has it's sin and struggle and I think especially when an author hasn't lived abroad it's important not to over spiritualize people who have moved abroad for the sake of the kingdom.
My only negative comments which didn't necessarily have to do with the content of the book as a whole, just a small piece of it:
I didn't love how generalized "Africa" was haha. As someone who lived and worked in Africa, I think it's important to state the country in Africa, not the entire continent (especially with terms like "a heart for Africa"). I think specifics are important because a lot of americans just say Africa but Africa is a wildly diverse continent with various cultures and landscapes.
My second thing I didn't love was kind of the overly emotional pull of Africa/the nations. I think it's super important to humanize overseas work and workers and as someone who lives and works abroad I think it's way too easy for people to over romanticize living abroad - especially in developing countries. It's incredible but its also wildly difficult and God isn't any closer in one place than he is another. Every place has it's sin and struggle and I think especially when an author hasn't lived abroad it's important not to over spiritualize people who have moved abroad for the sake of the kingdom.
July 29, 2015
When "Anything" was first released, I quickly bought it. By the time I was finished with this book, every chapter was dog-earred, highlighted, underlined, notes on the side, spine was well bent and I was pretty sure I would have to buy another book if I wanted to loan it out to anyone since the copy I had was "well personalized" to the point that it wouldn't make much sense to others due to the amount of reading and marking I had done.
Now an updated version has been released and although I didn't get the paper based version, I found myself highlighting copious parts of the book again and thrilled this time to find study questions that makes this book a book that if you are looking for something to use in a bible study to encourage to get out of their comfort zones and get into "God zones", this is the book that would do it for you.
"Anything" is written in a lay back, conversational style that makes it an easy book to read, but at the same time, the book holds with it a powerful conviction as it alludes to another powerful book, "Kisses by Katie".
This is a book that encourages the reader on doing more for the service of Christ and that includes finding ways that may not be in our plans but in God plans of using us so that His kingdom is not only further, but communities and lives are reached and encouraged for the prayer.
Anything is a word that says what it means, "no boundaries"...no this is what "I want", but as the Lord prayer goes, "In Thy Will be done" not ours.
Want to be encouraged to be challenged in ways that will impact your life and other lives?
Want to be encouraged to just trust God?
"Anything" and now it's included study guide is a wonderful book that will do just that and the author doesn't talk down to the reader nor is this a prosperity led, if you do this and life is great book, but rather trust God to use you that you will be challenged and encouraged and grown as a Christian while being used by Him to encouraged and lift up others in what ways He sees fit.
This is a challenging book.
This book may seem an easy read, but by the time the reader is done, they will be challenged and encouraged to trust God and at the same time discover how to make a bigger impact in life.
Now an updated version has been released and although I didn't get the paper based version, I found myself highlighting copious parts of the book again and thrilled this time to find study questions that makes this book a book that if you are looking for something to use in a bible study to encourage to get out of their comfort zones and get into "God zones", this is the book that would do it for you.
"Anything" is written in a lay back, conversational style that makes it an easy book to read, but at the same time, the book holds with it a powerful conviction as it alludes to another powerful book, "Kisses by Katie".
This is a book that encourages the reader on doing more for the service of Christ and that includes finding ways that may not be in our plans but in God plans of using us so that His kingdom is not only further, but communities and lives are reached and encouraged for the prayer.
Anything is a word that says what it means, "no boundaries"...no this is what "I want", but as the Lord prayer goes, "In Thy Will be done" not ours.
Want to be encouraged to be challenged in ways that will impact your life and other lives?
Want to be encouraged to just trust God?
"Anything" and now it's included study guide is a wonderful book that will do just that and the author doesn't talk down to the reader nor is this a prosperity led, if you do this and life is great book, but rather trust God to use you that you will be challenged and encouraged and grown as a Christian while being used by Him to encouraged and lift up others in what ways He sees fit.
This is a challenging book.
This book may seem an easy read, but by the time the reader is done, they will be challenged and encouraged to trust God and at the same time discover how to make a bigger impact in life.
June 23, 2016
I tried to finish this book. I really did, but I just couldn't. I got to part 2 and gave up. It's too disconnected--the writer is all over the place, and her blanket application of "her" theology made me cringe a little bit. God does not call us to all serve in the same way. And the tone and attitude of this book. White, suburbanites who need to work through their privilege. I. Just. Couldn't. I also agree with the other commentators who say this would have been served as blog posts.
The one part that really got under my skin, and is actually where I should have stopped reading was her ignorant comment about Africa and what she ignorantly assumes is life on that beautiful CONTINENT! I'll share here--brackets mine: "I often hear this objection to abandoning everything: "'What if God calls me to go to Africa [why does it have to be Africa?] or something as sacrificial as that?' To me, there is something mysteriously troubling and intriguing in Africa. It represents everything we are not in America. [Really, she compares the second-largest and second-most-populous CONTINENT to the fourth-largest and third-most-populous COUNTRY] They are suffering and yet content. [Yep, the entire continent of Africa is suffering. I guess my friends from Uganda, Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso are lying about their ways of life and the CITIES they come from and COLLEGES they went to.] Hungry and yet grateful. [There are hungry people right here in the USA, and yes, many of them are still grateful for what they do have.] Broken and yet strong. [Sigh, I can't.] This represents everything we live afraid of losing. [I wonder who the "we" is she's speaking of. Perhaps, it's her and her perfect-life, good-girl friends who feel bad about their privileged lives and are afraid they will end up like the rich young ruler if they don't do something about it, quickly.]
Needless to say, I rolled my eyes too many times to count while reading this, and finally had to stop. There are much better books out there: better written, better thought out, better researched.
The one part that really got under my skin, and is actually where I should have stopped reading was her ignorant comment about Africa and what she ignorantly assumes is life on that beautiful CONTINENT! I'll share here--brackets mine: "I often hear this objection to abandoning everything: "'What if God calls me to go to Africa [why does it have to be Africa?] or something as sacrificial as that?' To me, there is something mysteriously troubling and intriguing in Africa. It represents everything we are not in America. [Really, she compares the second-largest and second-most-populous CONTINENT to the fourth-largest and third-most-populous COUNTRY] They are suffering and yet content. [Yep, the entire continent of Africa is suffering. I guess my friends from Uganda, Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso are lying about their ways of life and the CITIES they come from and COLLEGES they went to.] Hungry and yet grateful. [There are hungry people right here in the USA, and yes, many of them are still grateful for what they do have.] Broken and yet strong. [Sigh, I can't.] This represents everything we live afraid of losing. [I wonder who the "we" is she's speaking of. Perhaps, it's her and her perfect-life, good-girl friends who feel bad about their privileged lives and are afraid they will end up like the rich young ruler if they don't do something about it, quickly.]
Needless to say, I rolled my eyes too many times to count while reading this, and finally had to stop. There are much better books out there: better written, better thought out, better researched.
August 13, 2015
This is more than Jennie Allen's personal memoir on how she came to understand what "dying to self" means. It's a practical Spirit-filled guide to the:
- factors that inhibit us from living such a life,
- what praying "Anything" means,
- what one's life might look like having prayed it.
The book is written in three sections as I've loosely defined them above. And this edition has a very focused and practical study guide that can be used individually and/or in a small group. I found the study very useful as it challenged me to explore the words Jennie had written in each chapter.
This edition is an updated version from the original that Jennie published in 2011 so another four or five years have passed and Jennie talks through what has happened to her life during those years. Yes, there have been a few BIG things, for example, the launch of IF: Gathering, however, Jennie makes a point that much of "Anything" revolves around the everyday. It's in the little things, the small moments, where in faith we obey and deny ourselves where we develop the backbone for the potential bigger things that the Lord may have in store for us.
This book didn't just stir my spirit but got me on my knees praying my own "Anything" prayer. Not just once, but continually. And I still do most days since finishing the book. The Lord yearns for intimacy with us and letting go of ourselves is the biggest inhibitor to enjoying Him completely. This is what Jennie helps us both understand and in practical ways, using her own life and others, she demonstrates such intimacy is both very possible and achievable.
I love these words that come near the end of the book:
"God wants to go crazy through us. He waits to unleash His Spirit on people who believe He is real and who believe He is worth it. Who believe heaven is better than earth. Who believe that knowing Jesus is better than any comfort." (page 192)
May the Lord find more hearts like Jennie's to go crazy through.
- factors that inhibit us from living such a life,
- what praying "Anything" means,
- what one's life might look like having prayed it.
The book is written in three sections as I've loosely defined them above. And this edition has a very focused and practical study guide that can be used individually and/or in a small group. I found the study very useful as it challenged me to explore the words Jennie had written in each chapter.
This edition is an updated version from the original that Jennie published in 2011 so another four or five years have passed and Jennie talks through what has happened to her life during those years. Yes, there have been a few BIG things, for example, the launch of IF: Gathering, however, Jennie makes a point that much of "Anything" revolves around the everyday. It's in the little things, the small moments, where in faith we obey and deny ourselves where we develop the backbone for the potential bigger things that the Lord may have in store for us.
This book didn't just stir my spirit but got me on my knees praying my own "Anything" prayer. Not just once, but continually. And I still do most days since finishing the book. The Lord yearns for intimacy with us and letting go of ourselves is the biggest inhibitor to enjoying Him completely. This is what Jennie helps us both understand and in practical ways, using her own life and others, she demonstrates such intimacy is both very possible and achievable.
I love these words that come near the end of the book:
"God wants to go crazy through us. He waits to unleash His Spirit on people who believe He is real and who believe He is worth it. Who believe heaven is better than earth. Who believe that knowing Jesus is better than any comfort." (page 192)
May the Lord find more hearts like Jennie's to go crazy through.
June 18, 2012
Jennie Allen is a pastor’s wife who, along with her husband, dared to pray a dangerous prayer. It was simple and profound. It was a prayer that told God that they would do anything that he wanted. They simply wanted to be obedient and faithful to the life he wanted to lead them in.
I found the book challenging and comforting. Jennie found that, yes, the prayer of anything is dangerous and scary, but the God to whom it is prayed knows us. The life to which He calls is always better than the one we will make for ourselves. For those who have grown up in a Christian family and perhaps have drifted into their faith or for those whose faith has become routine and mundane this book will certainly challenge and create some discomfort but keep reading. By the end I found that she had drawn the reader in to wanting to pray the “anything prayer” also. A type of envy for God’s best was teased out of one’s soul.
If you find yourself stuck, I would recommend this book to you. It is not filled with incredible feats of faith, just simple attempts at obedience that anyone can do, if they are willing. I have placed my copy in the North Burlington Baptist Church library for anyone who is interested.
This book has been provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller.
I found the book challenging and comforting. Jennie found that, yes, the prayer of anything is dangerous and scary, but the God to whom it is prayed knows us. The life to which He calls is always better than the one we will make for ourselves. For those who have grown up in a Christian family and perhaps have drifted into their faith or for those whose faith has become routine and mundane this book will certainly challenge and create some discomfort but keep reading. By the end I found that she had drawn the reader in to wanting to pray the “anything prayer” also. A type of envy for God’s best was teased out of one’s soul.
If you find yourself stuck, I would recommend this book to you. It is not filled with incredible feats of faith, just simple attempts at obedience that anyone can do, if they are willing. I have placed my copy in the North Burlington Baptist Church library for anyone who is interested.
This book has been provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller.
January 15, 2014
In college, we were sold out for Christ, ready to do whatever He asked. Then life hits. We get married and have a family of our own. All we want is comfort and safety, a life of blessing with as little struggle as possible. And we stop praying "anything." This book was a hard read for me, not because of how it was written, but because of the content. Jennie Allen challenges all her readers to begin praying "anything" again.... And that is scary to do. Candid and entirely relatable, this book is real meat that is missing in a lot of Christian non-fiction written nowadays. Looking forward to reading more from Mrs. Allen.
August 13, 2015
I was a bit disappointed with this book. Jennie shares her family's experience with surrendering their lives to God's will. She discussed praying about different aspects of their lives and feeling like they were being led by God in specific ways. It got me thinking a lot about what Biblical decision making really does look like, and led me to believe that Jennie was getting too caught up in finding one right answer to God's will for her life. Though I do not completely agree with the theology of the book, it was a good reminder to always be looking for ways to serve and follow God in my daily life.
August 18, 2015
8/20015 The author presents herself and others as examples of the exciting life changes that happen when a person is willing to do anything for God. She presents what happened in her life when she took a leap of faith and told God she would do anything He called her to do. She now speaks to groups and writes books and materials for others willing to take a similar leap in faith. Although reluctant and sometimes with much kicking and screaming, a willingness to do anything for God is how I have tried to live my life. This book prompted some introspection and help me uncover some hidden dreams/expectations I have been harboring for our retirement years. Time to turn those over to God!!!
November 23, 2016
I very rarely give a bad book review, but I couldn't even follow this book. I think the main idea was good but every chapter was choppy and hard to follow nothing flowed. It was like the author knew what she was trying to explain but forgot to put all her first hand knowledge in the book instead she left it in her head. I had heard wonderful reviews about this author so thought I would give one of her books a try. I will try and read another book of hers to give the author a real chance and not have my opinion based off one book alone. With that said I didn't enjoy this book at all.
April 7, 2021
Casual breezy-style read. Author shares personally and deeply from her own experience in seeking to live a "I will do anything for you God" life style. Challenged me to consider the ways I live a me-centric Christian life rather that truly living for God's will and purposes here in the suburbs of america. A must read if you are desiring a genuine call out of the "norms" of the american Christian life style.
July 17, 2015
Jennie Allen preaches her guts out!!! I was afraid to read this, which is part indicator of how much I needed the truth spoken over me. Jennie has a way of cutting directly to the heart of the matter while sharing in the vulnerability. God is certainly alive and well and moving through Jennie's words.
October 19, 2016
This is the best bible study I've ever done and I encourage you to do it in a bible study setting with other believers if you can! The discussions that come from this book are great! Jennie really encourages you to truly offer "anything" to Jesus and see what can happen! It's convicting, scary, exciting, eye-opening and so many other things! A definite must read for all Christians!
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