Be a Circle Maker: The Solution to 10,000 Problems

by Mark Batterson

According to Pastor Mark Batterson in his book, The Circle Maker, 'Drawing prayer circles around our dreams isn't just a mechanism whereby we accomplish great things for God. It's a mechanism whereby God accomplishes great things in us.'

Do you ever sense that there's far more to prayer, and to God's vision for your life, than what you're experiencing? It's time you learned from the legend of Honi the Circle Maker---a man bold enough to draw a circle in the sand and not budge from inside it until God answered his prayers for his people.

What impossibly big dream is God calling you to draw a prayer circle around? Sharing inspiring stories from his own experiences as a circle maker, Mark Batterson will help you uncover your heart's deepest desires and God-given dreams and unleash them through the kind of audacious prayer that God delights to answer.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Religion, Prayer, Spirituality, Self Help, Christian Non Fiction

64 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 5, 2011

About the author

Mark Batterson is the lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, DC. One church in seven locations, NCC owns and operates Ebenezers Coffeehouse, The Miracle Theatre, and the DC Dream Center. NCC is currently developing a city block into The Capital Turnaround. This 100,000-square-foot space will include an event venue, child development center, mixed-use marketplace, and co-working space. Mark holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Regent University and is the New York Times best-selling author of seventeen books, including The Circle Maker, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, Wild Goose Chase, Play the Man, Whisper, and, most recently, Double Blessing. Mark and his wife, Lora, live on Capitol Hill with their three children: Parker, Summer, and Josiah.

Reviews

[Daniel Threlfall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mark Batterson is a interesting writer and a dynamic speaker. His five books have inspired readers, sparked controversy, and generated discussion. My guess is that The Circle Maker is going to do the same.

The Circle Maker will inspire readers.
The Circle Maker is a book about prayer. Books about prayer have a knack for packing conviction and sparking inspiration. They make me want to pray more and to pray better. The Circle Maker does just that. Mark’s dream-big-pray-big message honors a big God, who delights in answering prayers.

The Circle Maker will spark controversy.
As much as it is inspirational, Circle Maker is also controversial. The controversy begins on the first page of chapter one, where Mark Batterson recounts the legend of Honi, a first-century mystic whose power in prayer saves the land from drought. Some have objected to the idea of “prayer circles,” because they smack of paganism and superstition. After reading the book, it seems that Batterson is using “prayer circles” as a metaphor to describe the way someone prayers—prayers of specificity, audacity, and faith. Batterson is an evangelist for relentless, daring prayers.

I have some concerns with the book—a bit of sketchy exegesis here and there, a name-it-claim-it style of intercession, and a blurry line between dreams and prayers. I frankly discussed these concerns with Mark when I interviewed him today, and I appreciate his genuine thoughtful answers to my questions. You’ll have to wait until the broadcast releases to hear the concerns and Mark’s excellent response.

The Circle Maker will generate discussion.
If there’s one thing I despise, it is people who criticize books without reading them, and who demean authors without having a conversation with them. If you have questions about The Circle Maker, read it. If you have a problem with Mark Batterson, drive up to D.C. and treat him to coffee at Ebenezers. The Circle Maker will generate discussion, and I hope that it is a discussion that brings glory to God and a revival of prayer among God’s people

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I sped through this book while standing next to the kitchen table. It was a good reminder of what my heart deep down inside believes: that God answers our real prayers. There is still so much about prayer that I avoid and am confused about, but I can't deny feeling something like conviction about its importance and beauty and power. I think the biggest takeaways for me are Batterson's repeated and repeatable themes: God qualifies the called, God is bigger than our dreams, and He is on our side. These ideas are hard to accept when you don't feel like you're worth being called, or having dreams, or having someone on your side like God, but that is exactly why they should be.

[James Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be a Circle Maker was different, but it was a good read. It lets you know that no dreams or prayers are too big for God. God wants us to come to Him and pray boldly. I truly believe that, because the bible says "All things are possible with God." I also enjoyed reading about the prayer circle and how God answers your prayers. Our God is a big God. This book gives you hope and lets you know that no dream, no situation or problem is too big for our God. Amen

[P Shamar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an informative book for a quick read. I loved the expression it gave to the essence of prayer. Not just the importance, but the self perseverance abilities and opportunities we have as praying individuals...I loved it.

[Morgan Inman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring

This book is a quick read packed with WONDERFUL information. It is so inspiring and informative. I would recommend this to anyone and everyone.

[R.M. Methven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing, just like 'Praying Circles around your children', which I have read before but plan to read again. Such a powerful, empowering perspective on prayer. Wonderful reminder to all of us prayer warriors to keep *the question* in our minds and pray confidently over all the dreams, problems, and circumstances in our lives and those of our loved ones and neighbors.

[Bill Gaskins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reminder of how powerful prayer is in our lives!

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshing & powerful reminder of what those of us who have experienced answered prayers know.

[LaToya Tyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was powerful.

[Susan Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Be a Circle Maker is a booklet containing three excerpts from Mark Batterson’s, The Circle Maker. It gives a foretaste of Mark’s longer book. The first chapter tells the story Honi, a Jewish sage, who lived in the last century before Christ. During a severe drought, he drew a circle on the ground and prayed, saying he would not move from the circle until God sent rain. It would appear that he had a strong conviction from God to make this declaration and it began raining almost immediately. The second chapter is Mark’s own experiences with prayer and the final chapter relates other people’s experiences.

However, the difficult I had with, The Circle Maker, continued with this booklet, which was Mark doesn’t fully explain what he means when he uses the expression ‘be a circle maker.’ Again I feel he equates it with praying fervently and persistently, but he doesn’t fully connect this with the discernment required to know what to pray in a given situation.

The book is easy to read and a good encouragement to pray, but some more instruction on seeking God’s will would be helpful.

[kayleigh tyler · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a harmful book. I don't think I've read a book that takes prayer so lightly and talks about it so flippantly. He turns prayer into a silly, embarrassing hazing of sorts. He claims in the book that prayer is not a way for God to grant your wishes and then he continues to tell you "rub the lamp just so and God will appear!"

He also says "if you want to keep growing spiritually, you need to keep ... [going] after dreams that are bigger than you are." What!!!??? What??? What!!! How unbiblical. I've never heard God, Jesus, Paul, any church history leader say this!

Anyway, don't pick this one up, or the expanded edition. Just read the Bible instead. That book will have better teacher than this one (obviously).

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quickie excerpt of The Circle Maker—kind of like the book version of ordering an appetizer as your meal. (Mmm, quesadillas...)

This book didn’t really teach me any principles I didn’t know, although I hadn’t heard the story of Honi making a circle and praying for rain before. Still, it seemed like the perfect reminder for me today. I guess I achieved burnout again a few weeks ago, because now even the simplest little bit of work feels daunting and overwhelming. Good to remember that it’s not about me or how tiny I feel.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

This book has taken criticism for being extra Biblical and giving the legend of Honi as much credence as Biblical stories. That criticism is rather unfair. This is a short and excellent book that illustrates the power of prayer. Pray often and pray big. God is infinitely powerful and can answer those prayers. The only question is if you are asking for what is in His will.

The book is thought provoking and a call to,prayer.

[Helfren · Rating 3 out of 5]

A religious piece of book on how we can turn our faith and find the answers for the questions we have in our life. The book summarizes a lot of things ranging from before Jesus' time on Earth to his eventual departure. Is your problems bigger than God or God is bigger than your problem?

Pretty simple book on how to pray, using the circle prayers and nice addition to my library.

[Candice Hoagland · Rating 1 out of 5]

Do not recommend

This book is about prayer. However, there is not one Scripture reference. The book starts off with a story that to a new believer may think is from the Bible. However, its based off a legend. The author makes bold claims about prayer but nothing to back up his claims. The book abruptly ends with no good closing. This is probably the worst "christian" book that I have ever read.

[Heather Masters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Power punch short read!

Love how the author puts things in perspective! God demands our dreams to be big and our expectation of Him to be even bigger! This most certainly forces me to look at my prayer life and evaluate things a little differently!

[Molly Helm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. It’s a great reminder that we were all put here to make a difference and that miracles abound. Prayer and meditation and living with eyes wide open promote the ripple effect of kindness and good to keep on...

This will be something I read again.

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Small timid prayers or big audacious prayers?

Prayers are prophetic

God is 15.4 billion times bigger than your dreams
Perplexing impossible

Keep stretching
Going after big dreams and faith

Circle situations in prayer

[Sherrie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep thinking

[Kay-Leigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read "Praying circles around your children" which was really inspiring and quite practical. This was too short and not actually very useful. I'm disappointed.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

I enjoyed reading this book from the first page to the last, wish it could go on longer than it has.

[RaceTo230 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very short read, but a good reminder of the promises of prayer. A good reminder of the some of the stories from "The Circle Maker, 40 Day Prayer Challenge" book.

[Lelia Petsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Changed my prayer life

Absolutely loved it. Changed the way I pray. Never thought I should be talking to God like that. Absolutely love it

[Victoria Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Insight

I love the simplicity in which this book is outlined! Straight to the point in addition to given you the necessary steps and guidance to get results to PRAYERS!

[K.V. Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good points

[Mary Moller]

Excellent!

[Rebecca Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enriching

I loved how Mark out how we view God in prospective. We have to fight everyday the thoughts that tell us our dreams are too big.

[Jenn Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this as an audiobook. It's an excerpt from The Circle Maker.

[Roxanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only reason I rated this so low is because I wish it stated somewhere that this was a shortened version of the original book.

[Kelsey Goncalves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little book that provides great guidance