PRAYzing! will help you understand that we pray to a creative God, from His creative Word, by His creative Spirit―and we can pray in a creative way. Through powerful stories and real-life examples, this book will give you plenty of instruction and inspiration for making prayer a compelling―and creative―experience for every Christian.
Pastor, Preacher, Renewal Catalyst, Leadership Coach & Author who is passionate about personal renewal, congregational revival & leadership restoration.
I absolutely loved this book and it left me wanting to know the Holy Spirit more and wanting to help others know the Spirit better. He points out that the first thing we learn about God is that he creates and the first job of man was creative: to name the animals. So, why should prayer not be creative if we are created in His creative image and relating to a creative God? A quick and easy read with endless inspiration.
This was a fun and creative read. The author, Daniel Henderson, is something of a prayer guru in Christendom. This book offers a smorgasbord of fun ideas to liven up your corporate prayer times.
I appreciate that this author points people first and foremost to Scripture. He also encourages folks to listen to the Holy Spirit and see where God might be directing their prayers. Most of his ideas from A to Z were for guiding worship in large group settings, suggesting ways to focus on who God is, more than on how to pray. If you are looking for a book on intercession, then I would suggest something by Dutch Sheets or Derek Prince.
If you are just starting a Wednesday night prayer group and want to get some ideas on how to keep participants awake, you'll find some nice jumping off points in this book. If you are planning a prayer summit or retreat, you'll find some helpful ideas. This is not a book of formula or rote prayers. It's a quick, easy read that's not too deep, but often moving. A nice primer for opening your prayer time with the proper focus on the One to whom you are addressing your prayers.
While this book did give me some good ideas that our church could try...I think that it was a bit of a misnomer to say that there were 26 creative ideas because many seemed very much like each other. A topic comes to mind during the worship/praise by reading scripture...then there was a sentence stem starter that people filled in the blank and then a response that was repeated after everyone filled in the blank and then there was usually a song. There was nothing wrong with these, it just seemed like the same idea repeated over and over with a different topic.
Although I found a lot of good suggestions for open group prayer sessions, in Daniel's book, I found very little that would help my in my personal prayer life, by myself. It was mainly written I feel for group leaders in loud and spirit filled pray sessions rather than private closet prayer, although some of his ideas can be altered to give me support. I also found the trying to fit examples that were all different into A-Z headings a bit contrived. The worship attitude of his prayers was very evident, and I am sure he has lead many great workshops as the founder of Strategic Renewal International. The prayer leaders in our church will be helped by the examples of fresh and vibrant prayers and I will pass on the book to them. I an sorry I took so long, but it wasn't a study but more a suggestion book for lively social prayer events.