The Prayer-Centered Life: Living in Communion with the Father

by Dudley J. Delffs

There are those rare moments of prayer when we connect intimately with the father. But too often, prayer is instead rushed, unfocused, and mechanical. Just as we want our relationships with people to be meaningful, we want to connect with God in a special way. But how do we do that in the everyday busyness of life? In The Prayer-Centered Life Dudley Delffs shows readers how to direct their longing for God into consistent, constant conversation with the heavenly Father. He examines barriers to prayer, different types of prayer, and the results of prayer. If you long to live closely with the Father, The Prayer-Centered Life will show you how to make prayer central to your life, giving an intimate relationship with God ample room to grow.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian

191 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1997

About the author

Dudley J. Delffs, Ph.D. is an award-winning writer of fiction and non-fiction. A former publishing executive with divisions of Random House and HarperCollins, Dudley now works with top-tier authors, agents, and publishers to produce bestselling books with life-changing impact. A lifelong fan of Dolly Parton, Dudley lives in Sewanee, Tennessee with his wife and children.

Reviews

[Ken Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be the most honest book I've ever read on prayer. In fact, at times I wondered if it was too honest. But it was it's rawness – it's real-ness – that grew on me. So often, the writer's reflections on prayer matched my wrestlings in prayer, and I even wondered if Dudley had been reading my mail. It was so helpful to know that someone else seemed to understand my struggles.

In a way, this book felt more like a writer simply sharing about prayer than like a teacher instructing on prayer, and that has its own appeal. Delffs is an able writer, and he quoted many reliable sources, so the book doesn't lack depth. But it was his informality that gave this book its appeal. That's why it felt like such a relatable book, and is why it gave me so much to reflect on – and hopefully to act on!

[Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't really gotten into many books about a person's "musings" or biographical thoughts about Christian stuff BUT I really liked this book: good quotes, personal anecdotes that weren't too self-indulgent, as some books are...

This book drew me into a good conversation about prayer.

"When thou prayest, rather let thy heart be without words than thy words be without heart." John Bunyan

"We don't have to offer God anything except our hearts." p13

"We must lay before God what is in us, not what ought to be in us." C.S. Lewis

Prayer is a cry of hope.

Prayer killer: busyness (Chinese word for it - "killing heart")

God allows temptations to remind us of our need for Him. p35

Job: he is an example of a suffering person AND STILL KEEPS TALKING TO GOD. p37

Prayer is the result of the hope God hears, God cares, God will answer. Hope is a longing....p52 ... a revolutionary patience Anne Lamont

"Prayer is not eloquence, but earnestness..." Hannah More

"Prayer does not change God but changes him who prays." Soren Kierkegaard

Our earnest responses to life invite us to pray. p64

What keeps my prayer life alive ... is my desire to experience God everyday. p66

Confession continually reduces our sense of self that comes from the remnants of our sinful nature. p108
(requires humility,.... causes us to recognize God's grace and holiness)

.... ask, seek, knock --- we are not to give up which causes us to seek HIM

Often, we want the answer but not Him p122

Answers to prayer are a "stewardship" p129

All prayer, pursued enough becomes praise p139

A prayer-centered life is living in the bull's eye of God's love for you. p156

Ultimately, we hope for the fulfillment of our Father's love in heaven. p182

Prayer is welcoming our Father's presence into a lifetime conversation with our hearts. (restless peace) p 186

[Jake Kern · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE book that helped me understand and implement the concept of "praying without ceasing" into my life.

[Carissa]

This was given to me as a gift and was very impactful in my thought process regarding prayer. It's time to re-read this one.