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Praying on Offense: A Simple Guide to Transformational Prayer
Praying on Offense is a resource for people who hunger for a more vibrant faith. The author has made the practice of prayer practical for everyday life, so that our relationship with God feels as natural as breathing, rather than a forced or awkward addition to our already crowded life. Experience freedom, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to go after God's desires while praying on offense for the people and spaces you encounter daily.
160 pages, Paperback
Published April 5, 2024
About the author
Jeff Clark
62 books8 followersBorn in southern California in 1971, Jeff Clark drummed for the band Buick, whose 1992 album Sweatertongue was reissued in 2020. He is the author of The Little Door Slides Back (Sun & Moon, 1997; Farrar Straus Giroux, 2004, Music and Suicide (Farrar Straus Giroux, 2004), and Ruins (Turtle Point Press, 2009). He is also the designer and translator A Roll of the Dice by Stéphane Mallarmé (Wave Books, 2015) and Boredom Weeps: Graffiti, Curses, Inscriptions of May 1968 (Black Ink, 2018). In 2025 he wrote, designed, and published the zine We Are a Conspiracy: 56 Notes on Red. His design studio is called Crisis.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 17, 2024
Jeff is someone I look up to as a leader of men. Praying on offense was a practical way to find time to pray for those who are around you each and every day. I love the 1,3,2 method.
Taking spiritual ownership of one space God has already placed you in.
Embracing a deep sense of calling to three people in that space.
Regularly engaging in the two sides of prayer.
1) God, what do you want me to know?
2) God, what do you want me to do?
Taking spiritual ownership of one space God has already placed you in.
Embracing a deep sense of calling to three people in that space.
Regularly engaging in the two sides of prayer.
1) God, what do you want me to know?
2) God, what do you want me to do?
January 7, 2026
Right at the time I was interested in finding a resource that would help my prayer life, I was introduced to this book. One of the surprising things is that it was written by a basketball coach rather than a pastor. Although I have never been an athlete, I have always enjoyed reading about various sports and sports figures. The author used examples from his own life as a coach to help convey the concepts of praying on offense. I will definitely be returning to this book to study the concepts more closely in the months ahead. The book is easy to read but packs a powerful message that resonated with me. I am not a huge fan of apps for everything, but there is an app to help believers adopt the praying on offense approach. Although I installed the app, I will be referring to the book to help me get started. I have heard it stated that the best way to learn to pray is simply to just start talking to God. I like that the author places an emphasis on talking with God. Maybe you are like me and have recognized that there is a difference between talking to someone and talking with someone. I believe this book will help me improve on talking with God.
February 19, 2026
Love the concepts. Very simple.
Lower rating bc I felt like the book could have been written with half the words.
Lower rating bc I felt like the book could have been written with half the words.
August 29, 2026
This book was such a good reminder that prayer isn't supposed to be something we only turn to when we need something from God. It's also about being intentional with where He's placed us, the people He's put in our lives, and how we can be used to make a difference right where we are.
One of the biggest takeaways for me was the concept of 1, 3, 2:
1 space God has already placed you in, where you take spiritual ownership.
3 people in that space whom you intentionally feel called to pray for and invest in.
2 sides of prayer, asking God, "What do you want me to know?" and "What do you want me to do?"
That last part really stood out to me. It's one thing to pray for someone or something, but it's another thing to be willing to act when the Holy Spirit leads you. We can't just listen to God's Word and never do anything with it. James 1:22-25 reminds us that we are called to be doers of the Word, not just hearers.
Another concept I appreciated was the idea of entering the marketplace with our faith. And no, that doesn't just mean our actual workplace. It includes our jobs, our families, our hobbies, and the everyday places where God has given us influence. Our faith shouldn't be something we leave at church on Sunday. It should influence how we work, how we treat people, how we lead, and how we show up in our everyday lives.
I also loved the reminder that praying on offense is hopeful and future-oriented. It's not just about reacting to what's going wrong or praying when things get difficult. It's about asking God what He wants to do through us and recognizing the opportunities He has already placed in front of us.
One quote that really stuck with me was:
"If God is kind enough to reveal something to you, it's probably because you have a role to play!"
That is such a powerful way to look at prayer. Sometimes we ask God to intervene in a situation, but what if He's also asking us to be part of the answer? If we recognize a need, pray about it, and then ignore the opportunity to do something, are we really completing what God has placed on our hearts?
The book also challenged me to think about how prayer creates space for God to work in the lives of the people around us. Romans 8:26-27 reminds us that even when we don't know what to pray for, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. We don't have to have all the right words or know exactly what needs to happen. We just need to be willing to listen and respond.
And I have to mention Jeff's personal story about his newborn son, Josh, and his wife, Tiffany. His repeated attempts to convince her that their FOUR-DAY-OLD baby needed to learn resilience by crying it out had me laughing. Especially when she finally told him to go back to bed! It was a funny, relatable moment that added some personality to the book and reminded me that even people who write about intentional prayer and spiritual leadership are still figuring out everyday life.
Overall, Praying on Offense challenged me to stop thinking of prayer as simply asking God to fix things and start looking at it as an opportunity to partner with Him. It's about recognizing the people and places He's entrusted to us, praying intentionally, listening for His direction, and being obedient when He calls us to act.
I especially loved the reminder that we often overestimate what we can accomplish in three days but underestimate what God can do through consistent faithfulness over three years.
If you're looking for a book that will challenge you to be more intentional with your faith, your prayers, and the influence God has given you, I definitely recommend picking this one up.
My biggest takeaway: Don't just pray about the opportunities God puts in front of you. Be willing to become part of the answer.
One of the biggest takeaways for me was the concept of 1, 3, 2:
1 space God has already placed you in, where you take spiritual ownership.
3 people in that space whom you intentionally feel called to pray for and invest in.
2 sides of prayer, asking God, "What do you want me to know?" and "What do you want me to do?"
That last part really stood out to me. It's one thing to pray for someone or something, but it's another thing to be willing to act when the Holy Spirit leads you. We can't just listen to God's Word and never do anything with it. James 1:22-25 reminds us that we are called to be doers of the Word, not just hearers.
Another concept I appreciated was the idea of entering the marketplace with our faith. And no, that doesn't just mean our actual workplace. It includes our jobs, our families, our hobbies, and the everyday places where God has given us influence. Our faith shouldn't be something we leave at church on Sunday. It should influence how we work, how we treat people, how we lead, and how we show up in our everyday lives.
I also loved the reminder that praying on offense is hopeful and future-oriented. It's not just about reacting to what's going wrong or praying when things get difficult. It's about asking God what He wants to do through us and recognizing the opportunities He has already placed in front of us.
One quote that really stuck with me was:
"If God is kind enough to reveal something to you, it's probably because you have a role to play!"
That is such a powerful way to look at prayer. Sometimes we ask God to intervene in a situation, but what if He's also asking us to be part of the answer? If we recognize a need, pray about it, and then ignore the opportunity to do something, are we really completing what God has placed on our hearts?
The book also challenged me to think about how prayer creates space for God to work in the lives of the people around us. Romans 8:26-27 reminds us that even when we don't know what to pray for, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. We don't have to have all the right words or know exactly what needs to happen. We just need to be willing to listen and respond.
And I have to mention Jeff's personal story about his newborn son, Josh, and his wife, Tiffany. His repeated attempts to convince her that their FOUR-DAY-OLD baby needed to learn resilience by crying it out had me laughing. Especially when she finally told him to go back to bed! It was a funny, relatable moment that added some personality to the book and reminded me that even people who write about intentional prayer and spiritual leadership are still figuring out everyday life.
Overall, Praying on Offense challenged me to stop thinking of prayer as simply asking God to fix things and start looking at it as an opportunity to partner with Him. It's about recognizing the people and places He's entrusted to us, praying intentionally, listening for His direction, and being obedient when He calls us to act.
I especially loved the reminder that we often overestimate what we can accomplish in three days but underestimate what God can do through consistent faithfulness over three years.
If you're looking for a book that will challenge you to be more intentional with your faith, your prayers, and the influence God has given you, I definitely recommend picking this one up.
My biggest takeaway: Don't just pray about the opportunities God puts in front of you. Be willing to become part of the answer.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews