Don't Stop Praying: The God Who Hears Is Just a Breath Away

by Matthew West, Matt Litton (Primary Contributor)

Sharing personal insights from Matthew's faith journey and a Bible-based exploration of the power and meaning of prayer, Don't Stop Praying aims to help readers rediscover the thriving, intimate, and bold prayer life that Jesus desires for us.

As Christians, we don't embrace the central truth of our faith that prayer actually changes the world – our conversations with God have an impact on eternity. Author and Grammy nominated songwriter, Matthew West, invites his readers to join him in an exploration of prayer sparked by the personal realization that over the course of his lifetime he has "become really good at talking about Jesus instead of talking to Him."

Don't Stop Praying includes

Biblical examples that teach us how to pray, when to pray, and what to pray for;prayer challenges and thought-provoking questions to be used in prayer groups or with a prayer partner;different types of prayers available to readers and offer models of different prayers; andMatthew's trademark humor and storytelling. 

We face challenges and difficult questions of grief and desperation, but the truth is, we are people of prayer.

Genres: Christian

272 pages, Paperback

Published February 3, 2026

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Story enthusiast (●´⌓`●) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary:
The central theme of this book is not simply talking to Jesus but actively talking with him.
West tests the reader's belief that prayer can change the world and profoundly influence eternity. He addresses the “discouragement gap,” which is the feeling when the prayer appears unanswered, and inspires the readers to keep seeking even when they feel like simply giving up.
This particular book is from the West’s own personal understanding that he has become good in matters of faith. However, had neglected the intimacy of having a routine prayer life. He brings readers back to rediscover prayer as a daily, sincere conversation rather than a religious chore.
This book is designed to be practical, interactive, and honest, with prayer prompts (thought-provoking questions and challenges). The West refers to scripture to teach us how to pray, and it is divided into 40 chapters that serve as a 40-day prayer challenge.
As with Matthew West’s style, the book utilizes his humor and personal storytelling. Sharing his own experiences and stories from his own life, as well as testimonies that he had encountered and received from his fans on tour, showing that no circumstances, small or big, are too complex for God to take on.

Intended Audience:
The primary audience consists of individuals who feel they are stuck or in the “waiting room” season of life. West particularly addresses those who have cried until their tears run dry and are contemplating whether God still hears them. If you specifically feel like your prayers are hitting rock bottom, then this book is for you. This book is also great for Bible study, as it offers practical steps to strengthen your faith. Allowing you to reflect after each chapter and discuss with a group.
Nonetheless, the intended audience is anyone seeking persistence and an intimate prayer life. Whether you are a lifelong believer or someone who has strayed away from church or faith, but is looking for hope. This book works towards meeting you where you are.

Review:
Matthew West has such a great special gift for taking a heavy subject, such as the silent seasons of faith, and transforming it into an anthem of hope. This book is more than a companion to his hit song; it is a crucial guide for those who feel their prayers are hitting rock bottom.
What makes this specific book shine is West's honesty. He doesn’t write in the sense of an individual who is the perfect example of faith, but he explains that his personal realization hit me right in the heart. He has done a good job explaining this particular topic. This vulnerability makes this book feel like a conversation with a friend over coffee rather than a lecture.
For those who have struggled with “what” to pray or even “how” to keep going. If you’re in a season of “waiting” or “struck,” this book can be best described as your cheerleader cheering you on. West centers on the “impossible,” the addictions and those wrongs or hurts that make them want to give up. He structures the prayer not as a way to get what we want, but as a way to draw us closer to the One who already knows our future and the end of our story. That being said, whether you are a “prayer warrior” or someone who hasn’t prayed in years, this book is a great example and reminder that our Father has heard every word we’ve spoken. It is inspiring, relatable, and provides great tools.

[Delia Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to be honest I loved the title and saw Matthew West and decided to read this because it was on prayer. I just thought this book would help me with my prayer journey. The book is divided into 40 chapters and I think it would be good to read one chapter a day for Lent but of course it can be any 40 days. Each chapter is broken up into three parts. The first part is a teaching that has a story or Bible scriptures but are simple to read and don't take a lot of time. The second part is a prayer challenge which basically challenges you in some way to put the teaching into action. The last part is a prayer journal which has three questions to think and write about. I love this approach to how this book is laid out because it doesn't take forever to read but it challenges you to apply the teachings in your life. This book could be read by one person or a group of people at a Bible study. The challenges and prayer journal sections would be an amazing way for a group of followers to grow individually and also as a group. In a group you would get to hear about how others executed the challenges and questions. If you want to know the truth of we are people of prayer and grow in prayer, this is the book for you. I received an Advance Reader Copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Erin Laramore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a brilliant read on the how-to's, the importance and the power of prayer. Set up in 40 short chapters, this can be read through as a reminder about prayer, or can be used as a 40 day devotional. Each chapter can be read in 10 minutes or less and each focuses on an element of prayer. Matthew West provides anecdotes from his personal experiences - as a musician, as a dad, or just in general as a Christian. I enjoyed the stories that accompanied the words of advice to show the personal experience he had with each chapter. There were also scriptures included throughout and references to the song lyrics West has written and how they came to be. This was a very enjoyable read and good reminders and information on the importance of prayer. I read this as a book straight through, but may revisit this one during Lent as a 40 day devotional to get the information spread out a bit more and bring those truths back home again. All in all, this was a great resource for all Christians or anyone who wants to grow their prayer life a bit more. Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

[Michelle | Simply in the Moment · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was a big fan of Matthew West's music for years, so I was excited to read Don't Stop Praying. After learning about his hypocrisy regarding his views and actions, I couldn't take anything he says in this book seriously. He claims he's a Christian, but his actions don't back up what it truly means to be a Christian.

I had a hard time reading anything he says when he doesn't practice what he says, both in this book and his song lyrics. Prayer is the central theme of this book, and I do believe in its importance. I don't really think Matthew West's preaching in his book is going to influence me in that way.

I don't, and I won't support a so-called Christian in name only. He may call himself a Christian, but until his actions reflect Christian-like qualities, it will be a hard pass on anything he sings or writes.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Jolene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t Stop Praying by Matthew West was exactly what my heart needed. This book is honest, warm, and full of encouragement. It doesn’t try to be fancy or overly polished, just real, relatable, and full of reminders that God hears us, even when life feels heavy.

As I read, it felt like Matthew was sitting across from me sharing stories, hope, and gentle nudges to keep going. Some chapters made me smile, some made me tear up, but all of them made me feel understood.

If you’re walking through something difficult or just need a boost in your faith, this book truly meets you where you are. It left me feeling lighter, stronger, and reminded that prayer still matters even when we feel worn out.

It’s one I’m grateful to have read and one I’ll be recommending to others.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Staying close to your Creator is the only way to fully embrace your true identity as a child of the one true King!.”

Matthew West really did a great job with this book on prayer. It was a quick and easy read, but it was packed with powerful insider on improving your prayer life and to learn how to feel closer to God. Each chapter was bite-sized, filled with spiritual wisdom, and had tangible action steps to take. Each chapter ends with a call to action with that specific aspect of prayer as well as journal prompts to dig deeper and apply that teaching to your personal prayer life. I’m going to be recommending this read to my Bible study girls!

I received an advanced readers copy of this book from NetGalley, but all opinions expressed are my own.

[Will Abrams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matthew West's book is a great encouragement to get more serious about praying. It's filled with practical advice on how to pray and scriptural support for why prayer matters. There are 40 chapters and they are each only a few pages in length. This would be good as a devotional or supplement to your normal routine, but if you are going to actually do the suggested homework (journaling, etc.) you might want to stretch it beyond 40 days so you are not trying to do too much. This is not a theology textbook, so most of the advice/teaching is pretty simple.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous devotional on prayer. It walks you through how to pray, when to pray, and why to pray in 40 short readings, each ending with a prayer journal time and thought-provoking questions. It can be read daily, but many of the questions include putting something into practice for a week so you might consider going through it slowly to absorb all the lessons.

I really enjoyed it. This is a tremendous resource for anyone who wants to learn to pray or to improve your prayer life.

Thanks to NetGalley and W Publishing. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Katherina Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book. The chapters are short. That really gave me incentive to read one a night. It definitely helped with prayer topics. Matthew West is a great singer and now I am finding out that he is a great author.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the complementary digital ARC. This review is entirely my own thoughts and not coerced in anyway. I encourage everyone that is trying to strengthen their prayer life to read this book

[Krystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I like how real this author sounds and find he is relatable. One thing I absolutely dislike about books and topics is when it comes off as overly preachy, cheesy and unrealistic, I found none of that in this book. I also liked that the chapters are full of inspiration and prayer journal questions that are easy to complete and the chapters are short and to the point and not full of fluff or filler.

[Mayra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I connected to this book in many ways, this book showed the struggle of prayer and how we can overcome our struggles or doubts about prayer. One thing i really enjoyed about this book is how the author gave us prayer journal questions and Prayer Challenges but the overall theme was “Dont stop praying” He explained even when you feel unworthy or not “enough” for God

[Cindy M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most interactive devotionals I’ve read. I like that it has just more than questions like a standard devotional. After being so excited my husband and I’ve decided to get this as a couples read. I think it would be great for couples, families, friends, or book groups to work on!

[Cynde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matthew West describes his need to improve his prayer life. He gives suggestions and commentary that can effect the reader's life as well. He includes the impetus behind the song be the same name that he wrote during this time. It is an interesting and informative read. I am glad I got to read it.

[Joni Truex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book that encourages you to closely examine your relationship with Jesus and your prayer life. Inciteful, easy to read and beautifully written. Definitely worth the read. This book was provided through NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are my own thoughts.