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Pray Big Things: The Surprising Life God Has for You When You're Bold Enough to Ask
In Pray Big Things , Julia Jeffress Sadler dares you to start praying big . Sharing her own story of God's life-changing answers to bold prayers--a miraculous journey through infertility, miscarriages, and giving birth to triplets--Julia challenges you to take God at His Word and see Him move like never before. Humorous, practical, and filled with biblical insights, this book will give you the courage to pray big things and watch expectantly for God's even bigger answers.
208 pages, Paperback
Published September 3, 2019
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1029 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
August 30, 2019
I was a fan of this family even before I read this, even more so now. Their passion for God is infectious and their joy inspiring. This is spectacularly written and bursting at the seams with faith filled truth. Her authenticity and vulnerability in sharing her story, in laying open her heart on these pages, will help countless people. Their story is remarkable and a testament to Gods goodness. This book will inspire you, motivate you, give you hope, leave you breathless at Gods work, and make you fall head over heels for this family. Julia is a breath of fresh air and an amazing light. This book is fantastic and I look forward to reading more from her in the future!
June 12, 2020
To me, this book was good but not great... Probably because it took me several months to read and I kept starting, stopping, and losing my place. There were definitely a lot of encouraging and helpful thoughts throughout this book about prayer and asking God for Big Things. The author stated that she did not believe in the prosperity Gospel, but the first few chapters kind of sounded like a prosperity Gospel book. It got better as the book went along.
January 28, 2024
This was a hard book for me to read right now, but there was encouragement within its pages. It was a little repetitive. I agree with the message of praying to God for what’s placed in our hearts, but sometimes it seemed to lean towards a prosperity gospel mindset although the author stated that was not her meaning. I think prayer helps to align our hearts to God’s, knowing he is with us in all challenges. We need to guard against just asking God for random things we want. I’ve received a lot of no and wait answers to recent prayers and I wish the book spoke more to that.
June 8, 2020
It’s always a good reminder to not limit God and to keep trusting Him. Too much in this world needs God sized answers (rather than our small human ideas) and God sized power.
February 5, 2020
This book is better suited for more mature believers
In her new book, “Pray Big Things: The Surprising Life God Has for You When You’re BOLD ENOUGH TO ASK,” Julia Jeffress Sadler says we should not only pray big prayers but also own them: “When we don’t take ownership of our faith, we are not excited about it, resulting many times in temporary, practical, or permanent abandonment of our faith (page 20).”
Published by Baker Books, Sadler’s 208-page book further explores the realm of praying beyond our physical understanding into the realm of faith by simply asking God what He has already promised us in His Word. But she says we need to be both specific and persistent (page 31).
On the one hand, Sadler offers a nice balance of praying for the impossible, with praying and asking according to His will. Oftentimes, we pray big things that are not in line with the Word of God and we wonder why God doesn’t answer our prayers, let alone hear us when we do.
One of the most important chapters is Chapter 7 (Purpose in the Pain). Most of the time, we don’t always understand why certain things happen – especially when we have prayed, and have been faithful and obedient to His Word, yet sometimes things happen that are just plain unfair: “How do we stay close to God when it appears He has let us down?” she writes (page 125).
Which brings us to the flip side of this issue of praying big things. On the other hand, then, the reader should be cautious about presuming too much of God. After all, that’s really the core problem with the so-called Word of Faith Movement. They assume that we can go to God, and, like a kid in a candy store, get anything we desire from Him if we just have enough faith and confess enough Bible verses to somehow twist God’s arm into granting our requests.
That’s really the major qualm I have with Sadler’s book. Yes, we are to ask in faith. We are to pray without ceasing. We are to “ask anything in His name, He hears us.” Yet, the simple truth is we don’t always get our heart’s desire when we ask and pray. We can get disappointed with God (as Phillip Yancey has often addressed). It’s not always easy to pray, and be specific and persistent – especially when, more often than not, life is unfair and hard at times.
What the reader needs to be careful of here is not developing false hope simply because the reader prays big prayers. Yes, He is faithful and He has down miraculous things in all of our lives. (I can definitely attest to that.) But life just is not like that just because we pray big things.
While Sadler does address these concerns in Chapter 8 (Unanswered Prayers), this book’s message could be misconstrued as nothing more than hyper-faith and Word of Faith theology – namely with young believers who are not mature enough to realize their prayers will not always be answered exactly the way they want them to be answered.
That would be the one caveat here – although Sadler does address that here as well.
“We have two roads to choose. We can turn our backs on God, deciding He doesn’t really care since He isn’t answering how we think He should, or we can choose daily, sometimes hourly, to come to Him with our hurt, fears, and questions (page 147).”
Overall, Sadler does a fairly good job of conveying the central theme. However, her book would be better suited for the more mature believer – especially since most new believers are still on the pure milk of God’s Word and not quite ready for the meat of this book (I Cor. 3: 1-2).
I gave Sadler’s book a 3 out of 5 stars.
Full disclosure: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, I received this book free through the Baker Books Bloggers Program. My opinions are my own and I wasn’t required to write a positive review.
© 2019 by Doug S., M.A.
In her new book, “Pray Big Things: The Surprising Life God Has for You When You’re BOLD ENOUGH TO ASK,” Julia Jeffress Sadler says we should not only pray big prayers but also own them: “When we don’t take ownership of our faith, we are not excited about it, resulting many times in temporary, practical, or permanent abandonment of our faith (page 20).”
Published by Baker Books, Sadler’s 208-page book further explores the realm of praying beyond our physical understanding into the realm of faith by simply asking God what He has already promised us in His Word. But she says we need to be both specific and persistent (page 31).
On the one hand, Sadler offers a nice balance of praying for the impossible, with praying and asking according to His will. Oftentimes, we pray big things that are not in line with the Word of God and we wonder why God doesn’t answer our prayers, let alone hear us when we do.
One of the most important chapters is Chapter 7 (Purpose in the Pain). Most of the time, we don’t always understand why certain things happen – especially when we have prayed, and have been faithful and obedient to His Word, yet sometimes things happen that are just plain unfair: “How do we stay close to God when it appears He has let us down?” she writes (page 125).
Which brings us to the flip side of this issue of praying big things. On the other hand, then, the reader should be cautious about presuming too much of God. After all, that’s really the core problem with the so-called Word of Faith Movement. They assume that we can go to God, and, like a kid in a candy store, get anything we desire from Him if we just have enough faith and confess enough Bible verses to somehow twist God’s arm into granting our requests.
That’s really the major qualm I have with Sadler’s book. Yes, we are to ask in faith. We are to pray without ceasing. We are to “ask anything in His name, He hears us.” Yet, the simple truth is we don’t always get our heart’s desire when we ask and pray. We can get disappointed with God (as Phillip Yancey has often addressed). It’s not always easy to pray, and be specific and persistent – especially when, more often than not, life is unfair and hard at times.
What the reader needs to be careful of here is not developing false hope simply because the reader prays big prayers. Yes, He is faithful and He has down miraculous things in all of our lives. (I can definitely attest to that.) But life just is not like that just because we pray big things.
While Sadler does address these concerns in Chapter 8 (Unanswered Prayers), this book’s message could be misconstrued as nothing more than hyper-faith and Word of Faith theology – namely with young believers who are not mature enough to realize their prayers will not always be answered exactly the way they want them to be answered.
That would be the one caveat here – although Sadler does address that here as well.
“We have two roads to choose. We can turn our backs on God, deciding He doesn’t really care since He isn’t answering how we think He should, or we can choose daily, sometimes hourly, to come to Him with our hurt, fears, and questions (page 147).”
Overall, Sadler does a fairly good job of conveying the central theme. However, her book would be better suited for the more mature believer – especially since most new believers are still on the pure milk of God’s Word and not quite ready for the meat of this book (I Cor. 3: 1-2).
I gave Sadler’s book a 3 out of 5 stars.
Full disclosure: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, I received this book free through the Baker Books Bloggers Program. My opinions are my own and I wasn’t required to write a positive review.
© 2019 by Doug S., M.A.
October 19, 2019
A testament to God answering big prayers.
Pray Big Things – The Surprising Life God Has for You When You’re Bold Enough to Ask is Julia Jeffress Sadler’s testimony of God answering her big prayers.
Ms. Jeffress Sadler’s struggle with infertility ultimately led to her and her husband’s quest to ensure they were living a life pleasing to God. This included praying specifically for biological children, among other caveats. When their prayers were answered, Pray Big Things became the means to give the glory to God and show others how He answered their prayers.
Making ‘big things’ happen involves prayer and action. We can’t be passive bystanders and expect God to do all the work. Each chapter contains “Take Action” sections that lead the reader to apply the concepts.
A beautiful nugget in the book involves finding your purpose. As she describes the formula that resulted in the miracle of their children, she also defines what I think is the most concise description of discerning God’s will for each of us that I’ve read to date. Namely, that God will use your inherent strengths and passions, so He won’t call you to do something you can’t do or that you’d hate doing.
How this book affected me:
One thing I personally loved about this book is the idea of deciding in good times what we think about God and then living that out when we’re faced with difficulty. If we wait until difficult times to decide what we think about God, our impression might not include all the amazing ways He has already blessed our lives. This was a great reminder.
I appreciated the author’s zeal for spreading her message about God working in her life and the way He answered their big prayers. I enjoyed the testimony and loved her giving the glory to God. On the flip side, I personally struggled with some of the assertions – such as, that if we are more obedient and not a ‘sold out’ Christian, that we will receive God’s approval/favor/blessings.
Who would enjoy this book:
The author’s fan will definitely enjoy Pray Big Things. People struggling with infertility might find it comforting. (But it might also be detrimental if their prayers don’t result in a baby). Anyone looking for testimony as to the power of prayer and how God answers prayers would enjoy this book.
Our Christian Book Reviews:
The book reviews at Finding God Among Us focus on Christian books, adult and children, fiction and nonfiction. We’re proud to be listed in the Top 50 Christian Book Bloggers !
I chose to read an ARC from Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group. This review is my honest opinion. I gave this book 3.5/5 stars on my blog and rounded to 4 stars for this review.
Pray Big Things – The Surprising Life God Has for You When You’re Bold Enough to Ask is Julia Jeffress Sadler’s testimony of God answering her big prayers.
Ms. Jeffress Sadler’s struggle with infertility ultimately led to her and her husband’s quest to ensure they were living a life pleasing to God. This included praying specifically for biological children, among other caveats. When their prayers were answered, Pray Big Things became the means to give the glory to God and show others how He answered their prayers.
Making ‘big things’ happen involves prayer and action. We can’t be passive bystanders and expect God to do all the work. Each chapter contains “Take Action” sections that lead the reader to apply the concepts.
A beautiful nugget in the book involves finding your purpose. As she describes the formula that resulted in the miracle of their children, she also defines what I think is the most concise description of discerning God’s will for each of us that I’ve read to date. Namely, that God will use your inherent strengths and passions, so He won’t call you to do something you can’t do or that you’d hate doing.
How this book affected me:
One thing I personally loved about this book is the idea of deciding in good times what we think about God and then living that out when we’re faced with difficulty. If we wait until difficult times to decide what we think about God, our impression might not include all the amazing ways He has already blessed our lives. This was a great reminder.
I appreciated the author’s zeal for spreading her message about God working in her life and the way He answered their big prayers. I enjoyed the testimony and loved her giving the glory to God. On the flip side, I personally struggled with some of the assertions – such as, that if we are more obedient and not a ‘sold out’ Christian, that we will receive God’s approval/favor/blessings.
Who would enjoy this book:
The author’s fan will definitely enjoy Pray Big Things. People struggling with infertility might find it comforting. (But it might also be detrimental if their prayers don’t result in a baby). Anyone looking for testimony as to the power of prayer and how God answers prayers would enjoy this book.
Our Christian Book Reviews:
The book reviews at Finding God Among Us focus on Christian books, adult and children, fiction and nonfiction. We’re proud to be listed in the Top 50 Christian Book Bloggers !
I chose to read an ARC from Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group. This review is my honest opinion. I gave this book 3.5/5 stars on my blog and rounded to 4 stars for this review.
October 9, 2019
Overall Pray Big Things was a good book. It wasn’t what I was expecting, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good read. I just had to shift my perspective and expectation as I read the book. I’ll get the minor complaints out of the way first. As I mentioned it wasn’t what I expected. The book really highlights the suffering aspect of faith, which is a need, but the title didn’t necessarily reflect that. So, I wasn’t expecting to read a biography about suffering and our mindset as we process through it. I was caught a bit off-guard. In addition to that the scripture references are often, but also generally limited to singe verses and partial verses. While I don’t think I disagree with the usage of them in this book, you run the risk of taking a verse slightly out of context and painting a picture that is slightly untrue. Like I said, I don’t find the message of this book to be untrue, I’m just concerned it may encourage others to take verses the same way.
Those were my two main disappointments. On the positive side I found it to be well written. A bit repetitive at times, but overall well written. I didn’t always connect, but I’ve also never been through miscarriages and infertility, so that connection point was sometimes limiting for me. Julia does a good job though of helping readers understand her despair and ultimate reliance on Christ through her circumstances, so I was still able to see her situation, empathize, and respect what it would take to come through positively the way they did.
There were a few moments I almost put the book down, but I encourage everyone to push through those moments. There are a lot of small golden nuggets of truth in this book, one of those point in particular comes in the bit about changing our mindset. No spoilers from me, but keep pushing. Overall I give this book 3 out of 5 because it wasn’t what I was expecting and that is a big part of reading for me. Books should be marketed in a way as to guide their readers to know what they’re picking up so they can be well equipped for their experiences. Setting that aside, this is definitely a book I will set aside and recommend for anyone struggling or experiencing suffering.
Those were my two main disappointments. On the positive side I found it to be well written. A bit repetitive at times, but overall well written. I didn’t always connect, but I’ve also never been through miscarriages and infertility, so that connection point was sometimes limiting for me. Julia does a good job though of helping readers understand her despair and ultimate reliance on Christ through her circumstances, so I was still able to see her situation, empathize, and respect what it would take to come through positively the way they did.
There were a few moments I almost put the book down, but I encourage everyone to push through those moments. There are a lot of small golden nuggets of truth in this book, one of those point in particular comes in the bit about changing our mindset. No spoilers from me, but keep pushing. Overall I give this book 3 out of 5 because it wasn’t what I was expecting and that is a big part of reading for me. Books should be marketed in a way as to guide their readers to know what they’re picking up so they can be well equipped for their experiences. Setting that aside, this is definitely a book I will set aside and recommend for anyone struggling or experiencing suffering.
August 21, 2019
There are so many health and wealth, name it and claim it books out today that I was a bit skeptical picking up Julia Jeffress Sadler's book Pray Big Things. But I found myself pleasantly surprised, and her easy, conversational style drew me in.
In the book, Sadler, who is an author, speaker, and counselor, challenges readers to believe that "God is an active God who listens to our requests" and to pray like they believe it. Admitting that God is not just a genie in the sky who grants whatever we wish, she also points out that James 4:7 often rings true--that we don't have what we want because we don't ask God for it. Drawing from her own experience of asking God for some big things--triplets, a TV show, and the opportunity to share her story through books--Sadler encourages readers to ask God for big things and to persevere in prayer to a powerful God.
Right off the bat she admits to not being a theological while joking that she often tells people she graduated from "Pastor's Daughter Seminary." Still, Sadler offers up a pretty biblically based offering in Pray Big Things, and that's such a comfort to know. Intertwining her personal story and the biblical narrative of Joseph, Sadler also gives readers questions to consider in their own journey as well as practical steps to take--all steeped in biblical truth and principles. I appreciate her authenticity and her willingness to be real with the reader. I also appreciate Sadler's commitment to biblical principles of prayer. Some of my favorite parts were chapter three, which focused on working while you pray--doing your part to discover God's purposes while you're praying through questions and difficulty, and chapter six, which focused on dealing with anxiety and confronting Satan's lies with God's truth. Sadler's book offers a great balance of personal story, biblical truth, and practical steps readers can take in their own prayer lives. This is a great book, one you'll be glad you read, and probably one you'll want to pass on to others, too.
Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for this honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.
In the book, Sadler, who is an author, speaker, and counselor, challenges readers to believe that "God is an active God who listens to our requests" and to pray like they believe it. Admitting that God is not just a genie in the sky who grants whatever we wish, she also points out that James 4:7 often rings true--that we don't have what we want because we don't ask God for it. Drawing from her own experience of asking God for some big things--triplets, a TV show, and the opportunity to share her story through books--Sadler encourages readers to ask God for big things and to persevere in prayer to a powerful God.
Right off the bat she admits to not being a theological while joking that she often tells people she graduated from "Pastor's Daughter Seminary." Still, Sadler offers up a pretty biblically based offering in Pray Big Things, and that's such a comfort to know. Intertwining her personal story and the biblical narrative of Joseph, Sadler also gives readers questions to consider in their own journey as well as practical steps to take--all steeped in biblical truth and principles. I appreciate her authenticity and her willingness to be real with the reader. I also appreciate Sadler's commitment to biblical principles of prayer. Some of my favorite parts were chapter three, which focused on working while you pray--doing your part to discover God's purposes while you're praying through questions and difficulty, and chapter six, which focused on dealing with anxiety and confronting Satan's lies with God's truth. Sadler's book offers a great balance of personal story, biblical truth, and practical steps readers can take in their own prayer lives. This is a great book, one you'll be glad you read, and probably one you'll want to pass on to others, too.
Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for this honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.
September 27, 2019
Mrs. Sadler is a wonderful writer who really knows how to engage her audience. She is very gifted with words and had clearly used her gifts to relay her story and message. She details her and her husband’s journey of miscarriages and infertility, culminating in the arrival of their three triplets! She details how they intentionally prayed for very specific thing, all of which were answered in one way or another. As entertaining of a read, as it was, I had some reservations about the message they presented.
While Bible verses are expertly woven throughout, I felt like some of them were used out of context. Psalm 37:4 (Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart) being one of them. Without going into too much detail, the book started to feel like a manual for how to pray for material things you want. If you look at the Lord’s Prayer, which Jesus states as the model prayer for believers in Matthew 6:9-13. Jesus even says in verse 8 after he draws a comparison of the hypocrites “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him”. I do think there’s a big difference between want and needs. I also believe that it is ok to have wants and desires but I think we should ask for them with the caveat of these requests being in the Will of God. If we look at Jesus’ prayer in Matthew 6, the only material thing he asks for is Daily Bread which can be interpreted to mean sufficient for the day. (https://www.ligonier.org/blog/what-do...) Everything else Jesus prays for keeps God at the center. If we are not careful, Praying Big Things for ourselves makes us the center of focus and that is not what being a Christian is about. Even in His High priestly Prayer (John 17), he makes others and not himself the subject of his supplications.
I think there is a lot of truth in the book, but I do believe people need to be careful when reading it, weighing it against the Bible which is the One True Word of God.
(These thoughts are my own. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review)
While Bible verses are expertly woven throughout, I felt like some of them were used out of context. Psalm 37:4 (Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart) being one of them. Without going into too much detail, the book started to feel like a manual for how to pray for material things you want. If you look at the Lord’s Prayer, which Jesus states as the model prayer for believers in Matthew 6:9-13. Jesus even says in verse 8 after he draws a comparison of the hypocrites “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him”. I do think there’s a big difference between want and needs. I also believe that it is ok to have wants and desires but I think we should ask for them with the caveat of these requests being in the Will of God. If we look at Jesus’ prayer in Matthew 6, the only material thing he asks for is Daily Bread which can be interpreted to mean sufficient for the day. (https://www.ligonier.org/blog/what-do...) Everything else Jesus prays for keeps God at the center. If we are not careful, Praying Big Things for ourselves makes us the center of focus and that is not what being a Christian is about. Even in His High priestly Prayer (John 17), he makes others and not himself the subject of his supplications.
I think there is a lot of truth in the book, but I do believe people need to be careful when reading it, weighing it against the Bible which is the One True Word of God.
(These thoughts are my own. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review)
September 22, 2019
I have learned a lot about prayer over the years from the books I read. For example, God is not offended by big prayers—He would much rather we reach out in faith than have us doubt His abilities by only praying the smallest of prayers. Or things like ‘unprayed prayers’ don’t get answered. So when I saw the opportunity to read Pray Big Things: The Surprising Life God Has for You When You’re BOLD ENOUGH TO ASK (Julia Jeffress Sadler, Baker Books, 2019) I jumped at the chance.
Let me start by saying that I don’t disagree with any of Sadler’s claims or assertions about prayer, and she does have some pretty compelling stories of how God answered her prayers (after several miscarriages with that associated heartbreak, she and her husband prayed specifically for 1) biological children, 2) multiples and 3) both genders—the result was healthy triplets).
But as far as reading the book, it was hard for me to stay engaged. I blame it more on my preference for writing style than anything else, but still, this is not a book that grabbed my attention and refused to let go. There were no earth-shattering moments, no new ideas, nothing that caught my attention and caused me to wonder why I hadn’t considered that before.
And coming from a preacher, it seemed that there were almost too many scripture references. They all fit, but I often got the idea that some of the quotes from scripture were there because the chapter needed a few more words. Reading this book for me was like listening to a new preacher: they have a point to make, or want to get a particular message across, so they look for verses, sometimes out of context, that seem to support their point of view. And when you only have 15 minutes worth of words for your 20 minute message, how better to fill the time than to quote Jesus.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher as a member of their bloggers’ program. I was not required to write a positive review.
3/5
Let me start by saying that I don’t disagree with any of Sadler’s claims or assertions about prayer, and she does have some pretty compelling stories of how God answered her prayers (after several miscarriages with that associated heartbreak, she and her husband prayed specifically for 1) biological children, 2) multiples and 3) both genders—the result was healthy triplets).
But as far as reading the book, it was hard for me to stay engaged. I blame it more on my preference for writing style than anything else, but still, this is not a book that grabbed my attention and refused to let go. There were no earth-shattering moments, no new ideas, nothing that caught my attention and caused me to wonder why I hadn’t considered that before.
And coming from a preacher, it seemed that there were almost too many scripture references. They all fit, but I often got the idea that some of the quotes from scripture were there because the chapter needed a few more words. Reading this book for me was like listening to a new preacher: they have a point to make, or want to get a particular message across, so they look for verses, sometimes out of context, that seem to support their point of view. And when you only have 15 minutes worth of words for your 20 minute message, how better to fill the time than to quote Jesus.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher as a member of their bloggers’ program. I was not required to write a positive review.
3/5
September 4, 2019
Julia has a gift for sharing her heart and inviting us into God's. With courage and vulnerability, she shares her story of daring to ask God for great things, despite deep challenges and heartbreaks. I loved how this book was not just Julia's story, but really a dare to take God at His word in our own lives. By sharing her story of infertility and miscarriages, Julia recognizes that life is not always easy, and is often downright painful. But the heart of the book is about learning to trust and cling to God in the midst of those times, not just in spite of them.
I read this book shortly after suffering my own miscarriage. It was a beautiful challenge to grieve and then press into the Lord, daring to believe He is who He says He is, and then to pray big things, believing His goodness and faithfulness will sustain me. That's what I love about this book: it's not just Julia's story, which is inspiring enough--it also invites you to look at your own story and see how you can take God at His word, and to pray big things to a big God.
If you need a fresh glimpse into the breathtaking truth of how great our God is, this is it. If you need fresh wind breathed into your prayer life, this is it. Pick up this book and dare to believe with Julia that it is not only OK but crucial that we PRAY BIG!
I read this book shortly after suffering my own miscarriage. It was a beautiful challenge to grieve and then press into the Lord, daring to believe He is who He says He is, and then to pray big things, believing His goodness and faithfulness will sustain me. That's what I love about this book: it's not just Julia's story, which is inspiring enough--it also invites you to look at your own story and see how you can take God at His word, and to pray big things to a big God.
If you need a fresh glimpse into the breathtaking truth of how great our God is, this is it. If you need fresh wind breathed into your prayer life, this is it. Pick up this book and dare to believe with Julia that it is not only OK but crucial that we PRAY BIG!
September 17, 2019
I have never really been the type of person to pray, mainly because I felt awkward doing it or wasn't sure if God was receiving it the way I intended for Him to. This book really showed me how truly valuable prayer is and that all we have to do is pray boldly and God will answer. One of my favorite quotes in the book says "You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive because you ask with the wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." (James 4:2-3). This really hit home for me and made me look at my prayer life in a whole new perspective. It encouraged me to write my own Pray Big Things list to pray for each day and see God work in my life.
This book is so inspiring and encouraging and filled with so many references to God's work (I literally highlighted so many quotes and bible references). This book is not only about Julia's story and how God worked in her life, but how God can work in all our our lives if we start praying big and boldly. I challenge you to read this book so that it will give you the courage to pray big things and watch expectantly for God's even bigger answers.
This book is so inspiring and encouraging and filled with so many references to God's work (I literally highlighted so many quotes and bible references). This book is not only about Julia's story and how God worked in her life, but how God can work in all our our lives if we start praying big and boldly. I challenge you to read this book so that it will give you the courage to pray big things and watch expectantly for God's even bigger answers.
October 29, 2019
Julia Jeffress Sadler relates her own personal pain and suffering and combines them with the story of Joseph from the Old Testament to support her theory that we should Pray Big Things. As she tells her story of infertility, miscarriage, and a high-risk pregnancy that resulted in the birth of triplets, we learn how she and her husband decided that they would not just pray---they would pray BIG! Sadler uses God' s Word to encourage us to pray and along with this abundant use of scripture, she also leaves 'nuggets of inspiration' that are worthy of posting to our bathroom mirrors or our refrigerator doors.
Everything that is allowed into our lives has the purpose of making us more like Christ.
When we want what He wants for ourselves and the world, then God honors our desires.
God will give you everything you want when everything you want is Him.
Pray Big Things offers hope, faith, and inspiration and I recommend it to all who want to deepen their relationship with God.
I received this book from Baker Books Bloggers Program but a positive review was not required. These are my own thoughts.
Everything that is allowed into our lives has the purpose of making us more like Christ.
When we want what He wants for ourselves and the world, then God honors our desires.
God will give you everything you want when everything you want is Him.
Pray Big Things offers hope, faith, and inspiration and I recommend it to all who want to deepen their relationship with God.
I received this book from Baker Books Bloggers Program but a positive review was not required. These are my own thoughts.
October 29, 2019
Julia Jeffress Sadler has her first book Pray Big Things. It's a wonderful book about pray and to be fearless and audacious with our prayers. Julia is both a minister's wife, being married to her high school sweetheart Ryan Sadler, as well as the daughter of pastor Robert Jeffress. It's packed full of practical ways to pray better, to even pray for bigger things we thought possible.
I live by the fact that Christ-followers need to be seen and not heard, but what if that translates into praying for others? What would things truly look like if we prayed big, massive things on behalf of others who don't know how to pray? It's one of those big reasons I'm glad to receive this book complimentary from Baker Books.
The big thing I want to say about Julia Jeffress Sadler is that, to me, it seems while we never get things perfect, we can do things as God would desire of us to do. It is my view, of this book she's poured her heart into, that she's done a wonderful and great job delivering what she knows is true and to give insight into how we all just might Pray Big Things.
I live by the fact that Christ-followers need to be seen and not heard, but what if that translates into praying for others? What would things truly look like if we prayed big, massive things on behalf of others who don't know how to pray? It's one of those big reasons I'm glad to receive this book complimentary from Baker Books.
The big thing I want to say about Julia Jeffress Sadler is that, to me, it seems while we never get things perfect, we can do things as God would desire of us to do. It is my view, of this book she's poured her heart into, that she's done a wonderful and great job delivering what she knows is true and to give insight into how we all just might Pray Big Things.
October 15, 2019
Pray Big Things is one of those books that comes along at the perfect time when you didn't even know how much you needed it. In this book, Julia Jeffress Sadler shares what happened when she gave God complete control of her life and boldly asked for his blessings. Julia went from being brokenhearted after dealing with multiple miscarriages, to experiencing absolute joy as she became a mom of miracle triplets. Julia shows her readers that if you pray big, big things happen!
I really enjoyed reading this inspirational book. I was not familiar with the author and her background so it was great to hear about her miraculous story while being inspired to pray for big things in my own life. I found myself really relating to Julia's words. It's incredible to see big results when you stop being afraid and start trusting God. I have taken away a lot of helpful information from this book and I highly recommend it as a helpful tool to improve your prayer life. Thank you so much to the author and BakerBooks for the chance to read and review this book!
I really enjoyed reading this inspirational book. I was not familiar with the author and her background so it was great to hear about her miraculous story while being inspired to pray for big things in my own life. I found myself really relating to Julia's words. It's incredible to see big results when you stop being afraid and start trusting God. I have taken away a lot of helpful information from this book and I highly recommend it as a helpful tool to improve your prayer life. Thank you so much to the author and BakerBooks for the chance to read and review this book!
Want to read
August 21, 2019I admit it, the title scared me... Pray Big Things, and see the Surprising Life God has for Me when I am Bold Enough to Ask.
Am I able to handle what God has in-store for me? I have trouble ordering in a restaurant, how do I ask God to help me find a job that I enjoy doing with high earnings, plenty of time off for my family, the ability to work from home etc... If it covered all that they’d call it recreation not work. From the very first page, Julia makes Gods Word come alive. Julia tells this story with courage, strength, grace and love. Pray Big Things, is not just about pregnancy, having children, etc. It shows what Gods children can accomplish when the come before the Throne of God and make our requests know to him. I couldn’t put the book down, the answer may not be immediate but you do not have because you do not ask. Great for a study group, a struggling friend, Highly recommend it!
Am I able to handle what God has in-store for me? I have trouble ordering in a restaurant, how do I ask God to help me find a job that I enjoy doing with high earnings, plenty of time off for my family, the ability to work from home etc... If it covered all that they’d call it recreation not work. From the very first page, Julia makes Gods Word come alive. Julia tells this story with courage, strength, grace and love. Pray Big Things, is not just about pregnancy, having children, etc. It shows what Gods children can accomplish when the come before the Throne of God and make our requests know to him. I couldn’t put the book down, the answer may not be immediate but you do not have because you do not ask. Great for a study group, a struggling friend, Highly recommend it!
September 3, 2019
I loved Pray Big Things. The Author Julia, lead me to look at prayer in a whole new way. She states in the book, that you have not because you ask not. One night after an incredibly hard season in their lives that included three miscarriages Julia and her husband Ryan started asking God for some very big things, one of them was triplets of both genders. Nine months to the day after their last miscarriage they received their answer two boys and one girl. At first I thought this book would be just their story and it is but it is also an incredible book on prayer. Their is so much incredible scripture included in it on prayer. God and so much more. I loved this book because it was so encouraging and inspiring. I would love for anyone that was going through a hard time to read this book, it will show them just how wonderful God is and how with Him their greatest dreams can come true.
October 7, 2019
I absolutely loved “Pray Big Things” by Julia Jeffress Sadler! The author is wise beyond her years. There were so many tidbits of information in this book. I have highlighted so many parts of this book!
Julia Jeffress Sadler and her husband experienced a lot of heartache as they tried to have children. Julia and her husband started praying bold prayers, and God blessed them with triplets! I’ve always known we were supposed to take everything to God and pray big things, but I don’t really do that most of the time. This book really encouraged me to start doing this. I need to pray big things to God! This book was one of the most encouraging books I’ve read all year.
I definitely recommend this book to everyone! Julia’s writing is full of wisdom yet very easy to read and understand.
I received this book from Baker Books for my honest opinion.
Julia Jeffress Sadler and her husband experienced a lot of heartache as they tried to have children. Julia and her husband started praying bold prayers, and God blessed them with triplets! I’ve always known we were supposed to take everything to God and pray big things, but I don’t really do that most of the time. This book really encouraged me to start doing this. I need to pray big things to God! This book was one of the most encouraging books I’ve read all year.
I definitely recommend this book to everyone! Julia’s writing is full of wisdom yet very easy to read and understand.
I received this book from Baker Books for my honest opinion.
September 3, 2019
Prayer has always been a part of my Christian lifestyle, but lately it had taken a back seat. Pray Big Things was just what I needed to remind me that it’s time to start praying big things again! Julia’s story is so inspirational, but the importance of prayer in their story is what makes it even better. In the book, Julia says, “I chose to stop treating the Bible as a book of suggestions and started claiming and believing it as the only way my life would ever work.” Wow.
The book is based on Biblical truth and specific scriptures. It is well written, easy to read, and meets you right where you are. It is the perfect jumpstart for a stale prayer life, or a brand new prayer life! If you want a book that will direct you into a closer, more dependent relationship with the Lord, then this is the book for you!
The book is based on Biblical truth and specific scriptures. It is well written, easy to read, and meets you right where you are. It is the perfect jumpstart for a stale prayer life, or a brand new prayer life! If you want a book that will direct you into a closer, more dependent relationship with the Lord, then this is the book for you!
September 4, 2019
I love the balance the author strikes in this book. “Let us let go of the dreams that are not from God and hold on with all ferocity to the ones that are from Him.”
We are told to pray so many times in the Bible, and yet I’m sometimes afraid to really ask for things! This book helped me remember to seek God, ASK Him for the desires of my heart, but ultimately to trust Him and trust that His answers are always best. You won’t regret this read!
We are told to pray so many times in the Bible, and yet I’m sometimes afraid to really ask for things! This book helped me remember to seek God, ASK Him for the desires of my heart, but ultimately to trust Him and trust that His answers are always best. You won’t regret this read!
January 26, 2020
This is an inspiring book created by a young woman struggling with an emotional and stressful pregnancy and pushing through by faith. The author is honest and has an upbeat / optimistic energy throughout the book. The message - pray for big things and be open to God's leading and grace. We don't always get what we pray for (thank goodness), but so many never even think to pray on things what are important in day to day life. This is a nice, inspirational book and one to be shared.
September 3, 2019
Must read book! Julia will encourage you and challenge you to examine your prayer life! There is practical and biblical application which makes this book stand out. On top of that, reading the incredible story of how God blesses The Sadler’s after a whirlwind year is a huge testament to their prayer life and will blow you away! Great book!
October 12, 2019
This book is the reminder and reality check I think we all need. It's a reminder to remain faithful through the hard times, trust Him in all things big or small and never stop praying. I listened to this audio book and I really think it enhanced my reading experience.
March 6, 2020
I found this to be a very useful book in my prayer life and walk with Christ. Sadler tells her story in a manner that I can easily relate to even though my struggles aren't with pregnancy. This testifies to the fact that her narrative reaches a wide audience.
November 13, 2019
Wonderful words to live by.
February 6, 2020
This is a wonderful book. Ever one should read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2020
Good book, felt a little “prosperity gospel”, but loved the overall message and so many wonderful quotes in it.
March 14, 2020
I highly recommend for all believers!
August 16, 2021
Not what I expected. It's for first world problems
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September 24, 2021
A good book, but I wish it told more of the author’s personal story. Also, a lot of the writing was redundant.
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