Praying Mom

by Brooke McGlothlin

"God, I need you to do something in my children!"

Have those words found their way into your desperate prayers? Do you feel helpless to know how to equip your children for this world and all it throws at them? If so, you're not alone.

When Brooke McGlothlin realized her best efforts were falling woefully short of her goal to produce godly children, she discovered the joy and power of praying Scripture over her family. Her life and her children's lives were transformed. Yours can be too.

Complete with prayers for specific situations, this encouraging book is perfect for times when you
· feel too busy to pray,
· don't know what or how to pray,
· don't know if your prayers really matter.

Nothing is more powerful and faith-building than praying God's Word for those you love. Become a mom full of hope in the God who can, even if you can't.

" Praying Mom is the prayer mentor you've always wanted from a mom who absolutely lives this message on her knees." --STACEY THACKER, author of Threadbare Prayer

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Parenting, Faith, Christian Non Fiction

208 pages, Paperback

Published August 3, 2021

About the author

Brooke is the Founder of Million Praying Moms, and author of 8 books, including her latest, Praying for Teen Boys: Partner with God for the Heart of Your Son and Praying Mom: Making Prayer the First and Best Response to Motherhood. She’s a wife and mom to two teenage boys who make their home in the mountains of Appalachia, calling southwestern Virginia home. Learn more about Brooke at www.brookemcglothlin.net.

Reviews

[Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book inspired me to write a memory verse each week and hang it up around the house. The author teaches you how to use scripture to pray.

I resonated with the chapter on busyness and the chapter on being a new mom. Each chapter had a story from a mother and how prayer helped them overcome an obstacle. Each chapter ends with a call to action, bible verses and an example of a prayer that goes with the verse.

It was a quick and encouraging read. A reminder that as moms we can pray anywhere and everywhere. We don't need to and sometimes may not even have the time to sit in a quiet area of a home and have time to ourselves. We can pray while cleaning, cooking, driving, rocking the baby to sleep. God meets us where we are in the season we're in.

[Nathan Albright · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Note: This book was provided free of charge by Bethany House Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]

If this book was certainly not written for me and I cannot exactly empathize with the author's position, given that she is writing for other busy mothers struggling to deal with a lot of pressures, this is a book that is certainly easy to sympathize with. This author's candid and somewhat vulnerable discussion of friends and their stories as well as her own struggles to have a family that looked good and was put together at the same time are certainly going to resonate with a lot of people. My own feelings about this book and its approach are somewhat mixed. I am glad that this book is around to give encouragement to mothers not to neglect prayer and a relationship with God just because they are not very good mothers like the author, but at the same time, I look books to be from people who do better than this author does. There are many millions of memoirs and related books from people who write from the perspective of brokenness (I have even contributed my own quota, and perhaps beyond, to such materials), but what we need are books that can encourage us on doing and being better than we would otherwise be, and this book does not really do that.

This book is about 200 pages and is divided into two parts. After a foreword and an introduction to the presumed audience of mothers, the first part of the book looks at seven challenges for the praying mom (I), including understanding God's plans (1), not knowing what to pray for (2), being exhausted (3), struggling with belief that God hears one's prayers (4), not feeling one should pray until one's life is together (5), struggling with the demands of needy small children (6), and oppressive busyness (7). The second part of the book then discusses ten Bible-inspired prayers (II) when one needs hope (8), when one's child needs help (9), when one needs joy (10), when one is angry (11), when one is worn-out and weary (12), when one is afraid (13), when one needs God's help (14), when one needs strength (15), when one is sad (16), and when one needs peace (17). After that comes appendices on the wake-up prayer (i) and the usual altar call (ii), as well as a look at contributors, acknowledgements, and endnotes.

[One Anjana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moms out there, have you ever felt like your life is so messy, busy, and you can't hold it together? Do you feel desperate about your children or your circumstances and feel like a failure in parenting? You know you need God's help in this, but you don't know how, why or what to pray for? You should read this book.

Brooke divided this book into two parts. The first one talks about 7 challenges for the praying mom. It’s more like the fundamental help about why our prayers matter and general excuses about our circumstances that prevent us to start praying. Some chapter titles are: I Don’t Know If My Prayers Really Matter, I Can’t Pray until I Get My Life Together, and I’m So Busy! I was fond of the way every chapter included a related story from many inspiring contributors. I felt more connected to it. It's helpful to realize that my struggle isn't solely my own.

I like the prayer method taught here. Brooke constantly teaches and guides us to pray based on the Scripture. How we can pray everywhere, anytime, whenever we need. I believed that prayer had to be lengthy, spoken with beautiful words, or conducted in a specific quiet time or environment to be perfect. But no. I learned that we can pray when our children have tantrums, we can pray during playtime, or when we do mundane chores.

Part two is the Scripture-inspired prayers for every season of our motherhood. Like when you need hope, need joy, when you’re worn out and weary, when you're sad, when you’re angry, and many more. So if we don’t know how to pray, we can simply follow these prayers. Brooke also provides it on her website so that we can print it, and it will come handy whenever we need to pray.

Following this, I am sure to continue learning to pray the Scriptures. For mothers with a perfectionist personality, such as mine, it can sometimes feel like a blow to your pride. Brooke specifically has a point about 'giving up on perfect', and every time it comes up, it really gets to me and my pride.

Highly recommended for every mom out there!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book helpful and encouraging. Now to just put all these things into practice regularly

[Jen Saylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciated the real-life stories of how moms prayed for their kids in various scenarios, and Brooke's plain language about what is going on in our hearts. I plan to continue to reference the scripture-based, topic-specific prayers at the end of the book.

[Connie Saunders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many people believe in the power of prayer, but mothers are probably the most active prayer warriors of all. Author Brooke McGlothlin addresses these mothers in her new book, and she has created an absolute gem! Praying Mom is divided into two sections, and the first one focuses on the challenges that praying moms face. McGlothlin shares the actual thoughts and concerns of women in different stages of motherhood, and there are many prayer tips offered in this section. The second part is devoted entirely to scripture-inspired prayers that cover the many emotions that we mothers experience. There are prayers for hope, joy, strength, worry, and peace, plus many more, and these prayers will definitely encourage and uplift your spirits. I also appreciate that the author offers added inspiration from the abundance of Bible scripture that she shares throughout the book!

Praying Mom is a wonderful resource that is perfect for mothers of all ages, and I recommend it as an ideal gift suggestion for both baby showers and Mother's Day.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts.

[Lyndsie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found so much encouragement in this book! I want to pray more for my children, but sometimes I don’t know how or where to start.
I loved gleaning from Brooke’s wisdom. I enjoyed the personal testimonies from other moms who’ve faced the same struggles. And I especially loved the practical guide to praying Scriptures.
I’ve wanted to pray Scripture for a long time, but really didn’t know how. Brooke not only gives examples, but tells you how to find Scriptures to pray for any situation.
I recommend this book for any mom who longs to pray powerful prayers for her life and family.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. Big takeaway is that I should be praying scripture. Audiobook

[Shanna Klutts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical, needed, inspiring, and beneficial. Recommitted to being a Praying Mom. Get this book. Reference it often.

These are words that pierced my heart:

Satan’s go-to tactic in our lives is to break the hold the word of God has on us. So, he takes what God has declared and casts doubt on it. Satan puts question marks in your life where God has put periods. -JD Greear

None of those people ever asked me to pray; I just let God show me who needs prayer, and then pray. I believe this is the practice of partnering with God to accomplish His will in the lives of these people. I don’t know how it works. I don’t know why it works. And I don’t always know what His will is in each situation. I just know that God calls me to pray for certain people at certain times. It isn’t my job to know why or how. It isn’t my job to control or worry. It’s just my job to pray. Somehow, God uses it.

Pray God’s Word. You’ll never run out of things to pray for, and what you pray for will almost always be right.

We must guard against thinking that just because God doesn’t answer our prayers immediately, or the way we want Him to, He doesn’t care. It’s just that He cares about everything, all of His flock. His promise to do what is best for us is tied inextricably to what is best for the ushering in of His kingdom.

Prayer forces me to lay all of my life before God and say, “God, here I am. All of me. For your kingdom [not mine]. Do anything you want to do with me and through me, at any cost.” -E Elliot

My “kingdom success” - the building of a life that I believe is best for me - my independence, my story, should be the most important thing to me, and because of that, I expect God to do what’s best for MY kingdom. But as Christians, we represent a different kingdom. God does what’s best for us, but He does it by doing what’s best for HIS kingdom as a whole. We can always believe He’ll do what’s best for us, because we know He’ll do what’s best for Him…and what’s best for Him is what’s best for us. When we say yes to Christ, we lay down the right to our own personal kingdom and give our lives over to His.

Truly, the only three things required to come before God are a desolate heart, belief in God and His Son, Jesus, and a willingness to ask. It’s a matter of the state of your heart, not the state of your life. I spent entirely too much time fumbling around in the dark trying to be supermom just because I thought I should be able to fix my own problems, make my children behave and arrive at places on time. The reality was that I couldn’t. My very best efforts fell short over and over, and even when things looked good on the outside, they often weren’t on the inside, where it counts.

My heart was right with God as it related to my salvation, but it took the mess of motherhood to help me see how much I needed Him every day.

When they grow, when they mature, when they get some deeper spiritual truth for the first time, I know it had nothing to do with anything good about me, and everything to do with the goodness of God

[Jolene Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

A praying mom parents with prayer.” This idea from Brooke McGothlin’s latest book really appeals to me. I have found it difficult to live this out. This is the reason I was so excited to be a part of the prayer team for the book Praying Mom. Brooke describes seven challenges to being a praying parent, Brooke points out that the Bible doesn’t just direct us to pray, but several verses describe that the attitude of a thankful heart is to pray thanking God for all the many blessings in our lives. Brooke tackles the elephant in the room, discussing disappointment that we feel when our prayers are not answered the way we hope. Jesus called the blind man Bartimaeus closer, and He calls us closer as well. Especially when we feel disappointed by circumstances in our lives. Brooke shares, “His promise to do what is best for us is tied inextricably to what is best for ushering in Hs kingdom.” I love one of the scriptural prayers Brooke described from Mark 9. “Jesus I believe; help my unbelief.”

Brooke answers the question, “why should we pray scripture?” Jesus prayed scripture on the cross. If Jesus used scripture to share his heart with God, we can too. Pastor Mike Mitchner states, “Prayer is the number one way you develop your relationship with God.” Prayer is a reordering of loves. Prayer takes our eyes off of our circumstances and put them on God. Prayer anchors to the God of the Universe. This truth amazes me. We have a lifeline to our amazing Heavenly Father. Prayer is about submitting to God’s will and desiring God’s kingdom not our kingdom.

I have believed the lie that I cannot pray until I get my life together. Brooke talked about what is really needed to come to God in prayer. We need to remember that each of us is a sinner in need of a savior. We need to believe that without God we could do nothing. We cannot face the day without Him. We need to lay aside our pride and ask God for the needs that are on our hearts. Brooke wraps up the book by sharing practical tips about prayer, and an extensive section of scriptures and prayers that will help you get started on praying scripture back to God. Some of the topics described in the praying scripture section are strength, hope, joy, peace, dealing with anger, fear, tiredness and sadness. I would recommend Praying Mom to any mom who longs for prayer to be an important part of their days and their lives.



*I was given a free copy of Praying Mom as a part of being on the prayer team for this book. All opinions are my own.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you need help or encouragement in the prayer are of your life? Have you wondered am I doing right? This new book Praying Mom ~ Making prayer the first and best response to motherhood ~ by Brooke McGlothlin will answer those questions an more with biblical truth. Brooke took the seven most common struggles moms face and put them as individual chapters in this book. The seven areas answer: do my prayers really matters, I don’t know what to pray, I’m exhausted from trying to trust God, I don’t believe God hears my prayers, I can’t pray until I get my life together, I have small children and can’t think much less pray, and I am so busy Lord where do I find the time? This book not only teaches how to pray using Scripture, but also provides encouragement from women with real struggles, how they overcame those struggles, and also suggested Scripture’s with prayers to pray on your own.

The last part of the books provides Scripture inspired prayers for the when you need hope, your child needs help, needing more joy, when you’re angry, worn-out and weary, afraid, for God to move, strength to make it, feeling sad, and in need of peace.

I needed the reminder from the book to “see the world around me through the lens of the Bible, allowing it, not my emotions to interpret my life“. I found the book well wrote, encouraging, and most important biblical. This is a book to keep as a resource to turn to again and again when you need help with prayer or to share with a friend or family member in need of prayer. And who doesn’t need prayer, we all do!

Here are some highlights from the book:

sometimes we call things good that aren’t, or that hinder what God is trying to accomplish long term
if we have an incorrect understanding of our role in God’s plan, or even that there is a bigger plan than what we can see, we’ll question, and that’s exactly what the enemy hopes we’ll do
God wants relationship with His children, and He’s ordained prayer to be the main way it happens
knowing that God already has a plan, or even believing He will fulfill His promises, doesn’t make me stop praying; it makes me pray all the more. I don’t have to understand. I just have to pray.
the best way to pray was just to pray God’s Word, letting it teach me the right way to think and interpret the world around me
it is for His name’s sake, not for my comfort

[Sarah Sayre · Rating 3 out of 5]

The basis of this book I thought was good, but I struggled to relate to the author and her struggles/examples at all. I feel like this is a common trend in some of these Christian non-fiction books written by women who grew up in the church or as pastors wives/daughters, etc etc. the author spent most of the book quoting other authors and using examples from friends for context in her book… this made it seem like she had almost nothing original to contribute. Referring Corrie ten Boom is fine, but I feel like reading Corrie’s story was way more interesting and even better addressed some of these prayer issues than Praying Mom does. I appreciate the idea of praying scripture, but I feel like the author could have done more to provide background context to the actual scripture to further support her specific prayers. At one point she mentions that in the Bible Sarah was waiting for a child after God promised she would have one- in the Bible she actually laughed at this notion- so I feel like this was a bit of a stretch to fit the purpose of the book.

I like the idea of this book, but I just felt like it was watered down to make it more palatable/easy to read and follow?? Not sure. The author mentioned she worked in the pregnancy crisis center yet doesn’t really include any of these stories or insight into this book. I know she is limited for privacy reasons, but this would have been more interesting and relatable to read about these women’s struggles than some of the first world problems that she uses instead. Maybe I’m just hyper critical, but I feel like there are other Christian non-fiction and even fiction books that address some of these issues more succinctly.

I’m sure some women relate to this book- and that is great, but I just felt like this was not deep enough nor unique enough for what I was expecting.

[Aurelia Mast-glick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book of Brooke's that I have read and it was every bit as good as the first. It took me a bit to get into it, but that was due in part to it not being a great book to read when you are really tired. But once I had time and energy, the book was super good and just what I needed to kick start me back into working on being an intentional mom.

Brooke attacks some of the common excuses and challenges that she hears from moms that are preventing them from praying. Excuses like I don't know if my prayers really matter or I don't know what to pray and others. I don't have to wait until I have all my ducks in a row to pray and Brooke does a good job of showing you that.

I think one of the most powerful things for me in reading this book was the way she prays the Bible. She will take a Bible verse and just pray it back to God as it pertains to a circumstance she is facing. It really makes the Scriptures come alive when you look at Bible verses as a prayer to God.

"Remind yourself that feelings aren't facts. We don't like feeling that God isn't answering our prayers, but in truth He is, in His ways, and in His timing."

I just really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for some guidance on praying. Brooke ends the book with a section of verses divided up topically and each verse is followed by a prayer taken from that verse. Let me give you an example.

"For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God." James 1:20 (ESV)

"Father, help me not to mistake my righteousness for yours. Make me a woman who loves you more than I love getting my own way. Help me to be patient and to show your love to those in my life who most need it. In Jesus' name, amen."

I received this book from Bethany House and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This book has inspired my prayer life. I appreciated that the author considered mothers of littles and encouraged prayer time during the routine moments of diaper changing, laundry, etc. The practical tips were plentiful, and I was intrigued by leaving one’s Bible around the house for meditation and Scriptural prayer in moments throughout the day. There are great ideas for integrating prayer into personal time and family time, and I was pleasantly surprised by the ideas of choosing a street and praying as a family while driving on said street, or playing a version of “I Spy” with colors associated with prayer themes (i.e. praying for those who are sick).

The author highlights the significance of prayer--how prayer reorders the loves of your life, how prayer is a lifeline to hope, and how prayer enables us to be part of God’s plan. Disappointment in prayers not answered a certain way are also addressed, and I thought this was important to include.

I listened to the audiobook and there were moments when I would be confused by the various friends’ stories that were presented; I understand how these stories displayed a variety of prayer struggles and moments of faith but I had trouble following some of the throughlines.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for my honest opinion.

Even though I really loved reading Praying Mom and found it to be packed with lots of wisdom, I am having difficultly putting into words details about the book and why I liked it. It is organized into two parts and is very easy to navigate as a reader. You could jump from section to section as you only read those parts that discuss the challenges you face in your own prayer life or read the book cover to cover as I did. Some may even find themselves returning to the book multiple times as their challenges progress and change.

While not every section may pertain to every reader, I found reading it cover to cover to be very beneficial. Being reminded to pray the Scriptures and being provided with examples and ideas is so wonderful. And the sharing of personal life experiences also helps make the ideas and tips relatable.

If you are a mom who feels you do not have enough time to pray, I recommend you check out Praying Mom. What if you don't think God hears your prayers? Read Praying Mom. There are so many responses to the challenges we face as moms that this will be a valuable book for many moms.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed this book. I may have finished it, but it's a book I'll have laying out for a while to go back to.
I have always had a desire to be a prayer warrior. To wake up and be in prayer throughout the day, but motherhood is so chaotic and I honestly just didn't know where to start with my prayers. I felt like I've been saying the same words over and over and that I just didnt know how to talk to God. Everyone says talk to him like a friend, and while that true, he is the Creator, the King, and words sometimes have failed me in knowing how to come to Him. But, I LOVE the idea of praying scripture and the practical ways to make a habit of doing this daily that's described in this book are so helpful and encouraging. Praying God's Word is not only a beautiful way to talk to Him, but a way that we can hear Him speak to us at the same time. When words fail to come to me, He has the words already there in scripture for me to use.
I also loved the verses and prayers at the end of each chapter, as well as the themed prayers and verses the end of the book to help you get started on this new prayer journey.
Every mother/woman should read this if she needs guidance and encouragement in her prayer life.

[Casey DuBose · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Praying Mom" is an exceptional read, particularly for those who feel stuck in their prayer life or are looking for a place to start. The book serves as a valuable resource for anyone who may be unsure of what to say in their prayers.

One of the standout features of "Praying Mom" is its practical approach. The book provides specific Bible verses and offers suggestions on how to incorporate more intentional prayer throughout the day. These actionable tips make it easy for readers to integrate prayer into their daily routines, helping to deepen their spiritual practice.

The guidance offered is straightforward and accessible, making it a great tool for both new and experienced individuals in their prayer journeys. Whether you're seeking to rejuvenate your prayer life or simply need some inspiration, "Praying Mom" is the perfect companion.

4 stars from me. It's quick and fast. Easy to read.

[Caitlin (CMAReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Bethany House for the free book.
What I really enjoyed about this book was how the first half was dedicated to how and when to pray, and the second half was dedicated to prayers for specific needs. The first part is much longer than the second, and I so appreciated that. I liked the personal stories that started and ended each chapter. In between these life stories, the author shares about how to make prayer a practical part of every mom's day. It isn't a complicated method, and some of the tips are ones that I will definitely be taking. 
With the second part, I liked how each section is headed with prayers for when you need ______. Then each prayer is started with a scripture. 
This is a perfect book for moms in any season looking to strengthen or start their prayer life again.


[Sue Forry · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Praying Mom, Brooke McGlothlin shares her journey of learning how to pray practically and proactively for her family. She shares many insightful and wonderful stories from not only her life, but also from women who have contribute to the book. Praying Mom offers lots of practical real life ideas in addition to prayers for mothers of children of all ages.

I really appreciated the fact that Brooke uses scripture to pray. She provides not only stories but also scripture prayers and practical ideas at the end of each chapter. Through reading stories of her life as well as others, Brooke will inspire and encourage women to pray.

I was given a free copy from the publisher for my honest review which I was happy to do. I do recommend Praying Mom.

[WhatRachelsReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t remember when I actually started this book because I’ve savored each page slowly. So much wisdom in this book by Brooke McGlothlin about “prayer” for all busy moms!!!
So many women don’t know how to pray, what to pray, and even when to pray. This hidden gem of a book teaches you to pray through scripture and the prayers are just beautifully written. I personally love the Appendix’s in the end that have prayers for different situations in life like prayers for hope, strength, joy, loneliness, etc….
I know I’ll reference this book many times in the future. There isn’t a better way to pray than to pray God’s Word and I’m grateful I have this book to go back to again and again… ❤️

[Jessica Livingston · Rating 3 out of 5]

God Give Me The Patience to Read This Book

I adore the author and what (I think) she set out to accomplish in writing a book about and for praying moms. Perhaps I did not understand the goal, because I found the book to be very disjointed and lacking a single train of thought. Rather, it was heavily peppered with other people’s stories with a healthy dollop of prays throughout. I enjoyed the prayers, but, if I’m honest, I found myself earnestly praying to God to give me the patience and focus to read and finish this book. I did finish it, and I did get some great prayer encouragement and tips, so I gave this book 3 stars.

[Kierstin O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an amazing resource for any and every mom who wants to improve their prayer life. Tips for each and every season of motherhood are accompanied by verses that have been turned into prayers to pray for every situation you’ll face.
If you’re struggling with prayer, struggling to pray, or just starting out with prayer, this resource should be on your shelf! Brooke’s heart shines through each page as she mentors you into a prayerful motherhood.

[Alaina]

DNF.... this book just isn't intended for me in the time of life that I'm in. It's better suited for women who don't already have a prayer life and are not sure where to get started. But I'm pretty far along in my journey so this didn't help me in any way. However, I will be keeping this book on my shelf, because the scriptures passages and prayers that are in the back of the book are excellent and great to keep on hand!

[Ashley at Reading Themes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christian non-fiction book for mothers. This book was not my favorite book that I have read for moms about prayer. Not every book is for every reader. Part Two was more practical and had specific topics with verses and prayers. This section would be a great resource for parents. Thank you to Bethany House Publishers for this review copy.

[CrystalS · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all of Brooke’s books. You can tell she really knows scriptures and I love all the references and resources she provides. She writes in a real way that applies to everyday life and gives realistic ways to apply it to your life. I will use this as a resource continually to strengthen my own prayer life using scripture.

[Charity Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn't life changing, but motivational. The thought I liked most was when you obsess about thinking about someone or a situation that is God prompting you to pray for that. She had many good points and tips. A great book for new moms and Christians. It isnt as deep as most prayer books, but perfect for busy moms and a great spring board to start praying more.

[Ashley Payne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good encouragements for why and how to become a praying mom. I needed these reminders, and am inspired to be more faithful in my prayers as a mom, using Scripture as a guideline for my prayers.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The prayers at the end of the book was so great

[Carlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is really simple and easy to read, and I found it to be encouraging with practical takeaways and great scripture-based prayers to pray through.

[Tess Jones-Orta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book changed my life. You don't need to be a mom to read it.