Prayer Vol. 2

by Strahan Coleman

Genres: Christian, Poetry, Theology, Faith

94 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Abby Vail · Rating 5 out of 5]

okay this one doesn’t count as a book bc it’s prayers that I regularly flip through

[SK Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is different. (different - on another level kinda of different). Its one i will keep in my backpack and keep coming back to over and over again. The depth of the prayers are beautiful and penetrating - cutting deep into my soul, sometimes deeper than I can go yet. I would HIGHLY recommend this book!

[Anna Kao · Rating 5 out of 5]

This prayer book is a must-have!!! I would read 1-2 pages a day, adding it to my prayer routine, and without fail, it put words to things lying latent in my soul that I didn’t even know to articulate. I can’t wait to read the other two prayer volumes.

[Scott Meadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you know, you know.

[Ashton E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS SO MUCH. Just so beautiful & really could be meditated on over and over. The Spirit is whispering so gently in this book.

He really touched on the cries of my heart for my dreams “It seems to be woven into our DNA to have some thing we’re moving towards that constantly invites us to die to it not being actualized. And I wonder if this thing - this dream - becomes the seedbed for the true vision we were too scared or too blind to really hope for in the first place. Maybe that ache - that life-old ache - is a form of intercession driving us towards the uncharted vision of the Spirit.”

[Corey Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A continual journey into poetic prayer, and I can say the world literally seems to be changing around me. Coleman’s ability to write words that help reclaim territory in both my own mind and the world around me to allow God to saturate every moment, emotion, etc. is uncanny. Not a perfect journey, but what road ever is?

I particularly adored the poems surrounding identity, personhood, being an image bearer, and God being committed to seeing who we are truly made to be come into full bloom.

Read at the beginning of the year, so a fuller review will come in time when I get to sit with these prayers again.

[Noel Storey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cannot recommend enough!

[Sarah Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is never a moment when God is not with us, but there may be plenty when we choose not to acknowledge His proximity. (P. 19)

The world doesn’t need more information. We’re living in an age saturated by it. It’s wisdom that we’re desperate for ____ Knowledge is available to anyone, but wisdom can only come through knowledge lived out of love - with the Spirit and from a place of rest. Wisdom is far less about quantity that quality. (P. 23)

Anger, truth, disappointment, frustration, shame, and guilt towards God aren’t barriers between Him and us — denial is. Denial robs Him of the opportunity to show us His kindness. (P. 27)

We’re not waiting to be beautiful; we’re made that way ____ Our very ordinary self - the self we sometimes get bored with, the self that carries all our faults - is the self that God lives in and fills today ____ because He loves to ____ There is not a soul on earth not woven with deep and tender care. Every imperfection loved. Every cell a poem from the mouth of divine creativity ____ We’re not waiting for God to make us beautiful - He’s waiting for us to see that we already are. (P. 33)

How do we pray at all times without ceasing? ____ Perhaps it’s through a total commitment to being present in every moment, conversation, observation and experience. Perhaps that kind of “presentness” is a form of prayer ____ Being totally present to ourselves, to others and to creation gives us eyes to see God in all these moments. (P. 44)

The opposite of faith, it has been said, is not doubt but certainty. We quickly get lost when we view doubt or uncertainty as faithlessness ___ Faith-ful-ness requires a belief beyond rational certainty. (P. 59)

I’ve often found that the silence of God can be a gentle reminder that I need rest more deeply than I know. (P. 60)

First let it shock you that God loves your enemies, then let it set you free. […] We cannot say we love God and secretly despise or be condescending towards one another. (P. 63)

[Justin Hargrave · Rating 5 out of 5]

There should be an option to give 6 stars for books like this.

I can't remember a time when I've read such a tiny book with such a massive impact. It is evident that the author's words are based in hard-won personal experience and learning from the Lord. I took 6 months to read through this book... and it could be read through easily in an hour. Just goes to show that there are many gems to be mined, and many entries in the book that are worth praying, praying again, meditating on, and meditating on again.

In short, this little book of prayers is a tender love letter to God. One of the best things I've encountered in this space in years. Highly recommended.

[Benjamin Razey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prayer Vol. 2 is a book filled with prayers to deepen one’s intimacy with God. I found this volume to be more engaging than volume 1, and it certainly contained some beautifully written prayers. However, similar to volume 1, I still found that many of the prayers contained within felt like they were Coleman’s personal prayers, which I’m sure would have great depth and meaning to him, but I unfortunately found them hard to pray myself.

[Abigail]

This is one of those books that feels hard to give a rating to. I’m grateful to Strahan Coleman for cracking open his own prayer life here. Paul Miller says something like, we don’t talk our way into praying, we pray our way into praying. This book is a good example of that, I think. Enjoyed ❤️
Shout out to Danielle K for the rec and letting me borrow!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just like volume 1 and yet in a different way, volume 2 touches so deep. The prayers give language to what I didn’t have words for, the devotionals bring new depth and curiosity to thoughts that make me sit for a while. I loved soaking them all in and taking my time reading through each page and reflecting. I’m looking forward to volume 3!!

[Tim Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great way to start my morning 😍

[Megan Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. It really helped me to deepen intimacy with the Lord.

[Andrew Wilkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Timeless, returning prayers.

[Christina Erickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

He does it again! My favorite is still the first installment but deep Bible-rooted wisdom and an expounded perspective of God’s character still comes across remarkably strong in this second book. Well done and thank you, Strahan!

There is such beauty to everything you create!