Praying with David: Honest Prayers for Hard Seasons

by Mark Becton

David was the “man after God’s own heart,” yet his life was characterized by hardship. During his lifetime, he was fired, became homeless, grieved the loss of three children, built a nation, lost almost everything after his affair with Bathsheba, and then saw a work that was dear to him given to another. Rejected, dejected, and worn down, David took out his pen and wrote half of the Psalms as prayers to the Lord. As he did, he experienced an awe of God that he has left for us to meditate on when we struggle through our own heartache. Praying with David will encourage you to keep crying out to God in the hard seasons. You will experience strength, hope, guidance, comfort, and peace—just as David did.

132 pages, Paperback

Published February 7, 2023

Reviews

[Asher Burns · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm blessed to have Dr. Becton as one of my pastors. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he led our church in a weekly online prayer meeting on Wednesday nights that was always very comforting and heartening, and grew to be a regular highlight of the week. At one point during these meetings, we walked through Psalm 23 together. I liked it so much that I actually bought my mom Philip Keller's oft-cited book on the Psalm. As such, I was excited to see that Dr. Becton had collected his lessons into book form. While it perhaps could have benefited from a final round of editing, the book is encouraging and edifying. To be honest though, for me the greatest draw was being reminded of the weekly COVID prayer meetings. They were a light in a dark time and I will always be grateful for them.

[Em Ledford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Becton personally mailed a copy of “Praying with David” to my family in a time of deep tragedy.
Every single page of this book nourishes the reader with the sufficiency, supremacy and beauty of Jesus Christ.
Dr. Becton’s writing on Psalm 23 is pastoral, fatherly, and makes much of our Chief Shepherd.
I will surely recommend this to any believer — and specifically recommend it to suffering Christians. It will be a balm!

[Raphael Mnkandhla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Psalm 23 comes alive

Having been in the presence of the author and then reading his book amplified the message this book heralds. The author writes about honest prayers and shares honest and vulnerable moments from his own life. His heart and personal intimacy he has with Christ is evident through this book. Dr.Becton writes on Psalm 23 with David’s full life and the Psalter in view. As David likens us to sheep, Becton explores how all our deep needs are met by God in Christ through the power of the Spirit. One chief feature of the book on prayer Is that it is filled with samples of prayers for the various seasons people face. For those in ministry this book will also be helpful in praying through hard seasons.