Prayer Matters

Have you ever wondered how prayer works? Have you ever wished you were better at praying? Have you ever been at a loss for words to pray? This is not a book that attempts to answer all your questions on prayer. On the contrary, the author acknowledges upfront that prayer is a mystery for which there is no magic formula. There are Biblical principles that teach much about prayer, and God's spiritual spokespersons have offered insight. But God is God, and prayer is in the realm of His unfathomable ways and workings. Rather, this is a book that invites you to come alongside the author and delve into the practice of prayer. It contains reflections on varied prayer matters that are based on exploring principles about prayer and trying various ways to pray. It is the fruit of the author's entreating God to teach her to pray. Since much of this entreating occurred while walking with her son through his cancer battle and now as she grieves his passing, the author's insights are presented as one questioning pilgrim desiring to help another. The book's premise is that we do not have to understand prayer to pray. We learn to pray by praying. The more we pray, the more natural praying therefore becomes. Hence, suggestions and tools are offered to facilitate praying. Whether you are relatively experienced with prayer, brand new, or somewhere in between, you are invited to ponder these prayer matters and to implement those suggestions for "doing prayer" that appeal to you. Because, ultimately, while we may not know the intricate workings of prayer this side of Heaven, one thing we do know is... Prayer Matters!

In this searing meditation on the bonds of family and the allure of extremist faith, one of today’s most celebrated Christian writers recounts his unexpected journey from a strict fundamentalist upbringing to a life of compassion and grace—a revelatory memoir that “invites comparison to Hillbilly Elegy” (Publishers Weekly, starred review). “Searing, heartrending . . . This stunning tale reminds us that the only way to keep living is to ask God for the impossible: love, forgiveness, and hope.”—Kate Bowler, New York Times bestselling author of Everything Happens for a Reason Raised by an impoverished widow who earned room and board as a Bible teacher in 1950s Atlanta, Philip Yancey and his brother, Marshall, found ways to venture out beyond the confines of their eight-foot-wide trailer. But when Yancey was in college, he uncovered a shocking secret about his father’s death—a secret that began to illuminate the motivations that drove his mother to extreme, often hostile religious convictions and a belief that her sons had been ordained for a divine cause. Searching for answers, Yancey dives into his family origins, taking us on an evocative journey from the backwoods of the Bible Belt to the bustling streets of Philadelphia; from trailer parks to church sanctuaries; from family oddballs to fire-and-brimstone preachers and childhood awakenings through nature, music, and literature. In time, the weight of religious and family pressure sent both sons on opposite paths—one toward healing from the impact of what he calls a “toxic faith,” the other into a self-destructive spiral. Where the Light Fell is a gripping family narrative set against a turbulent time in post–World War II America, shaped by the collision of Southern fundamentalism with the mounting pressures of the civil rights movement and Sixties-era forces of social change. In piecing together his fragmented personal history and his search for redemption, Yancey gives testament to the enduring power of our hunger for truth and the possibility of faith rooted in grace instead of fear. “I truly believe this is the one book I was put on earth to write,” says Yancey. “So many of the strands from my childhood—racial hostility, political division, culture wars—have resurfaced in modern form. Looking back points me forward.”

When I read the book of Acts, I am embarrassed. Why does our brand of Christianity look so insipid compared to the believers of the first century? Where has the power gone? Has God changed, or have we? We've all heard the cop-out that says, "The book of Acts represents a different dispensation." What a sad, self-serving attempt to excuse our current state of spiritual impotence! When we read Acts, we should yearn to experience a return to their brand of Christianity. Yet, instead of copying them, we seem content with copying other modern churches that are "growing." But why copy a copy when you can copy the original (the book of Acts)? In Acts, God was saving people every day. Communities were transformed. People were healed. Demons were cast out. Miracles were commonplace. Churches sprouted up across the Roman Empire. Persecution was faced and overcome. What made them so different? Some say they preached a purer Gospel. I disagree. Modern Evangelicals preach the same Gospel that was proclaimed in the first century. We preach that Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died an atoning death, and rose bodily from the grave. We preach that man is a sinner and stands guilty before God in need of salvation. We preach that God offers salvation by grace, through faith, in Jesus Christ alone, and the moment anyone repents of his sin, puts his faith in Jesus, and calls upon His name, that person is born again. That's the Gospel they preached, and the Gospel we preach. Our lack of spiritual power in Christianity today is not due to the sermons we preach or the songs we sing. Rather, it is due to our lack of prayer. We do not pray like it matters. Jesus and His earliest followers prayed like it was important. We pray like it is inconvenient or inconsequential. Prayer was their priority. It is our postscript. We plan more than we pray. They prayed more than they planned. We gather to minister to one another. They gathered to minister to the Lord in prayer and fasting. Our focus is earthly, horizontal. Theirs was heavenly, vertical. They were wise enough to "pray the price." All of this is why I have written this 12-week Bible study entitled Pray Like It Matters. I want to demonstrate from Scripture that every prayer we pray is significant. Through our prayers, God changes things. One life dedicated to prayer can do more good than any life dedicated to other so-called "noble," worldly causes. An individual follower of Jesus who is committed to prayer is a fountain of life in a world of death. Likewise, the local church that becomes a house of prayer will be a spiritual powerhouse from which God's mighty miracles will flow exponentially. Prayer is what modern Christians and churches are missing--frequent, fervent, faithful prayer! Most Christians want to pray but don't know how. They are unable to carry on a simple, sustained, satisfying conversation with God. Thus, after a few minutes in prayer, they run out of things to say, get frustrated, and give up. Sound familiar? Just as infants must be taught to talk, Christians must be taught to pray. Once you know how, prayer will be fulfilling, refreshing, and even fun. A growing number of Christians today are aware that something must be wrong. They know there has to be "more" to the Christian life than what they have experienced. That "more" is found through the discipline of prayer. These lessons are a wakeup call for each individual, family, and church to become a "house of prayer." When we begin to pray like Jesus and His early followers, then we will witness the power they experienced. Today, we embark on what could be the greatest adventure of your life. Before we start, let's pray the prayer of the early disciples: "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1).

"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

Discover the prayer habits of world-changing ministry leaders that will transform your life and your leadership. Experienced leaders will tell you that you can’t lead on your own. The pressure, the impossible decisions, the high risks, the temptations, the people, the overwhelming schedule—it’s too much. Some leaders seek outside help. They pray. Looking for help in their own leadership, entrepreneur Ryan Skoog, CEO Peter Greer, and executive advisor Cameron Doolittle set out to investigate how leaders pray. What do they say to God? How often do they pray, and for how long? Where do they pray? And how on earth do they make time for prayer? Skoog, Greer, and Doolittle spent three years researching. They logged over one hundred hours of interviews with leaders in six continents who collectively serve in over one hundred countries. They researched or spoke with global entrepreneurs and business executives of Fortune 500 companies, as well as some of the most influential pastors and ministry leaders in the world—leaders such as Joni Eareckson Tada Francis Chan John Mark Comer Christine Caine David Green Mark Batterson Among countless others. Here in this book, the authors share the spiritual habits, techniques, and practices of these world-changing leaders, revealing specific details of their prayer lives. In addition, the book includes prayers for leaders to use in their own prayer time as well as tools for how to cultivate a personal and organizational commitment to prayer. By allowing these men and women to lead us in prayer, we learn not only how to pray but also how to build a culture of prayer wherever we lead. It is only when our businesses, ministries, and churches pray that they will be transformed.

What matters most to you? Money? Fame? Looks? Pleasure? Sports? Reading? Our lives are so often filled with things that aren't important in the overall scheme of things, that it is often difficult to discern what is vital and what is, well, trivial. Life is a gift from God; therefore, it is valuable and behooves every one of us to consider carefully how we will spend it and to what end. After over forty years of ministry, Rev. James Osborn has decided that there are some things that really matter and some things that don't. Osborn believes that once conceived and born into our world, every one of us is immortal. We will live forever in eternity, and we need to realize that most things in life won't matter in eternity. Dive into These Things Matter and discover the eternal importance of character, prayer, obedience, and many more. James Osborn is a retired pastor, but still serves as the senior adult Sunday school teacher at Liberty Baptist Church. He spent more than forty years as the pastor of various churches in Maryland as well as working For The Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware and MasterLife. James currently lives in Westminster, Maryland.

Stained Glass Heartsreminds us just how brightly the light of God can shine even amidst our darkest moments, uncovering the promise and possibility of redemption and transformation. Comparing people to stained glass windows, Patsy Clairmont explains the power of God to restore and redeem that which seems devastated beyond repair, and she does so with the quick wit and deep insight of someone who has been there. And back. Themes of art and creativity are woven together with stories from Patsy’s own life. And special features include quotes, suggested scripture readings, sample prayers, and recommended music. With candor tempered by wind-whipped wisdom, Patsy provides a new lens through which to view our lives. Stained Glass Hearts is a perspective that gives us the chance to see our potential for color, sparkle, and great purpose through the grace of God.

The beautiful words of The Lord’s Prayer come to life with gorgeous illustrations by Richard Jesse Watson in this partner picture book to Psalm 23. Bestselling illustrator Richard Jesse Watson brings to life the iconic The Lord’s Prayer. Watson’s use of vibrant color and detailed imagery beautifully capture the essence of the loving words of Our Lord as he teaches us to pray to his Father and brings the King James Version of this prayer alive for readers young and old. The Lord’s Prayer: Features the psalm from the traditional King James Version of the Holy Bible Perfect for gift giving Stunning front cover with foil accents and embossing