Praying With My Eyes Wide Open

Often we view prayer as an activity reserved for a certain time, in a certain place, offered in a specific way. But Scripture encourages us to pray continually. This exhortation is an opportunity for prayer to permeate every aspect of our lives--when we're alone or in a crowd, when it's quiet and when it's chaotic, when we feel like it and when we don't. Praying with Eyes Wide Open shows us how to make continuous prayer a natural part of our lives rather than something on our daily spiritual checklist. It helps us encounter God in new ways as we learn to - open our eyes to see his presence and the world around us - open our ears to hear his voice - open our hearts to experience freedom and power as we pray - and open our lives as we pray for and with others Anyone desiring a richer, more transformative prayer life will welcome this fresh take on conversing with our Creator.

Dr. Jerold Beeve hadn't uttered a serious prayer for more than 20 years. But when an anniversary vacation to Fiji turned into a long-term mission project, that all changed. A highly experienced ophthalmologist, Dr. Beeve was horrified by the lack of eye care in Fiji that allowed many even children to become unnecessarily blind. He and his wife, Dorothy, immediately made plans set up a clinic on the island. But how could they afford all the additional equipment and its transportation? Could they rely on the IRS to approve their 501(c)3 request at the last minute? And would the United States ambassador to Fiji ever answer his phone? Just when Dr. Beeve began to question his calling, he decided to pray. Within days everything fell into place with perfect precision. That was only the beginning. When the irreplaceable instrument needed for surgery broke, when an emergency caused siblings Beni and Sally to require prompt attention in the States, when Dorothy lay hours away from death th

"My prayers never seem to go anywhere." If that sounds like you, here is the help you've been looking for. Richard L. Pratt, Jr., knows the burdens many of us carry because of inadequate prayer lives. In this instructive yet often entertaining book, he offers clear biblical direction on how to pray more effectively. With remarkable care and balance he discusses key issues, from fascination with God to honest confession of our deepest needs, from concerns over form and freedom in prayer to questions about body language and fasting. Pratt tackles head-on the issues that can puzzle us the most: Why pray when God will do whatever He pleases anyway? Does God ever change His mind? Can we get anything we want by asking for it in Jesus' name? Is it ever right to argue with God? Discussion questions, practical exercises, and assignments with each chapter help to make this book ideal for Sunday school classes and study groups, as well as individual use. - Back cover.

He left KoRn to help himself. He went back to help others. And along the way, he nearly lost everything. A life-changing spiritual awakening freed Brian “Head” Welch from a stranglehold of drugs and alcohol and prompted him to leave the highly successful nu-metal band KoRn in 2005. What followed was a decade-long trial by fire, from the perils of fathering a teen lost in depression and self-mutilation to the harsh realities of playing solo and surviving the shattering betrayal of a trusted friend. In this intensely inspiring redemption saga, perhaps most inspiring is Brian’s radical decision to rejoin KoRn and reconcile with the tribe of people he once considered family in the metal music scene. Brian returned to his musical roots with a clear head and a devoted heart. Though his story is wild, hilarious, and deeply poignant, the message is simple: God will love you into the freedom of being yourself, as long as you keep the relationship going and never, ever quit.

Too many women live their lives thinking that the body God blessed them with is flawed, awkward, or just downright not acceptable. Come and take the challenge of going against the rest of the world and discovering the truth about what it means to be beautiful. (Christian)

Most people these days are overwhelmed by the busyness of life, and so they often miss the little evidences of God's presence and activity around them. In contrast, Jesus led a full life but never hurried. He took time to notice his surroundings, and he often saw and then pointed out great spiritual truths in the everyday experiences of life. Using Jesus as a model, Bruce Main explores the act of noticing as a means for spiritual growth. Filled with engaging, often poignant stories that illustrate acts of godly virtue, Spotting the Sacred will challenge and encourage readers to go through their day more attuned to God's work in their lives and the lives of others.

Life can be hard. Prayer doesn’t have to be. Whatever is going on with you right now, God is actually interested. And yet connecting with God through prayer can often feel foreign, challenging, or beyond our reach. But here’s the thing: You’re already awesome at prayer. You just don’t know it . . . yet. Through over twenty years of pastoring and writing, Jarrett Stevens has made it his mission to connect the dots between God and our everyday lives. With fresh biblical insights, powerful stories, and spiritually practical practices, Praying Through will help you connect with God in fresh and meaningful ways no matter what season you may be going through. Whether you’re new to prayer, or God seems silent, or you’re grieving a loss, or you need direction, or you're feeling grateful and don’t know how to express it—you don’t have to let these obstacles keep you from God. There is a way for you to pray through!

Christians often say, "In Jesus' name" to close their prayers. But is this truly a desire of the heart or a perfunctory "Yours Truly" to God? Bryan Chapell says we should begin our prayers in Jesus' name-we should be Praying Backwards. In this practical and inspiring book, he shows readers that to truly pray in Jesus' name is to reorder one's priorities in prayer-and in life-away from oneself and towards Jesus and his kingdom. It is to pray believing in the power and the goodness of the One who hears, and thus to pray boldly, expectantly, and persistently. Readers seeking to transform their prayer lives will find wonderful direction in Praying Backwards.