Book Review: Praying Through

I was given an advance reader copy of Praying Through authored by Jarrett Stevens before the release date to read and review. I am blessed to be a part of this launch team and happy to add this to my collection of book reviews and my personal library.

Praying Through, a timely read for me, strengthened my faith. I read it coming off a month of time invested with family and heart that felt poured into. I want to share a couple ideas that stood out to me and continue to come back to me on a daily basis.

• I found myself encouraged and reminded to pray first. Before I open my mouth, before I let my emotions take off, before I entertain thoughts that serve no purpose but to distract and provoke me, pray.
• When I feel out of sorts, I find I am remembering to turn to prayer. I realize it has been hours since my thoughts were anywhere near anything that had to do with my relationship with Jesus. As I ask forgiveness for that fact, I feel peace. Staying focused on Him, builds my relationship with Christ. We are instructed in the Bible to pray without ceasing.

In the last year the Lord, showed me an area of my life that I carried an unforgiveness in that I had not remembered. It went back to my early childhood. In the following weeks, in prayer one evening, the Lord said, “Now I can love on you.” Those times are special and noteworthy.  There are times of waiting on the Lord. Praying Through devotes a chapter to ways to keep faith alive when it feels like God is silent. I appreciate that part of the book. I found my faith strengthened as I read. I believe The Bible teaches sin can get in the way of hearing from God. As one who struggled with bitterness in childhood, I realized a few years ago that bitterness greatly stood in the way of my ability to connect to the Lord. What I did not do was give up on my belief that God/Jesus held the answers. Although I sure did stumble a lot. Reading the importance of keeping faith while not hearing from God encouraged me. I can look back seeing how sin stood in the way, God too, was faithful to me as that has come full circle and I find my connection with the Lord and our relationship growing, may I say finally?

I grew up hearing folks say, ‘I will pray for you.’ But it seemed much like a thing to say with no follow up conversations. Yet, hearing that created a belief that prayer made a difference. It was after all free. I recall a woman who I was friends with that I prayed for her safety for years, and I learned after word she had faced many dangers during that time.  I think that did as much for my faith as any impact on her life.  Her story has not ended, yet.  

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Praying Through takes a look at the struggles of prayer in different seasons of life. Grief, needing direction, worry, thankfulness, and the newness of a relationship with Christ are times any person who seeks, finds and ask Jesus into their heart faces. These are universal human emotions and circumstances.

Praying Through made me think harder about my prayer life. It has waxed and waned over the years in its intensity. I underlined many parts of the book.

Praying Through teaches a believer about prayer. If I find room for improvement in this wonderful book, it is this. I do not recall a mention of our human sinful nature, our desperate need for a Savior to begin with, a sinner’s prayer, or a how sin creates a wall (of our own doing) between us and our Savior.  

I found my faith grew as I read. My focus, as I read, was directed to prayer for and in everything. On a day by day, and moment by moment basis, prayer keeps my mind off of me. Believe me, that can be a good thing. I will be re-reading the chapter ‘When I Need Direction’.  The verses shared here created a desire to seek the Lord for my next steps. I will not spoil it for you, but I intend to use the steps laid out on seeking direction, using prayer and more. A fitting chapter for me right now, going into the new year and planning the direction to take.

Each chapter ends with a written prayer until the next to last chapter. AT that point, it is your chance to practice. Through out this book, Jarrett shares truths with examples of his own life to deliver a point. If you are looking to deepen your prayer life, I recommend reading Praying Through. One way to put this info to use is by picking one point and start to live it out. I know I am going to. There is much in here for everyone. I believe God knows what each heart needs and what you need will not be the same as mine. What stands out to you, while likely different than me, will be a good thing.

I noticed over the last two weeks, my mind turns to prayer as a way to deal with challenges compared to a month ago. I have a place to go when I realize I need to stop the current thought pattern, be what it may in that moment. My prayer life grows and my faith strengthened. If your goal is to grow closer to the Lord, I recommend prayerfully considering the purchase of Praying Through.

Journaling prayers provide documentation to go back and find ways God has answered prayers. There are many journals on the market, but may I recommend one to you?  I met Tshania as a part of our small group at our blogging mastermind. She has a beautiful prayer journal for sale right now. I am earning no commission on her project. I, simply, wanted to share this with you as it is relevant on the topic of Prayer and show support for her.