Provoking . . . in a good way

books:


	• Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? Philip Yancey Zondervan, 2006 - 352 pages average customer review:based on 60 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Provoking . . . in a good way

This is no self-help book on prayer. It is, rather, a series of meditations, a personal memoir, if you will. While I do not agree with Yancey on every area of doctrine, I was provoked, in a good way, to examine my own prayer life and grow, especially in the direction of viewing prayer from God's perspective. Along with, Lewis's Letters to Malcomb, Chiefly on Prayer and MacIntyre's Hidden Life of Prayer (free on the internet), Yancey's book has had a sanctifying effect on me and, therefore, meditating on his thoughts through the lense of biblical context is something I recommend to others.

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Searching for Answers

In his book "Prayer" Philip Yancey is strangely reticent about stating his own opinions on prayer. The book is filled with moving, poignant stories and examples of prayers that apparently worked, or didn't.

Unlike his blockbuster "What's So Amazing About Grace", Yancey seems to tiptoe around the central topic as though he has still not decided whether or not Prayer is effective.

He repeatedly cites Bible verses which state unequivocally that God wants us to pray; God tells us that prayer will be heard; that God will answer our prayer, but then Yancey tends to duck the question and simply bring out the "...some will; some won't" series of stories about prayer.

Parts of the book are extremely positive and touching, and there are major portions that leave one with more questions than answers. On purpose, it would seem.

The book may have been a better book if it had been about 1/3 shorter, more around 215 pages than 342.

I would recommend the book, with some reservations myself. I found the book helpful as a study on prayer. It probably is NOT one I would recommend to new, or searching Christians. For anyone else, it would be a simple study on political double-talk.

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How to get closer to God

I have read many of Phillip Yancy's books. Each of them has helped me in different ways. This book has helped me to understand how I can get closer to God. I often felt like I wasn't worthy to talk to God because of something I did that I wasn't proud of. I have learned that this is the perfect time to talk to God. Wouldn't you go to your earthly father if you needed someone to talk too? Yancey also teaches us that going to God with our worries is not the only time we should talk to Him. We all need to spend time praising Him. Nothing pleases God more than to hear our praise, and He wants to dwell even more with us during that time. I haven't found a Yancey book that I didn't like and this book is no exception.

Doug Bolton

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Book order

My order was placed on March 23. I received the book on April 15. That was the longest I had ever waited to receive something ordered through Amazon. The book came in excellent condition. It was purchased for a Bible study group. I missed having it for two weeks of study, but will catch up.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Philip Yancey probes the very heartbeat?the most fundamental, challenging, perplexing, and deeply rewarding aspect?of our relationship with God: prayer. What is prayer? Does it change God?s mind or ours?or both? This book is an invitation to communicate with God the Father who invites us into an eternal partnership through prayer.

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