Prayer

Rating:
Summary: Most influential book on prayer I have ever read.
Review: I am amazed at the simplicity and practical nature in which this book is written. When I knew it was written in the 1930's, I confess I was pesimistic. I was wrong. Mr. Hallesby communicates clearly and understandably to the 90's. If you are struggling with prayer as I have, please take the time to order and read this book. You will be encouraged, not beaten down. You will realize that prayer is as natural as breathing and that Jesus Christ is delighted to be our instructor. It is worth you time.

Rating:
Summary: I have been reading this book repeatedly for 3 years
Review: I am not fond of re-reading. I have a short attention span and am addicted to the "new." However this book is truly great -- on par with Lewis and Schaffer. Powerful -- and when APPLIED, life transforming.

Rating:
Summary: A Foundational Title
Review: I have read this book several times over the years. Each time I find myself a better person. This is certainly one of the foundational books on living the Christian life. The book is easy to read, comforting, challenging, and simplifies an otherwise intimidating aspect of our faith.

Get this book. I'm sure you will enjoy it as much as I.

Rating:
Summary: A Foundational Title
Review: I have read this book several times over the years. Each time I find myself a better person. This is certainly one of the foundational books on living the Christian life. The book is easy to read, comforting, challenging, and simplifies an otherwise intimidating aspect of our faith.

Get this book. I'm sure you will enjoy it as much as I.

Rating:
Summary: Not As Good As I Heard
Review: I heard great comments about this book so I picked up a copy. Reading the first chapter leaves me a negative impression. First of all, Hallesby starts with a quote from Revelation 3:20 "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me". Hallesby compares that with prayer -- prayer is Jesus standing outside your heart door and knocking; prayer is to open the door and let Him in. Hello? Read the quote in context and you'll find the Revelation passage is speaking of the church of Laodicea, a particular church phenomenon near the end of the world. You can't take it out of the context and apply it to prayer as you wish.

Another instance of misquoting the Bible -- prayer is compared to looking at the bronze serpent that Moses raised up for the Israelites in the wilderness. The story illustrates salvation -- looking unto Jesus without your own hard work and you'll be saved. It is not about prayer life. Maybe "prayer for salvation" in particular, but certainly not the overall Christian prayer life.

One more point I found disturbing -- (1) prayer is in essence ordained for those who are helpless; (2) when you are helpless, God is already listening to your prayer. First, prayer is not just to ask for help from God. Prayer is communication in an intimate relationship with the Divine. We talk to Him to worship Him, praise Him and glorify Him. Under none of these circumstances may we feel helpless. Asking for help is one kind of prayer -- supplication. Second, being helpless is not automatically a prayer. Whom do you turn to when you are helpless? To God, or to yourself, or to other means?

When I leafed through the rest of the book, I found that Hallesby is mostly describing on a theoretically level what prayer should be and, in the real world, what prayer has become which it should not. He doesn't advise in a practical way HOW to correct those problems.

Personally I found it hard for me to finish the book although I have tried a couple of times. I recommend "Lord, Teach Me to Pray" by John MacArthur and "The Kneeling Christian" by anonymous.

Rating:
Summary: Much ignored classic
Review: I read this book when I was in high school. Since then I have read many books on prayer, spirituality, and Christian living, but no book I've found has the depth of insight that this one does concerning prayer.

Hallesby takes the reader to the starting line - helplesness and faith; he goes through the race explaining typical pitfalls, and then he describes with beautiful imagery the work of prayer by which we can place ourselves and others in God's healing light to let Him do His work. This is a book to soak up and enjoy.