On wings of prayer

One of the most difficult aspects of the Christian life is prayer. As the author says in his introduction, ‘Reading a book on prayer can inspire you, but only praying can transform you’. How many of us can truly say that we have a transforming prayer life?

The aim of this book is to present what the author believes to be a scriptural formula for prayer described by the letters of the words ACTS – Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. Drawing upon examples from the teaching of the Lord, Luke 18, the examples of Hezekiah, 2 Kgs. 19, and Jeremiah, Jer. 32, Reggie Weems shows how our personal prayer life can be affected by learning from the lives of others. His chapter on thanksgiving is particularly pertinent. As he states, ‘The Bible clearly teaches that God – not unbelievers or even believers – is to be the target of our worship. Corporate worship should have an audience of one (Ps. 34:3)’. Similarly, in his chapter on supplication, the writer offers sound advice, ‘The secret of a successful prayer life is to discover what God wants done and then to pray according to his will. That’s what praying in “Jesus’ name” is all about’.

On a subject that is both personal as well as corporate it will be difficult to find universal agreement. However, the author gives much food for thought in his desire to assist the prayer lives of God’s people and there is profit in such an exercise. One thing this book would seek to do is to exalt the God to whom we come in prayer.