God doesn't demand hectic church programs and frenetic schedules; he only wants his people to know him more intimately, says top-selling author D. A. Carson. The apostle Paul found that spiritual closeness in his own fellowship with the Father. By following Paul's example, we can do the same. This book calls believers to reject superficiality and revolutionize their lives by embracing a God-guided approach to prayer. Previously published as A Call to Spiritual Reformation, this book has now been updated to connect more effectively with contemporary readers. A study guide, DVD, and leader's kit for the book are available through Lifeway and The Gospel Coalition.
Carson calls believers to revolt against superficiality and find again the deeper knowledge of God at Paul's school of prayer. Strong expositional study.
Inspiration from the Apostle Paul on how to pray bold, exciting prayers. Inspiration from the Apostle Paul on how to pray bold, exciting prayers. So many of us struggle with prayer. Many books have been written on the subject and there’s a reason for that. Prayer comes hard to most of us, in most seasons. And when we do pray, we often don't know what to say. What is it that my Father loves to hear about? What are the best things I could pray for my family, my church, and myself? This short book by renowned Bible teacher Alistair Begg combines warmth, clarity, humour, and practicality as he examines Paul’s prayers for his friends in the church in Ephesus. Paul clearly enjoyed prayer, and was excited about it. He expected his Father in heaven to hear what he said, and to act in other people’s lives accordingly. The truths that underpin and shape his prayers will motivate us to pray and set us an example. So be inspired by the Apostle Paul to pray bigger and better prayers as we look to our heavenly Father to do more than all we ask or imagine!
Why study and pray the prayers of the Apostle Paul? One word: transformation. Of the many benefits we have in learning from Paul, a few stand out:1. We see how the Holy Spirit wants us to pray. Scripture provides a wealth of prayers inspired by the Holy Spirit, each of them giving a glimpse into the unsearchable wisdom of Almighty God. These prayers should shape our priorities and our entire outlook on life. So often, we pray such small, self-centered prayers instead of asking how God would have us pray. As we read and pray Paul's prayers, God will work His purposes in us as we contemplate what Paul prayed for and why. Paul prayed for the eyes of Ephesian hearts enlightened (Ephesians 1:18) and rejoiced in the rich fellowship he had with the Thessalonian church (1 Thessalonians 3:9-13). When was the last time you prayed for either of those things? Spurgeon illustrates why we want to pray according to God's priorities: "A man might try to fill us and fail, but God, who made us, knows every corner and cranny of our nature, and can pour in joy and peace till every portion of our being is flooded, saturated, and overflowed with delight."2. We can pray along with Paul confident of God's answers. Praying God's prayers according to God's priorities means we can be sure of God's answers. This doesn't mean He will answer as we expect, but it does mean God will answer prayers according to His will as He promises (1 John 5:14). Since Scripture is His revealed will, praying Paul's prayers guarantee God's answers.Let this sink into your soul. As you earnestly pray for God to strengthen your faith to grasp the depths and riches of Christ's love (Ephesians 3:14-19), God will answer you--He wants you to experience the profundity of Christ's love. "Expect great things, expect things beyond all expectation," Spurgeon writes. "Your largest hopes shall all be exceeded. Hope, and hope, and yet hope again, and each time hope more and more, but the Lord will give you more than you have hoped for."3. Our minds will be enlightened and affections stirred. As we contemplate the prayers and petitions of the great apostle, God's Spirit will illuminate the prayers and shape the desires of our heart. Instead of merely praying for circumstances and our to-dos, our hearts will pray for things like the filling of our minds with "the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God..." (Colossians 1:9-10). As we pray prayers like this and see God answer us, our hearts will be drawn into deeper delight and communion with our Father.As you pick up Lessons from the Prayers of the Apostle Paul, let the Holy Spirit mentor you in prayer as you enter into Paul's prayer closet. This isn't a comprehensive study on Paul's prayers, but rather eight sermons working through rich nuggets from Paul's prayers. Don't read this book to finish; read to change. Note helpful verses and quotes and incorporate them into your daily prayer routine. Put down the book and get on your knees. Cry out to God in worship, dependence, and intercession. He will hear you and He will answer.The prayer of Paul in Philippians 1:9-11 is our prayer for this volume:"And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."The Editors at Cross-Points BooksSchaumburg, ILJanuary 2018
Learn a better way to pray! This powerful devotional/journal looks at each prayer of the Apostle Paul and offers insights into how to pray his principles for those you care about. Includes space to design a prayer to pray for someone.
Pray the prayers of the Apostle Paul and see your life transformed!The Apostle Paul prayed passionate prayers which ignited the lives of the earliest followers of Jesus. Wendy Bowen shares inspiring thoughts about Paul’s prayers and how they establish the foundation of our faith and the Kingdom of God in our hearts. His prayers will empower you with confidence to know that you are praying God’s will and moving into greater levels of His glory.Deepen your understanding of God’s power, love, and blessings. Receive fresh revelation about how to pray, what to pray for, and how to align with God’s redemptive purposes in every situation. Experience the glory of God in your own life!
Recipient of the Catholic Writers Guild 2018 Seal of Approval “A journey of compassion, frustration, and triumph . . . Anderson’s love for her son marks this beautiful portrait of family and faith.” —Publishers Weekly Paul's Prayers is the story of a moderately autistic young man navigating life with a spiritual intelligence that runs further than most people can walk. Written by Paul's mother, this insightful memoir gives readers a unique look at the challenges and joys of raising her autistic son in a large Catholic family. The first of six children, Paul's early years were an exciting and confusing time for his parents. At the time, very little information on autism and its early signs was available, and the fact that the disorder is a spectrum ranging from mild to severe was not widely known. Unpredictable outbursts and sensitivities to light and schedule disruptions lead Paul's parents to refer to his condition as "The Marauder." The Marauder sweeps over the hospital nursery as the fluorescent lights blind Paul's eyes. The Marauder throws his black cape over the Christmas holidays, stealing four-year-old Paul's speech for three long days. In school, The Marauder keeps other students at bay, leaving Paul isolated and alone. Finally a developmental assessment gives some clarity to the exhausted family: Paul is on the autism spectrum, and they will all have to adjust their perspectives. Small victories emerge as Paul begins to reach developmental milestones in creative ways. Six years of piano lessons lead to a dramatic improvement in reading skills. A jaunt through the mountains with his father introduces Paul to his talent for running; with his brothers, he joins the high school cross country running team, which goes on to win the state championship. After high school, Paul works for the family business and attends college. Throughout this intimate memoir, every day is a challenge to be met with creative thinking, patience, and faith. Paul finds comfort in contemplative prayer and the support of his family when the world around him becomes too chaotic. As her son grows up, Susan Anderson learns how to cope with autism and embrace the importance of faith in the things unseen. Her family's experience is a beacon of light for those who find themselves on a similar path.
More than 300,000 copies sold "This book will be like having the breath of God at your back. Let it lift you to new hope." --Dan B. Allender, PhD, author of Bold Love This new edition includes an expanded chapter on using the practical "prayer cards"--a hallmark of the teaching found in A Praying Life--and a chapter on the need and use of prayers of lament. Prayer is so hard that unless circumstances demand it--an illness, or saying grace at a meal--most of us simply do not pray. We prize accomplishments and productivity over time in prayer. Even Christians experience this prayerlessness--a kind of practical unbelief that leaves us marked by fear, anxiety, joylessness, and spiritual lethargy. Prayer is all about relationship. Based on the popular seminar by the same name, A Praying Life has discipled thousands of Christians to a vibrant prayer life full of joy and power. When Jesus describes the intimacy He seeks with us, He talks about joining us for dinner (Revelation 3:20). A Praying Life feels like having dinner with good friends. It is the way we experience and connect to God. In A Praying Life, author Paul Miller lays out a pattern for living in relationship with God and includes helpful habits and approaches to prayer that enable us to return to a childlike faith.
