Before Amen by Max Lucado

We all pray . . . some. 

We pray to stay sober, centered, or solvent. When the lump is deemed malignant. When the money runs out before the month does. When the marriage is falling apart. We pray. 

But wouldn't we like to pray . . . 

More? 

Better? 

Stronger? 

With more fire, faith, and fervency? 

Yet we have kids to feed, bills to pay, deadlines to meet. The calendar pounces on our good intentions like a tiger on a rabbit. And what about our checkered history with prayer? Uncertain words. Unmet expectations. Unanswered requests. 

We aren't the first to struggle with prayer. The first followers of Jesus needed prayer guidance too. In fact, prayer is the only tutorial they ever requested. 

Jesus gave them a prayer. Not a lecture on prayer. Not the doctrine of prayer. He gave them a quotable, repeatable, portable prayer. Couldn't we use the same? 

Join Max Lucado on a journey to the very heart of biblical prayer and the power unleashed with six simple lines: 

Father, 

you are good. 

I need help. 

They need help. 

Thank you. 

In Jesus' name, amen. 

My review:
   I've never been a fan of books that tell you how to pray, yet I admit it is an area that I need help in, so I decided to review this book. Max Lucado has a way with words, so I figured he might have something helpful to say, and he did.

  Lucado has basically taken the Lord's Prayer and broke it down into simpler terms he calls "the pocket prayer". He takes each part of it and shows how it applies to different areas of life and different circumstances.

  I found the book encouraging and helpful. Lucado shows that prayer doesn't have to be difficult with a lot of thought and effort put into it, but it is easy, just conversation with God, based on how Jesus told us to pray.

 It isn't a long book, but it is still worth reading, especially for anyone who feels like their prayer life needs help. It is a quick and easy read, yet helpful and insightful. I recommend it.

About the author:

More than 120 million readers have found inspiration and encouragement in the writings of Max Lucado. He serves the people of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Denalyn, and a sweet but misbehaving mutt, Andy.  

Learn more about Max at: website,Facebook, Twitter

Before Amen is available from Thomas Nelson Publishing.

Thanks to Litfuse for the review copy.