Chapell, Bryan. Praying Backwards: Transform Your Prayer Life by Beginning in Jesus’ Name. Baker Books, 2005.
Pages: 208
Point: “In Jesus’ name” is not merely a hashtag to get God to see your prayer. Praying in Jesus’ name is the recognition of God’s sovereignty over all things, Jesus’ intercession for all believers, and the Spirit’s understanding and communication of God’s perfect will.
Path: Miller breaks a path for the reader through the daunting jungle of prayer. He explains what “praying in Jesus’ name” is not (ch 1), praying for God’s will (ch 2), praying without doubting (ch 3), the Spirit’s intercession in prayer (ch 4), the grounds upon which a believer can pray (ch 5), hope in prayer (ch 6), persistence in prayer (ch 7), prayer and God’s will (ch 8-9), and prayer and action (ch 10).
Sources: Chapell uses helpful illustrations, good quotes, applicable scriptures, and an easy to understand style to effectively communicate great truths regarding prayer.
Agreement: This readable, helpful, and extremely challenging book is a great resource. Some books you should skim through to get the main point. Some books you should read very slowly. This book is best read chapter by chapter.
- I loved the summary statements at the end of each chapter
- The discussion questions at the end of the book would make this a great resource for a small group study
- The example prayers are helpful
- His everyday illustrations were very good
Personal App: Is my heart ready to pray in Jesus’ name?
Favorite Quote: “Praying backwards simply ensures that he comes first in our thoughts so that we are prompted to make him first in our priorities” (p. 16).
Stars: 5 out of 5
I was challenged by this book, and look forward to going through it again with others. It would be worth another read and I would recommend it.
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