Prayer is a discipline that, I believe, is not practiced diligently by the present generation — the “millennials” as we are so easily tagged. There is something bizarre and, might I even say “spiritual” to praying that causes many battling through the Christian faith to shy away from it. Batterson has made it his mission to counter that belief. This is not his first, nor do I believe it will be his last, book on the issue.
Check it out on Amazon.com or Zondervan.com
Publisher: Zondervan, 2012
Page count: 107
His target audience in this book? Parents. Scripture preaches to parents to bring up their children in the faith and far too often people pray over or for children but Batterson would say that we don’t pause to pray with children near enough.
What if your missions as a parent is to display or model the faith for your children. It is not a requirement of prayer to be an irrelevant or strange practice. We can pray in our own language. We can pray in groups. We can keep lists and journals of issues on our hearts and minds. At the heart of Batterson’s book, I think he would say that we compartmentalize “prayer warriors” a bit more than we should. Each of us should have and should be impressing on others a life of prayer.
I would encourage any parent to pick up this book, if not on the issue of prayer alone but as a reminder of the influence that you have on the next generation of Christians. Pastors, I’d also encourage you to visit the concepts that Batterson has planted here. Instill in your congregation the idea that the older generation is not the last generation. Remember to ask your congregation, “What’s your legacy? Are you leaving behind a traceable example of someone who is deeply rooted in the study of Scripture and prayer?”
If I could put the book on a scale out of 10, it would land around 7. The text is not laced with Scripture or outside resources, but it does humbly put us in our place and give us practical understanding into the world of praying with our children.
Back cover reads:
Using principles from his New York Times bestseller The Circle Maker, Mark Batterson shares a perfect blend of biblical yet practical advice that will revolutionize your relationship with your children. As you discover an entirely new way of praying, you’ll see how prayer is your secret weapon. Batterson shares five prayer circles that will help you not only pray for your kids but also pray through your kids.
Batterson teaches how to create prayer lists unique to your family, claim God-inspired promises for your children, turn your family circle into a prayer circle, and discover your child’s life themes. And he not only tells you how; he illustrates why.
As Batterson writes, “I realize not everyone inherited a prayer legacy like I did, but you can leave a legacy for future generations. Your prayers will shape the destiny of your family for generations to come.”
It’s time to start circling.
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About the author: MARK BATTERSON serves as the lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington , D.C. Recognized as “one of America’s 25 most innovative churches,” NCC is one church with seven locations. Mark’s blog (www.markbatterson.com) and webcast (www.theaterchurch.com) also reach a virtual congregation around the world. Mark is the author of several best selling books, including the New York Times bestseller The Circle Maker and In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day. He and his wife, Lora, life on Capital Hill with their three children.
**This book is free from zondervan with my promise to post an unbiased review.
