Approaching God: How to Pray [Hardcover]

Steve Brown (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 27, 1996

For all those needing reassurance and encouragement, Brown offers practical, down-to-earth chapters that explore readers' hesitations. he speaks, for example, of "cosmic claustrophobia." he explores the thorny problem of unanswered prayers. he offers a basic theology of prayer, and suggests ways we can discover teh accessibility, honesy, and humor of authentic prayer.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

For all those needing reassurance and encouragement, Brown offers practical, down-to-earth chapters that explore readers' hesitations. he speaks, for example, of "cosmic claustrophobia." he explores the thorny problem of unanswered prayers. he offers a basic theology of prayer, and suggests ways we can discover teh accessibility, honesy, and humor of authentic prayer.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 213 pages
• Publisher: Random House, Inc.; 1 edition (February 27, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345400755
• ISBN-13: 978-0345400758
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #751,062 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sound Principles For Developing Meaningful Prayer, March 21, 2002

By 

"christluvr" (Lancaster, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Approaching God: How to Pray (Hardcover)

Steve Brown really delves deep into the doctrine for prayer! This is an excellent handbook for people who really want to know not only how to approach God, but what it takes to have satisfying and fulfilling interaction with Him.

Rather than trying to tell people what to pray or even what not to, Mr. Brown gets to the root of the problem... getting started. Mr. Brown's theory is "Unbelievers don't pray because they are afraid that God might be there. Believers don't pray because they are afraid he might not be." He asserts that God is interested in developing a relationship with us not just hearing from us when we want or need something. He explains that before we can have this relationship we need to trust God unconditionally. To leap forward or fall back in total faith that God will be there to catch us and sustain us, even in times when He doesn't seem to answer or even refuses our requests. It is his contention that in contrast many of us try to manipulate or bargain with God often by trying to find out what prayer or combination of prayers will get God to give us the things we desire or help us gain control over our lives and the lives of those we interact with in life.

Steve Brown goes even deeper, exposing how our innate need to control or take over control when we feel God is not there for us short-circuits God's plans for us. He relates quite a bit of relevant scripture including how Jesus tried to teach much of this in His parables and testimony while on earth. He examines the Lord's Prayer which was given to us by Christ as an example of how to pray, not what to pray. In doing so Mr. Brown identifies the key concepts behind the prayer millions have adopted as their prayer, when in actuality they are more often than not just lackadaisically repeating words.

Mr. Brown encourages us to open our hearts and minds in prayer and share our doubts, our fears, our pain, our sin, and our shame because, as it is written, nothing is hidden from God anyway. He just wants to hear it acknowledged by us. Through this confession as well as by relinquishing control and listening for God to speak to us, we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives and bring about what is good for us and to develop spiritual attitudes and outward manifestations of our salvation and growth as believers.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for new Christians, October 18, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Approaching God: How to Pray (Hardcover)

I find this book easy to read and hard to put down. I've had it for half a day and have already read half of it. It feels like Mr. Brown is sitting in the room talking to me. I have read some other books regarding prayer and how to pray, but this one is the best I've read so far. I'm new to faith and Christianity and this makes me feel more deserving and willing to carry on the every important conversations with God. I highly recommend reading this book to new Christians.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You've Gotta Read This Book!, September 21, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Approaching God: How to Pray (Hardcover)

Words can hardly describe! If you are wanting a closer walk, a deeper relationship, but don't know how to go about it, this book is for you! Bravo, Steve Brown! You took the "scary" and the "guilt" out of approaching God, yet the approach is as reverent and worshipful as ever. In light of the WTC bombing, I am ever so mindful of what Steve Brown reminds us in the context of this book; i.e., the victory is already ours! I will keep this book for life. ...