Christian Prayer For Dummies [Paperback]

Richard J. Wagner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 11, 2002

Advice and examples help you find your own prayer style

Discover how prayer works and why you need it now more than ever

Do you want to pray, but you're not sure how? This friendly guide explains the different kinds of prayer - revealing how and why to pray and how to discern God's answers. You'll see how to overcome hindrances, how to use a journal, and how to pray on your own. Discover what "Thy will be done" means and how to approach prayers that seemingly haven't been answered.

The Dummies Way
* Explanations in plain English
* "Get in, get out" information
* Icons and other navigational aids
* Tear-out cheat sheet
* Top ten lists
* A dash of humor and fun

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

"I'll pray for you". It's a phrase that people like you and I often utter as natural response when we hear a problem from a friend or loved one. This expression, however, is far more than lip service or kind words of comfort. Instead, packed inside this deceivingly simple phrase, there is a direct line to an all-loving, all-powerful God.

In Christian Prayer For Dummies, I explore how prayer is God's "x-factor" for Christians to transform their lives in today’s increasingly complex world. You find out that prayer is not a ritual, but a dynamic conversation with a personal God, and can be practiced in many ways and styles based on your own individual needs. You also discover how prayer can bring your family, small group, and church closer together and mend torn relationships. In the heart of the book, I candidly look at the basic questions — why, when, and how to pray — as well as some of the toughest issues that prayer has to offer, such as:

* How can you reconcile "thy will be done" with "ask and you shall receive"?
* Why does a loving God not always answer your prayers in a manner you expect?
* What can you do when you disagree with God’s answer?
* How can you discern God’s voice when you pray?
* Does God heal in today’s world?

Throughout the book, my aim is to avoid the two extremes - "touchy-feely" spiritualism and heavy theological prose - that you can so often encounter when reading about prayer. Instead, I aspire to touch a middle ground that is easy reading yet packed with substance, highly practical yet life changing.

From the Back Cover

Advice and examples help you find your own prayer style

Discover how prayer works and why you need it now more than ever

Do you want to pray, but you’re not sure how? This friendly guide explains the different kinds of prayer – revealing how and why to pray and how to discern God’s answers. You’ll see how to overcome hindrances, how to use a journal, and how to pray on your own. Discover what "Thy will be done" means and how to approach prayers that seemingly haven’t been answered.

The Dummies Way

• Explanations in plain English
• "Get in, get out" information
• Icons and other navigational aids
• Tear-out cheat sheet
• Top ten lists
• A dash of humor and fun

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 351 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (December 11, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764555006
• ISBN-13: 978-0764555008
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #511,703 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I have authored several books, focusing on two very different aspects of my life and professional focus. On the faith front, I am author of "The Expeditionary Man", "The Myth of Happiness", and several "For Dummies" books designed to make meaty truth easily approachable for postmodern readers. These books include "C.S. Lewis & Narnia For Dummies", "Christianity For Dummies", and "Christian Prayer For Dummies".

On the technology front, I have authored several web tech books as well, such as "Adobe AIR For Dummies", "XSLT For Dummies" and "Building Facebook Applications For Dummies".

I work as Senior Developer for Maark, a strategic and interactive B2B marketing firm in Boston. Previously, I was V.P. of Product Development at NetObjects, an Internet software company, as well as inventor/architect of NetObjects ScriptBuilder.

I graduated from Taylor University and pursued graduate studies at American University. Though a native Hoosier, I now live in Princeton, Massachusetts with my wife and three boys.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very deep book, October 3, 2006

By 

Patrick Fleury "PF" (Geneva) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Christian Prayer For Dummies (Paperback)

The best book I have ever read on Christian prayer. The book is very informative, very accurate, and very thorougly Bible-based. It enriched deeply my prayers as well as my relationship to God. The book covers all topics related with prayer from praying with your spouse and children to keeping a diary with your prayers.

A beautiful and moving book I would absolutely recommand for every sincere Christian.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars christian Prayer for Dummies, March 22, 2006

By 

Mary K. Sohlin "Covenant Bookworm" (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Christian Prayer For Dummies (Paperback)

It was wonderful. It covered all aspects of prayer, including, many I wasn't even aware of. The book was written in clear, concise language. I recommend it for anyone interested in prayer.

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this one, November 5, 2010

By 

Anne Wiser (YUMA, AZ, US) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Christian Prayer For Dummies (Paperback)

I borrowed a copy from my pastor, spilled coffee on it and bought this for him...which meant I got to keep his. Found it so useful that I bought a copy for my daughter.