Customer Reviews

The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears

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THE CIRCLE MAKER by Mark Batterson is a book about prayer and faith which will encourage, challenge and motivate the believer. Lead pastor of National Community Church, Mark writes with insight and clarity about the importance of "dreaming big, praying hard and thinking long".

The story begins with Honi, a legendary Jewish figure from 1 BC, whose faith and prayer saved the generation before Jesus by calling upon the God of heaven and earth to provide rain in time of near- fatal drought. Honi drew a circle in the desert sand, took his place, and called upon God to let it rain. And rain it did!

Mark calls upon believers to pray big prayers and draw circles in holy desperation for more of God in our lives: for ourselves, our children and our communities. Those prayers, when mixed with faith, are seeds which bear fruit, even in the generations to come. He exhorts the believer to pray prayers which honor God's greatness, His Goodness, His omnipotence, His desire to answer as a loving Father. Draw circles around God's promises. They are for us. Pray them through and wait expectantly.

Praying hard is key: "Work like the outcome depends upon you and pray like the outcome depends upon God." "Prayers are prophecies. They are the best predictors of your spiritual future...Ultimately, the transcript of your prayers becomes the script of your life."

Mark has a gift for speaking to this generation. No one connects with young people in more relevant or impactful ways than he does. For example, Mark writes, "Our most powerful prayers are hyperlinked to the promises of God." Suddenly, my Bible is underscored with hot links which we double-click by prayer. Who'd have thought?

This book is built upon faith. "Every prayer is a time capsule. You never know when or where or how God is going to answer it, but He will answer it. There is no expiration date, and there are no exceptions. God answers prayer. Period."

There are only a couple of Christian books I read time and again, next to my Bible: The Collected Works of Smith Wigglesworth and Pursuit of God by AW Tozer. The Circle Maker has been added to this company.

This book is a shout out to this generation to call upon God. Let it rain!

If your prayer life or faith has become stale and routine The Circle Maker, by Mark Batterson, is just what you need to shake things up and provide a fresh perspective.

Mark shares out of his own life many miraculous answers to prayer. He makes it clear that God is not offended by our big dreams or bold prayers and we should believe for greater things so that God-ordained purposes can be accomplished on the earth. Batterson makes a clear connection between the promises of God that we need to hold on to, the value in being specific in prayer and the need to keep praying through and praising God until there is an answer or a release of the burden. He also points out that all of this hinges on living a life that is centered on faithfulness in our daily life.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book:

"Well-developed faith results in well-defined prayers, and well-defined prayers result in a well-lived life."

"If you give beyond your ability, God will bless you beyond your ability."

"Having vision beyond your resources is synonymous with dreaming big."

"God always has a holy surprise up His sovereign sleeve!

"The only way you can fail is if you stop praying."

"We need the patience of the planter. We need the foresight of the farmer. We need the mindset of the sower."

"And when you get to the point where you care more about what God thinks and less what people think, you're getting close to the breakthrough."

"Each prayer is a time capsule. You never know when or where or how God is going to answer it, but He will answer it."

The value and purpose of fasting is covered in this book as well. Mark Batterson points out that our physical posture in prayer helps to posture our heart and mind. He also reminds us that our prayers are eternal and God will answer them even beyond our lifespan.

This book has stirred up my faith in a wonderful way and has challenged me to enlarge my vision even more, and to believe God for even greater things of His purpose that I had not previously allowed myself to consider. If you're ready to dream big, pray hard and think long, your prayer life will be supercharged by reading The Circle Maker.

By way of disclosure: I received a free review copy of "The Circle Maker" by Mark Batterson from Zondervan in exchange for writing a review--good, bad, or otherwise.

Mark Batterson is a interesting writer and a dynamic speaker. His five books have inspired readers, sparked controversy, and generated discussion. My guess is that The Circle Maker is going to do the same.

The Circle Maker will inspire readers.
The Circle Maker is a book about prayer. Books about prayer have a knack for packing conviction and sparking inspiration. They make me want to pray more and to pray better. The Circle Maker does just that. Mark's dream-big-pray-big message honors a big God, who delights in answering prayers.

The Circle Maker will spark controversy.
As much as it is inspirational, Circle Maker is also controversial. The controversy begins on the first page of chapter one, where Mark Batterson recounts the legend of Honi, a first-century mystic whose power in prayer saves the land from drought. Some have objected to the idea of "prayer circles," because they smack of paganism and superstition. After reading the book, it seems that Batterson is using "prayer circles" as a metaphor to describe the way someone prayers--prayers of specificity, audacity, and faith. Batterson is an evangelist for relentless, daring prayers.

I have some concerns with the book--a bit of sketchy exegesis here and there, a name-it-claim-it style of intercession, and a blurry line between dreams and prayers. I frankly discussed these concerns with Mark when I interviewed him on December 13, 2011, and I appreciate his genuine thoughtful answers to my questions. The interview will be broadcasted on crossleadership.com

The Circle Maker will generate discussion.
If there's one thing I despise, it is people who criticize books without reading them, and who demean authors without having a conversation with them. If you have questions about The Circle Maker, read it. If you have a problem with Mark Batterson, drive up to D.C. and treat him to coffee at Ebenezers. The Circle Maker will generate discussion, and I hope that it is a discussion that brings glory to God and a revival of prayer among God's people

It would be too much for this review to go into all of the things in this book that struck me as being at best questionable. I will instead focus on a few things that seem to be most serious.

First, there is the fact that the basic premise of the book is based on a myth. Consider these passages from the New Testament.

II Timothy 4:1-5
1I charge thee in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the
living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2preach the
word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all
longsuffering and teaching. 3For the time will come when they will not
endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves
teachers after their own lusts; 4and will turn away their ears from the
truth, and turn aside unto fables. 5But be thou sober in all things, suffer
hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil thy ministry.

Titus 1
10For there are many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision,
11whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses,
teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. 12One of
themselves, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, evil
beasts, idle gluttons. 13This testimony is true. For which cause reprove
them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14not giving heed to
Jewish fables, and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.

Myths and fables are not things upon which biblical doctrine and practice should be based. While there may be reason to think that Honi was a real person, many of the stories about him seem to be made-up, such as the one about him sleeping for 70 years. And this one about him praying for rain also reads like a made-up story, in that it has him remonstrating with an incompetent god who just couldn't seem to get his rain right. The story exalts Honi while making God look clumsy and inept.

Batterson makes many claims in the book that, frankly, are not taught anywhere in Scripture, and even run contrary to what Scripture plainly teaches. For example, in the second chapter, he claims this...

Bold prayers honor God, and God honors bold prayers. God isn't offended by your biggest dreams or boldest prayers. He is offended by anything less. If your prayers aren't impossible to you, they are insulting to God. (Kindle Locations 82-83)

When I consider what the Bible teaches about prayer, though, I do not find such claims supported at all. In Jesus' model prayer, for example, there is the request for the provision of food for the day. In Acts 4, Peter and John and some others did pray for boldness, but it was for God to "enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness". Rather than the insatiable desire for more and bigger, which Batterson encourages throughout the book, in Scripture we are told "Godliness with contentment is great gain", and Paul refers to himself as one who has learned to be content in all situations.

Batterson stresses dreaming supposedly impossible dreams. But many people who do not pray to God have created large and grandiose places of religious worship, fulfilled life goals and dreams, done supposedly impossible things, acquired wealth and paid off debts, practiced charity and philanthropy, started up coffeehouses or other type of businesses, and basically done all the things Batterson claims are signs of God doing the impossible in his life and the lives of those he refers to or knows.

Receiving little if any mention in the book, though, is that there is an impossible thing that we can pray for God to do for us--we can pray in repentence for forgiveness for our sins, and ask God for mercy on us as sinners. God in Christ has died so that we through repentence and faith in Christ may be forgiven and be granted salvation.

One of Batterson's most annoying practices is to 'read into' the biblical stories his own ideas, rather then dealing with what the text itself says. For example, in chapter three, he reads into the account of the conquest of Jericho such things as this; "While the story doesn't explicitly mention the people taking up positions of prayer, I have no doubt that the Israelites were praying as they circled the city", and "The first glimpse of Jericho was both awe-inspiring and frightening. While wandering in the wilderness for forty years, the Israelites had never seen anything approximating the skyline of Jericho. The closer they got, the smaller they felt. They finally understood why the generation before them felt like grasshoppers and failed to enter the Promised Land because of fear". Later on, in writing about Daniel, he talks about him having a sleepless night in the lions den. But the biblical texts concerning those events say none of these things. God had commanded the people to keep silence as they walked around Jericho, and there is no hint in the text that people smaller as they got closer to the city--in fact, in Joshua 2, when the spies had returned from the city, they were confident that the Lord had delivered all the land into their hands, and the people of the land feared them. And in Daniel, while the account says that the king had a sleepless night, it says no such thing in regards to Daniel himself.

Chapter 5 is a complete mishandling of the account of God sending quail to the people of Israel. Batterson completely erases all mention of God's judgment in the account of this event in Numbers 11, and instead makes it seem like what he calls a 'food miracle'. But God sending them enough quail for a month was an act of judgment. He said they would get so much quail it would "come out of your nostrils and you will loathe it". Why did He do that? "Because you have rejected the Lord, who is among you, and have wailed before him, saying 'Why did we ever leave Egypt?'"

The section of the book called "The First Circle--Dream Big" is, frankly, insulting. It was disturbing to read him writing stupidly about how bad reason and logic are, and how imagination is the pathway of prayer, and saying that somehow logic is contrary to faith. With such a low view of reason and sense, and such an unwarrantedly high view of imagination, is it any wonder that when he deals with biblical stories, he spends more time inserting his own imaginings rather than interpreting what the text is actually saying? It must be so much easier to imagine what Daniel or Joshua were supposedly feeling in certain situations, rather than correctly interpreting what the Bible says was happening.

Another disturbing part is in Chapter 14, where he tells about his church's attempts to buy an entire DC city block, and being stuck because the man who owned an auto shop on that block didn't want to sell. To quote the book, "I knew that the auto shop would be a thorn in the flesh if we didn't buy it, because it was an eyesore." Here is what Batterson writes about what he and others in the church did in regards to this auto shop. "I also felt like our entire staff needed to lay hands on this property, so we took a little field trip on September 15, 2010. As we laid hands on those cinder block walls, it was a genesis moment", "We circled that property so many times that I'm almost surprised the walls didn't fall down just like at Jericho". So, people from this church walked onto this business' property and prayed that the owner would sell? They literally walked around this auto shop's property? Was it not possible that this business owner sold simply to get away from the creepy church people trespassing on his property and walking around it all day long, or that maybe the creepy church people were driving customers off? Given the state of the economy in 2010, was it smart for this church to destroy a small business and caused those working there to lose their jobs? Batterson doesn't say that this auto shop was doing illegal or unethical things, only that it was on a city block the church had set it's sights on and did not meet his aesthetic approval. There's something bothersome about a church trying to spiritualize what seems like the hostile takeover of what seems to have been an honest and profitable business.

One last thing I want to deal with here is Batterson's claiming of biblical promises that are either not addressed to him, or not even promises at all. He claims, for example, that God transferred the promises in Joshua 1:3 to himself, but in context God was speaking to Joshua a promise concerning Joshua and the people of Israel over whom he had just become the leader. Batterson is far from the only one doing this, in fact Joshua 1:3 is regularly abused in such a way, but simply because people believe this promise applies to them doesn't mean it applies to them. God was clearly addressing a certain man at a certain place in a certain situation some time over 3,000 years ago, a promise about a particular land being given to a particular nation of people long ago. You weren't there, neither was I, nor was Batterson. God was not promising Batterson that all he had to do was to stroll around the city for it to be his, nor has he transferred that promise to him or anyone else alive today.

Given all of the questionable claims and statements, how poorly the author interprets Scripture, and how he makes logic an enemy of faith, I cannot recommend this book at all.

I'm not a fan of books or teachings that try to take something that God has made very plain and very simple and turn it into something complex or cheesy. Prayer is one of those things that can easily be turned into a form of "magic" whereby we try to get God to do what we want for our own purposes. If you take a quick glance at Mark Batterson's forthcoming book, The Circle Maker, you could easily think that this is one of those books. HOWEVER, if you actually read the book you'll soon discover that it is NOT that type of book at ALL. Batterson does not try to manipulate prayer or sell a repackaged version of "name it and claim it". Instead, The Circle Maker is full of faith building testimonies of how praying around the promises of God has produced fruit in his life and in the lives of others. The Circle Maker is a great read for anyone who is waiting on a miracle. I have had the privilege of reading a prerelease of everyone of Mark Batterson's books. While I do not think that The Circle Maker is his best book, it is definitely worth the read. One of my core convictions is that "Prayer is not what we do when all else fails...Prayer should fuel all that we do". I'll be picking up a copy for my team!

For those of you who have read the book, you know how powerful The Circle Maker is. For those of you who have not had the blessing of reading the book you will find that it is a very challenging read. But don't blame Mark for that, blame the Holy Spirit. God will speak to you on each and every page and challenge you to pray and live like you never have before. The Circle Maker walks you through all the areas of your life and invites you to cover them in powerful prayers IF you want God to do powerful things with your prayers. That is why I recommend The Circle Maker as a great book for Believers of all ages...but only if you want/need God to do more in your life.

I bought this book the day it came out (13 December 2011) and wasn't sure what to expect. It sounded intriguing from the cover.

I don't know about you, but when I read descriptions and even other customer reviews, and read that the product or book is life-changing, I take it with a grain of salt.

This book delivers.

It's been only 3 days and already my life spiritually, emotionally, vocationally, mentally, and over all life has literally had a 360. I will never--can never--be the same again... nor can my prayer life.

I think if anyone is interested in prayer, they should read this book.

But, more importantly, EVERY Christian should read this book.

It will bless your socks off! Just be ready for what God asks of you. It is guaranteed to be HUGE!

I read Mark Batterson's book, Soul Print, and I enjoyed it, so I welcomed the change to read and review his new book The Circle Maker.

The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears begins with the story of Honi the Circle Maker, a story recounted in the Talmud and other writings. The story is similar to that of Elijah and how he prayed for rain, except that Honi drew a circle and stepped into it and told God he would not move from it until God made it rain - and really rain - not just a drizzle (9-11).

He recounts the story of Mother Darby who told God if He would provide her husband with a church and a congregation, she would pray every morning at 9 AM, and if God would remove wickedness from her neighborhood, she would fast seventy-two hours a week for two years (31-32).

Batterson assures his readers that "you are only one prayer from a dream fulfilled, a promise kept, or a miracle performed" (13).

I agree with Batterson, God keeps His Promises, and God loves us to ask Him to fulfill His Promises in prayer. But I began to worry that Batterson was arguing that if we want anything all we need to do is give God an ultimatum. I was worried that this was a repackaged "name it and claim it."

Batterson says the first circle is to dream big. To ask God for things that are beyond our ability to accomplish. (He weaves the story of his ministry and God's answer to prayer and provision through the book.)

In chapter five, he gives the example of God's "gift" of quail to Israel in the wilderness. (I find it an ironic punishment, not a gift....)

Then he states that "the Almighty is moved by big dreams and bold prayers" (61). I want to ask Batterson if there are any parameters to this...

The second circle is to pray hard - to be like that persistent widow and not stop praying until you receive what you are praying for (81).

Batterson assures his readers that all of the promises throughout the Bible "have been transferred to us via Jesus Christ" (92). All of them???

God, Batterson argues, plays "chicken" with us until we have prayed long enough to satisfy God (and His sadism?) after which He will give us what we are praying for (109). God will give us whatever we want, if we just pray and work "hard enough" (112).

The third circle is to think long - your prayer may be answered in a later time - even in another generation (133).

(It's a minor point, but Batterson talks about our guardian angels on page 164, which are not to be found in Scripture.)

Is God Sovereign? "Destiny is not a mystery. For better or worse, your destiny is the result of your daily decisions and defining decisions" (168).

In chapter fifteen, Batterson writes about the power of making a goals list. (I have a goals list, but I don't believe my failure to achieve a goal is due to my not "catching" God in a prayer circle...)

Batterson repeatedly states that he is not arguing for "name it and claim it." I believe he is being honest when he says that, but I don't know what he is arguing for, then. The book, as I read it, argues that we can get anything we want if we give God and ultimatum, persist in prayer, and not give up even if it takes years or generations to get what we want.

I am saddened to say I found this a disturbing book. Despite Batterson's intent, I would urge you to stay away from this book. It is confusing at best and unbiblical at worst.

[I received this book free for review from [...]]

I'm a huge fan of Mark Batterson's books! So I'll admit that when I received my copy of "The Circle Maker," I went it with high expectations. And this book didn't disappoint!

I grew up with a phrase repeated often around our church and my home: The Church (and Christians) move forward on its knees. I believe that because I have tested it in my life. I know firsthand that my life is more centered and in-tune with God when I make prayer a regular habit. And on the flip side, I know how hectic and disjointed my life seems when my prayer time is abbreviated.

I'm an action-oriented guy. I like to do things quick, and I like quick responses. This frequently carries over into my prayer life, where I pray for something, and quickly check it off my list if the answer doesn't come quickly enough. But that's not how Honi The Circle Maker prayed.

This is the man Mark uses to teach us to pray with more intensity and more perseverance. Honi would - literally - draw a circle and kneel in prayer in that circle until God answered his prayer. Wow! From this man's example, Mark teaches us three key concepts about becoming circle-maker pray-ers.
1. Dream Big
2. Pray Hard
3. Think Long

In every section I was convicted on how short-sighted and puny my prayers seemed. But at the same time, I was also encouraged and energized to make the changes to become a circle maker in my prayer life. I'm excited to see how my life will change because my prayers are changing. I'm going to be a circle maker!

If you would like to revolutionize your prayer life, I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson is a game changer for me on the way I approach prayer. While prayer is a practice Christians are urged to do as soon as they make a profession of faith, Batterson brings a new approach with the concept of circling our dreams with expectation. And the challenge that if our dreams are small enough that we don't need God's intervention, then we need to ask God for bigger dreams. This book released at a time that I received a major disappointment...the perfect time to dig deeper and ask God how to approach the reality that dreams don't always come packaged the way I'd like.

I'm also challenged to circle my kids, my spouse, my marriage, my work, every area of my life with more intention. Through the tips in this book I'm ready to keep going, circling both my dreams and my disappointments in prayer trusting and believing that God will move -- not always with the answer I expected or in the timing I craved, but that He will move.