God's Prayer Book: The Power and Pleasure of Praying the Psalms [Paperback]

Ben Patterson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2008

There is no better place in all of Scripture than the Psalms to learn to be with God and see with the eyes of faith the face of the One who longs to form us fully in his image. The psalms often stretch and perplex as they teach, but they open a divine window on prayer. How could it be otherwise? The Psalms are God's prayer book, and they teach us to talk to God in his own language.
Features meditations for more than 75 psalms, arranged in numerical order, Scripture and topical indexes. Each devotional includes the complete text of the Psalm(s) from the New Living Translation, a “devotional window” (brief meditative thoughts and/or background on the Psalm), a prayer route (one or more key phrases or verses from the Psalm, followed by suggested ways to use the Psalm in prayer).

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: SaltRiver (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414316658
• ISBN-13: 978-1414316659
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #382,583 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

The Reverend Ben Patterson has been campus pastor at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California, since 2001. He is responsible for organizing the college's chapel program, mentoring students, counseling, and encouraging every person in the Westmont community to grow toward their full maturity in Christ. He is a contributing editor to Christianity Today and Leadership Journal. Previously he was a contributing editor and editorial writer with The Wittenburg Door. Ben has written several books, including Serving God: The Grand Essentials of Work & Worship, Waiting: Finding Hope When God Seems Silent, Deepening Your Conversation with God, The Prayer Devotional Bible, and He Has Made Me Glad. Ben's most current work, which was released in November 2008, is God's Prayer Book: The Power and Pleasure of Praying the Psalms. Ben served the New Providence Presbyterian Church of New Jersey from 1989 until his appointment as dean of the chapel at Hope College in 1993. From 1975 to 1998 he served as the founding pastor of the Irvine Presbyterian Church in California. Ben was also minister of youth and adult education at the La Jolla Presbyterian Church in California. Previous to that he was assistant minister to college students at the First Baptist Church of Pomona, California, working with the Claremont Colleges. Ben earned his bachelor's degree from La Verne University and his master of divinity from the American Baptist Seminary of the West. He and his wife, Lauretta, have four grown children, Dan, Joel, Andy, and Mary.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A book that will make you consider..., November 4, 2008

By 

Kimfurd "Kimfurd" (Alabama) - See all my reviews

This review is from: God's Prayer Book: The Power and Pleasure of Praying the Psalms (Paperback)

God's Prayer Book, subtitled The Power and Pleasure of Praying the Psalms, is written by a man I believe has sought God to teach him how to pray. On page 7, the author states, "To be taught by the Bible to pray is to learn to want and feel what the Bible expresses - to say what it means and mean what it says." (p. 7) Ben Patterson currently serves as the campus pastor at Westmont College, and his book on praying the Psalms is really a powerful testimony of what God can do in our lives when we ask Him to teach us. Again, quoting the author on page 10, "So learning to pray is learning to ask for the things that God wants to give."

God's Prayer Book is not a book of rote prayer, but instead it is more of a guidebook of ideas. (a textbook, not a workbook) There are texts of 62 complete Psalms in the book, and each Psalms is followed by a brief aide and encouragement to pray as well as a suggested way to pray and apply that particular Psalm. The author suggests the lens of prayer to be tri-fold, one of Rejoicing, Repentance and Request. He also states that, "Prayer is not escape; it is engagement." (p. 24) To pray is to engage in spiritual warfare against the enemy that seeks to destroy the souls of men. That concept alone should change the way each of us approaches our prayer life!

I have decided that this is a book to be savored. I have not read every single chapter at this point, but I intend to do so in a slow, methodical manner. I want to become a powerful prayer warrior. I want to seek God's heart and His will for my life - especially my prayer life. God's Prayer Book is one I can recommend for those who want to strengthen their faith and draw into closer fellowship with Christ. I know I have been personally challenged already and I'm not finished with the book yet! I look forward to this journey with great anticipation! This makes a terrific daily devotional!! It is also beautifully bound and would serve as a special gift for someone who is seeking a closer walk with the Lord.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource - Wonderful Journey, November 4, 2008

By 

Mom of Four (Washington, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: God's Prayer Book: The Power and Pleasure of Praying the Psalms (Paperback)

This is such a great book. It is not one to sit down and read in a day or over a weekend. It is more of a journey. Mr. Patterson walks you through the Psalms (though not all of them) and then encourages you to pray them, memorize them, and apply them to your life. It is a guided journey, of sorts, that refreshes, enlightens, teaches, and most of all helps you to get better acquainted with the Father and the Son - with the help of the Holy Spirit! I have thoroughly enjoyed this journey so far. This is definitely a great book to give as a gift - and I plan on ordering several for the holidays!! I have already had a couple of requests for the book from people that I have talked to about it!! You will NOT regret adding this one to your collection!! Thank you, Mr. Patterson, for such a wonderful resource!!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great supplement to the Psalms, November 16, 2008

By 

Karla Cook - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: God's Prayer Book: The Power and Pleasure of Praying the Psalms (Paperback)

This is a beautiful book. It is more than a typical devotional book with a scripture reference and a nice thought to tie in with the verse. Instead it has the full text of selected Psalms with insights to each one. I have enjoyed reading one a day during my regular Bible-reading and prayer time.