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Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?

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Yancey, Philip. 2006. Prayer: Does it make any Difference? London: Hodder and Stoughton. This review is based on the British edition which was released earlier.

Philip Yancey, author of best selling Disappointment with God and Soul Survivor, is a popular author because he puts in words, what many Christians are feeling but are afraid to articulate. He deals with controversial topics of living a Christian life with brutal honesty. Hence a book on prayer is most welcome. Prayer is the most talked about subject in Christian life yet least practiced. Yancey stated that to him, prayer is the area where two themes of struggle in Christian life meet: "Why God doesn't act the way we want God to and why I don't act the way God wants me to."

In Part 1, Yancey developed the theme of who God is and who we are in relationship to Him. He also highlighted the fact that God wants to keep company with us. It is in this context that, Yancey developed his argument why we should pray. To him, prayer is a partnership with God which he developed in Part 2. God wants to partner with his creatures in His great redemption plan of the present fallen creation. Prayer then is a form of negotiation. Skillfully skirting the theological issue of whether an unchanging God can change His mind, Yancey explored the numerous passages in the Bible that God did changed His mind. He concluded that the underlying reason that God does change His mind is because of love. "For God so loved the world..."

In Part 3, Yancey explored the `language of prayer.' Basically, this section is a `how to pray' section. However I am glad he explored the silence of God in his chapter `the sound of silence'. For some reasons, most churches do not teach the fact that in a life of prayer, there are times when God does not seem to be present. Spiritual writer like John of the Cross talked about a dark night of the soul- an experience where God seems to be absent. One reason why this is not commonly taught may be that many Christians may not be able to accept the fact that God will voluntarily withdraw the awareness of His presence from us. However as many spiritual writers have attested, these dark nights are necessary for our spiritual growth. Another reason may be that almost all Christians are struggling with prayer (or time to pray). A God who seems absent may not fit into their theological framework.

Part 4 is the climax of the whole book. I was looking forward to discover what Yancey would say about two important issues for us who are struggling with prayers- unanswered prayers and prayers and physical healing.

Regarding unanswered prayer, Yancey wrote, "Some, but not all, unanswered prayers trace back to a fault in the one who prayers...to God's mystifying respect for human freedom and refusal to coerce...to dark powers contending against God's rule...to a planet marred with disease, violence and the potential for tragic accident." What about the unanswered prayers not due to these causes mentioned? After 15 pages, Yancey concludes, "In the end, unanswered prayer brings me face to face with the mystery that silenced Paul: the profound difference between my perspective and God's". It is a mystery but it does not help those of us who are struggling with unanswered prayers.

Yancey seems to have struggled much as he wrote about prayer and physical healing. Earlier in the book he has noted the tremendous growth of the church in Nepal. "The first Nepalese became a Christian in 1950. Now the Church numbers more than half a million, and Nepalese church leaders estimate that 80 per cent of converts have resulted from physical healings...European and American doctors who work there as missionaries, and they admit they have no scientific explanation...David Aikman's book Jesus in Beijing reports a similar pattern of apparent miracles in China." Yet, in his chapter on prayer and physical healing, he wrote, "Nevertheless, I do believe that what many people think of when you say the word `divine healing'-supernatural interventions in the law of nature governing our bodies-are extremely rare. They are miracles, not ordinaries."

This is a brave and honest statement especially in the face of certain groups of Christians who claims that God performs healing on demand (just remind Him of His promises, that's all). Earlier in the chapter, Yancey extracted an article which he co-authored with Dr. Paul Brand for Christianity Today. Dr. Paul Brand is well recognized as an authority on orthopedic surgery for leprosy patients and a well respected Christian. In the article, Dr Brand remarked, "From my own experience as a physician I must truthfully admit that, among the thousands of patients I have treated, I have never observed an unequivocal instance of intervention in the physical realm. Many were prayed for, many found healing, but not in ways that counteracted the laws governing anatomy. No case have I treated personally would meet the rigorous criteria for a supernatural miracle." This is an amazing statement from a Christian who has treated thousands of leprosy patients. I am sure he prayed for them. Not a single one got healed miraculously! They were all healed by conventional medicine. And this is in India, an underdeveloped country if anyone is to argue that miraculous healing occurs in only underdeveloped countries.

I believe Yancey wrote this because he has seen the "great damage that result when we presume upon God (for healing)". Yancey's approach is to review our prayers with a checklist before praying.
* Am I expecting a miracle as an entitlement?
* Am I using the benefits of God's `common grace'-the healing built into our bodies and the medical knowledge we have gained?
* Do I wrongly blame God for causing suffering?
* Am I prepared for the possibility that physical healing may not take place?

I find this checklist fascinating and useful to check our inner attitude and our relationship with God before praying for healing. Yes, we are still called to pray for healing.

In any Christian bookstores, the shelves are full of books about prayers. This indicates that though prayers and praying is a common spiritual discipline, many of us have problems with it. I have enjoyed Philip Yancey's book for three reasons. Firstly, he is an excellent wordsmith and it was enjoyable to read his writing. Secondly, this book is full of interesting anecdotes and reports about the Christianity in different parts of the world because he has a journalist's instinct for seeing the big picture. Finally, he is honest about his struggle with praying and how much time he spent on it.

Imagine sitting with David, before he became king of Israel, and hearing his laments and frustrations with God which eventually circled back to an attitude of praise. You might hear some of the same questions and observations in this book. I've always admired Yancey's willingness to wrestle with the tough issues, to share from his own weaknesses, and to engage his brain while also relying on faith. His latest book embraces these same qualities, presenting a theological yet practical look at prayer's place in the lives of Christians.

So, does prayer make a difference? That's the central question of the book, and it points poignantly at a relationship with the living God. It does not, however, sugarcoat the harsh realities: those who die despite numerous prayers of faith; those who prosper while living sinful lives; the seeming distance of God when we yearn for his nearness.

Throughout the book, sidebars give insight into the joys and turmoils of believers from around the world. These add a nice touch of humanity to the narrative, a reminder that the issue of prayer is not merely an ethereal one, but one that affects each of us to our core. Some never receive the easy answers they hope for, while others rarely pray and find wide paths of apparent blessing. Yancey deals with questions of sickness, prosperity, spiritual destitution, sin, and the ultimate desire to know God and to be known. One particular thought hit home: Why is that God doesn't do the things we want him to, and why is that we don't do the things he wants us to?

If you're looking for an easy, 1-2-3 step book on abundant living through prayer, look elsewhere. If you want everything to fit into a nice, tidy box, this isn't the book for you. If, however, you are earnest in your desire to bring your honest fears and doubts before the Lord, to think through the answers of Scripture, to know that you are not alone, than Phillip Yancey's latest book is sure to be a breath of fresh air. This is a book rich in ideas and biblical truth, yet accessible to the average reader. Indeed, it can--and probably will--make a difference in many lives.

Mr. Yancey tackles one of the more difficult aspects of Christianity and deals with many of most common questions and concerns about prayer. He assures us, several times, that we simply don't have all the answers, but he bases his beliefs on what Christ did and said. All his discussions are supported by Biblical texts. The material is challenging, however, he breaks it up with stories and quotes from many people working through the same enormous issues: why was that prayer answered, and that one not? for example. The book is also organized and chapters titled such that you can reread sections as life situations warrant. In the end, it is simply encouraging. There's no formula, no perfect prayer, no checklist. At a recent talk, Mr. Yancey was asked how we know if we're doing it right. His answer will stick with me: if you're praying, you're doing it right. Combined with his encouragement to keep on keeping on, this book on prayer should be inspiring to all.

"The reason why we pray is simply that we cannot help praying" says William James.

This is a well thought out book by a famous and loved author. It is not, however, an easy quick read. If you really have time to contemplate why praying matters, prepare yourself by praying for some insights, use a highlighter because there are some wonderful prayers, quotes, and useful information for further study, and read one part at a sitting. It is a very long book and could have benefited from more editing, (especially one tidbit that doesn't belong in a book such as this in "adjusting expectations). A serious undertaking, it is apparent to the reader that the author is examining many unresolved questions regarding his own prayer life. He makes some excellent points. He believes in prayer.

There are five parts to the book. Keeping Company With God, Unraveling the Mysteries, The Language of Prayer, Prayer Dilemmas, and the best part in my opinion, The Practice of Prayer. Helpful information as to resources and credits are in the back of the book.

Chapter 13 is exceptionally helpful (Prayer Grammar). The personal stories throughout the book shadowed in gray was a nice addition.
There could have been more of them.

There must be many people like me who have never had a question as to the wisdom of praying anywhere, anytime, to almighty God - praising Him for His goodness and greatness, and humbly asking for some help, knowing we'll understand it all - one day. Don't make prayer complicated. Don't doubt. Keep the faith.

This book is one of, if not the, best contemporary books on prayer, well suited to the ordinary Christian like me. While most other great books on prayer teach you the kinds, disciple and practice of prayer, "Prayer" by Philip Yancey talks about what prayer IS. As part one of the book states, prayer is essentially "keeping company with God".

Yancey describes the flow of the book as a journey of discovery about and towards prayer in part one. He then writes about why we should pray (should we pray at all? is there a need for prayer?), whether or not prayer makes a difference to us or to God, whether or not prayer changes the circumstances we are praying for, and whether prayer changes God's decisions about those circumstances.

In part 3 he talks about the obstacles to prayer such as not knowing what to pray, what to say when praying, whether or not there is an appropriate "language of prayer", and what do we do if we can't get any words out to pray "properly".

After we finally get to the point where the reader is finally encouraged to start praying, Yancey then deals with the greatest obstacle to people who pray: unanswered prayer. He ends the book with "the practice of prayer" which, I think, is a better term for the spiritual discipline of prayer. He also lists resources to help the reader in his practice of prayer.

All in all, Mr. Yancey has just written a book that chronicles the average Christian's prayer life: the false starts, the actual journey (and practice) of prayer, the dry spells, the emotionality, the refusal to accept God's answers (or lack thereof) to prayers, the realization that prayer is the only way he can reach (talk) to God and, finally, the acceptance of the reality that he can't profess to have any kind of relationship with God if he doesn't pray.

I am a person who has greatly benefited from prayer after major injuries from an accident. Each day I live in the balance of acknowledging the miracles God did through the many prayers of my family and friends, yet living with the limitations/pain my injuries continue to force on me. I found this book to be nicely balanced between those two.

There will always be mysteries we don't have answers to, but that shouldn't stop us from asking and expecting the best from God. He wants an authentic relationship with us (think of some of the discussions recorded between Him and Abraham/Moses/David) so our prayers also need to be dialog with Him as we wrestle with the mysteries. Yancey has a great way with words in finding that balance and encouraging the reader to keep on talking to God.

I have not read any of Yancey's previous books. I read this because I have a heart after prayer, am a prayer leader and am in the process of raising up a house of prayer in my region. So, I read as much on prayer as I can. I was disappointed in the book to a great degree. That being said, Yancey was very transparent, which is admirable. He asked lots of questions that we all ask, and he wonders aloud about things that perplex him about prayer. Perhaps the book should have been titled differently. If you are looking for a book of someone's honest personal journey in seeking to understand prayer better, this book is intriguing. He covered a number of foundational areas in prayer and was accurate in his assessment of certain topics. But he never really provides answers to learn to more effectively pray and doesn't seem to reach a conclusion other than to admit we should pray even though he doesn't seem personally convinced that it makes any difference. You get the sense he thinks the benefits of prayer are almost more therapeutic than anything else. He approaches a spiritual discipline that is exercised based completely on faith and tries to explain and approach it from a mental/natural perspective to try to explain something that is spiritual, not physical.

I don't have a clue about his theology. But I find it interesting that he goes out of his way to criticize those who operate in faith, particularly in the area of healing. And he reaches his conclusions in many cases by interviewing other people. He doesn't attempt to give Scriptural answers, but relies on his polling of a limited number of people in the area of prayer to reach some of his conclusions. He talks about balance, but I don't think Jesus ever taught us to be balanced. He taught us to be radical. At any rate, he is openly critical of some who have ministries of healing, like Benny Hinn. Some don't like Hinn's personality and flambouyance, at times. And I doubt Yancey has ever been to one of his meetings but is basing his conclusion on what others say or what he has seen on television. The fact is many do get healed at Hinn's meetings, and they are documented. He also states he doesn't have the faith to believe for a limb to be re-grown. At least he is honest. But I know missionaries who have seems missing limbs grow back as a result of a prayer for healing in other countries. He seems to think there comes a time when we just have to resign ourselves to being sick, accept it and stop praying for healing. I can't accept that. And it's interesting to me that Jesus never refused to heal anyone who asked.

It's quite clear that no one has all the answers, especially when it comes to why it seems our prayers are not answered at times. But he seems bothered by a person saying some answers don't come due to a lack of faith on our part. When the diciples were praying for someone to be healed and it wasn't happening and they asked Him why, He told them is was due to their lack of faith. Why does the hair stand up on the back of someone's neck and get them in a huff when it's suggested the answer to their prayer may not have come due to a lack of faith on their part? The disciples didn't seem offended by His comment, but instead sought to have Him teach them to have more faith. It may not be a lack of faith, but we should at least be open to consider that possibility.

He provides a list of resources on prayer at the end of his book. I found it interesting that having read dozens of books on prayer and intercession to become more effective at it personally, that the only one he mentions of all the works I have read on prayer to learn more about this discipline is the Complete Works of E.M. Bounds. He doesn't mention any of the current instructive books on prayer and intercession, including Intercessory Prayer by Dutch Sheets. Nor does he include the biography of one of the most effective and committed intercessors of all time, Rees Howell. My point is that there are so many other resources that would have helped him on this journey and could have answered many of his unanswered questions, but he apparently has not read them. If he expanded his horizons, I think he would find that the people he interviewed to assist in reaching the conslusions he did come to were not an accurate or complete representation of reality. He should visit Heidi Baker's ministry in Mozambique some time. It would blow him away and challenge many of his assumptions and conclusions. I don't know why some aren't healed, but I am not going to give up and stop praying for the sick because I don't understand why some aren't healed. And I have seen people healed when I pray, so I know it happens today and is at times clearly a result of a specific prayer at a specific time. That being said, the Lord uses doctors and medicine to heal as well. But then there are some things they cannot do anything about other than treat symptoms.

So, in conclusion, if you are looking to read a book about a personal journey of learning to pray and joining together in the journey with someone who may have the same questions you do, this book is very interesting reading. And he is very transparent and honest in sharing his feelings. But if you are reading this book as a resource to learn to become more effective in prayer and to increase your faith and ability to pray at a more advanced level and see results, then this is probably not the right book for you.

Philip Yancey has done it again. His book "The Jesus I Never Knew" is the best book I have read on Jesus. His book, "What's So Amazing About Grace?" is the best book I have read about grace. Now his book, "Prayer: Does it make any difference?" is the best book I have read on prayer. That is a strong statement for me to make, even as a person who loves the writings of Philip Yancey. I have read dozens of great books on prayer, including great books by people like Richard Foster, Ole Hallesby, Bill Hybels and Oswald Chambers.
What sets Yancey's book apart is his brutal honesty about the struggles people have with prayer, balanced with inspiring stories of how prayer has changed people's lives. Yancey is particularly self-effacing about his own struggles with prayer and his feelings of inadequacy in failing to pray. Yet by the end of the book, it is apparent that Yancey is much more of a prayer warrior than he admits at first.
The books' 22 chapters are divided into five parts. Part One, "Keeping Company with God," explores what prayer is. He points out that Jesus "virtually invented private prayer" (p. 63).
Part Two, "Unraveling the Mysteries," discusses frustrations and questions that people have about the effectiveness of prayer. He gives a disarmingly profound answer to those who ask why we should bother to pray when some prayers seem unanswered: "Why pray? Because Jesus did" (p. 78). Later in the book he gives another simple but true answer: "Why pray? God likes to be asked" (p. 143).
Part Three, "The Language of Prayer," discusses how to pray. He gives great practical advice on handling distractions to prayer, and reminds the reader that there is no right way to pray, because different styles of prayer fit different personalities. "Keep it simple, keep it honest, and keep it up" he advises (p. 191).
Part Four, "Prayer Dilemmas," returns to questions people have about prayer, especially unanswered prayer. I would disagree slightly with his defintion of "unanswered prayer," as he includes in that definition prayers that receive a "no" answer. Yancey's approach to prayer for physical healing is balanced and insightful, as he reveals scientific research showing healing that cannot be explained, while recognizing the importance of using medicine and how God usually works through natural processes.
Part Five, "The Practice of Prayer," provides motivation for faithful praying.
Yancey's writing includes frequent illustrations from a variety of sources, from popular culture to literature to world history. Being a famous author and editor for Christianity Today, Yancey has received many letters about prayer, and he shares this correspondence throughout the book. One unique quality about this book is that each chapter includes a couple of sidebars written by others, sharing personal experiences in prayer. For example, on p. 224-225 a prostitute whose prayer for deliverence resulted in her miraculous salvation. Although each sidebar story can be read alone, they relate to the chapters where they are inserted.
I disagree with Yancey in chapter 7, when he discusses Abraham's prayer that "changed" God's mind. Yancey does not notice that Genesis 18:33 says that it is God who ended the conversation with Abraham, not Abraham with God, so God did not change His mind.
Also, I believe that Yancey misinterprets Job 21:15 on p. 95. There he says that Job asks "What would we gain by praying to him?" However, the context of the chapter implies that Job quotes the wicked in this passage; Job does not say that he himself questions prayer.
It is remarkable that these were the only two places that I disagreed with Yancey, because he makes bold and strong statements throughout the book. I am sure many people will be offended or disagree with some things he said, just because he asserts so many strong opinions. But this is one of the values of the book: Yancey stimulates you to think deeply about prayer, and challenges your preconceived notions. Yet he does so while remaining fiercely loyal to the Bible's teachings on prayer.
In summary, this book is destined to be a classic book on prayer, useful for group study or personal review and study over and over again.

Through this book, Philip Yancey again invites us for a stimulating fireside chat on topics that trouble Christians, this time the paradox that is prayer - why are most prayers unanswered? How could a powerful, all-loving God allow evil to happen even when Christians pray against it?

Follow Yancey as he takes us on a grand tour through Scripture - especially the Psalms and Job (easily Yancey's most quoted portions of Scripture!), through the life stories of Christians throughout history, and Christian writings to explore, scrutinise and investigate prayer and its effects on God and the pray-ers (people who pray), whether what was prayed for was granted or not.

Masterfully, Yancey weaves all these to show us that we ought to keep praying in faith, and embark on a journey that transforms our prayers, and our view of prayer - from being a problem-riddled exercise of seeming futility, to a pathway to being transformed by God who yearns for relationship with us human beings. For that is the purpose he created free-willing human beings to love him and fellowship with him, for which also he sent his own Son, Jesus Christ to redeem these human beings when they are estranged from him through sin.

This is not a theological handbook, and readers who presuppose God's predetermination of human destinies will find the idea of human free will (a 'core' Yancey concept) difficult to go pass. Yet, as he pointed out, even Calvin urged people to pray and included prayer as a chapter next to predestination! Questions such as God's sovereignty and the human will could only be resolved by studying further issues such as ontology and the nature of God (I would like to suggest, as a start, Dennis Kinlaw's /Let's Start with Jesus/. Zondervan, 2005).

Yancey respectfully treats his readers as fellow travellers on this journey of life. /Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?/ is a holler of encouragement from one who has gone that little bit further than us. It calls for, not adulation or even admiration for the writer, but a humble thanksgiving to God who has gifted us with such an encourager.

Yancey will challenge you with various aspects of prayer he presents throughout. Prayer is very multidimensional and it is a subject not easily pigeonholed and restricted. It is different things to different people solely due to the fact that we are all different. God has to relate to each one of us totally differently from the way he might to another. Of interest to me is the necessity he obviously faced in answering whether God hears prayer, reacts to prayer, changes his mind from prayer of his creatures, and lives in "real time" with us. His answer is affirmative and it is evident that he leans toward "open" theology descriptions of God, rather than the "classical" model of God as impassible, immovable, stoic, and microscopically having already decided all things, all events, all thoughts, all actions of human beings from the infinite past of his existence. Doctrines define God. The way we picture God, perceive him to view us as moral creatures making choices in this life, make up our image of God. Some see him as a "cosmic cook" burning his wicked subjects forever and forever in a lake of fire. The beliefs we hold about judgment, damnation, grace, eternal punishment, and a half dozen other subjects determines our opinions and beliefs about our standing before God and how we view others in the world around us with which we live as social persons and neighbors. Prayer is on going. It is a long wandering journey, never really definable. It is how we commune with the invisible. Our greatest prayers have probably been silent ones and we never heard them uttered within our souls.