Praying: Finding Our Way Through Duty to Delight [Paperback]

J. I. Packer (Author), Carolyn Nystrom (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 17, 2009

Merit Award, 2007 World Guild Christian Living Book Praying is an action. Praying is an action that is of the essence of Christian existence. It involves our beliefs, emotions, values, hopes and fears, certainties and uncertainties, knowledge and ignorance. As J. I. Packer and Carolyn Nystrom explain, this book "is a heart-to-heart affair, in which two Christians who try to pray and wish they prayed better share thoughts about what they are doing with people whom they envisage as being like themselves. . . . Our aim is not just to clarify Christian understanding but to foster Christian living. In real praying, head, heart and hands go together." With wisdom, humility and sincerity the authors lead us through different moods of praying, including brooding, praising, asking, complaining and hanging on. In Praying the authors offer hope for those of us who daydream when we try to listen to God and stumble when we try to speak. Yet they don't just teach us about prayer; they challenge and inspire us to do it by pointing us to a clearer realization of the reality of God and his character. Let Packer and Nystrom come alongside you to encourage and guide your active praying to our powerful God, and let him move your praying through mere duty to delight.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Easy is never the word that fits real praying," say evangelical Christian heavyweight Packer and Nystrom, a freelance writer who has penned more than 70 books and Bible study guides. Packer's series of talks on prayer combined with Nystrom's transcription and input blend to create this definitive work that will deepen readers' understanding of a difficult subject. Both authors admit struggles with prayer, which makes their words even more reassuring for Christians who rarely confess to similar wrestlings. The book covers all aspects of prayer: the God we pray to, meditation (what Packer calls "brooding"), prayer checkups, petitions and even corporate prayer. The pair also discuss fundamental questions: why must we praise God? and can we really complain to God? Readers shouldn't expect an easy, breezy read from Packer. Nystrom works to keep Packer's original voice strong, which means deep thinking, even deeper explanations and sentences of some length. His love of history is evident through his many references to C.S. Lewis and church fathers such as Luther and Augustine. The work of reading this book pays off in a much more thorough understanding of prayer, its hindrances and its joys. Study questions for each chapter encourage personal reflection and broader understanding. (July)
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Review

"There is much to be gained from reading this book! Not only do the authors tell us what prayer is, but also what it is not. They do an excellent job in stressing how we should pray according to Scriptural principles." (Rev. Andrew Simcak Jr., Christian News, March 26, 2007, page 13 )

"Praying gently pulls readers in with its conversational style, quotations and excerpts from beloved works." (Christian Retailing, July 3, 2006 )

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Product Details

• Paperback: 319 pages
• Publisher: IVP Books (March 17, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830833544
• ISBN-13: 978-0830833542
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #662,240 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Written to make you think and consider why we speak to God", September 5, 2006

By 

Suzanne (Seattle, Washington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Praying: Finding Our Way Through Duty to Delight (Hardcover)

One cannot help appreciating the seriousness with which the authors address our need to pray. The material presented is not so much new material (it's prayer, you know) as it is material arranged in a manner to make you THINK.

Although I prefer "God, Help Me Pray" (because of the format) this book will appeal to those who see prayer as more of a science than an art. But make no mistake, you will pick up some interesting tidbits if you're willing to read and study this book carefully.

Also recommended: "God, Help Me Pray!" (Emails to/from God)
"With Christ in the School of Prayer"

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a book on praying that has actually made a difference!, January 28, 2008

By 

ReformingWoman "cool dat!" (Northeast Tennessee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Praying: Finding Our Way Through Duty to Delight (Hardcover)

I have begun, and rarely finished, many books on the subject of prayer. This book (which I have not only completed, but am re-reading) by Packer and Nystrom has actually helped me improve my prayer life. I find that the groundwork they lay (to Whom we are praying), and their following discourses on the different types of prayer have allowed me more freedom of expression when speaking to God. I am not a theologian and have not had much difficulty with understanding the concepts presented. However, I do believe that this book is best read slowly, and reread again and again; the misconceptions and bad habits that we have adopted concerning prayer are not easily overcome.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Substandard Packer, December 29, 2009

By 

Jfred (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Praying: Finding Our Way Through Duty to Delight (Paperback)

J.I. Packer is one of the heroes of the faith. I commend any of his books as essential, foundational reading for new and old Christians alike. But note that this book is co-authored, which is not surprising given the fact that Mr. Packer is well into his nineties. The Christian publishing industry seems enamored of producing co-authored books these days, but in my opinion, it is unfortunate, and this book is a prime example of why two authors can be problematic.

This collaboration has the feel of a rush job, thrown into the mix of the recent proliferation of books on prayer, using Packer's name to guarantee an audience. It just doesn't feel like a Packer book, so let me be candid in saying that my hunch is that this is mostly the work of Ms. Nystrom.

Many paragraphs begin by pointing out that the following thoughts are hers, and vice versa. It makes for a choppiness and chattiness that in no way resembles the superiour quality of J.I. Packer's finest works such as Knowing God, and Keep In Step With The Spirit. Perhaps it's not fair to compare ANY book to Packer's classics, but this book is simply substandard material.

It is an attractive looking volume, with a beautiful cover, promoted by a major publisher, featuring one of the all-time greats. Maybe I would be less critical if this was my first Packer book. He is one of the most influential evangelicals of the last century, principally because of his writing.

But this is mediocre at best. On this topic you are much better off with O. Hallesby's classic "Prayer" and Bryan Chapell's "Praying Backwards."

Now that I feel bad about ripping one of Mr. Packer's books, I suggest that if you want to be inspired, get a copy of Alistair MacIntyre's terrific biography, simply titled "Packer."