No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

As senior pastor of a Presbyterian church in Irvine, Calif., Roberts (Dare to Be True; Jesus Revealed) readily admits that his conservative denomination is not always comfortable with the emotive and often volatile sentiments in the book of Psalms. In fact, his own personal discomposure over the emotionally stark content of numerous Psalms challenged him to the further study that resulted in this book. Citing Hebrews 4:14–16, where Christians are instructed to approach God's throne boldly, Roberts advocates "going toe-to-toe with the Almighty," using the Psalms as examples. Many of the Psalms deal directly with expressing the darker side of human emotion such as vengeance, desperation and doubt, while others, like Psalm 47, take the opposite course and focus on expressing joyful prayer through energetic songs and clapping. Perhaps the most astonishing topic Roberts covers is the prayer of vengeance as found in Psalm 69, where the Psalmist calls upon his enemies to be destroyed. Roberts asserts that even this expression of bitter hatred has its uses, including the eventual healing and reconciliation of the supplicant. Overall, he skillfully dissects the Psalms and pleads for fellow believers to step alongside him, reaping the cleansing power such transparency affords. New Christians and seasoned veterans alike will find some freshly presented and practical prayer disciplines to mull over and implement. (Mar. 15)
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Review

Praise for No Holds Barred

“This inspiring book is an invitation to bold, honest, and passionate communication with God. Mark Roberts points us to a biblical view of prayer, full of reality and reverence. Mark reminds us of the astounding freedom in prayer we find throughout the Psalms, and encourages us to take advantage of that freedom. Read this book and discover your ‘inner psalmist’!”
–Matt Redman, songwriter, worship leader, author of Facedown and The Unquenchable Worshipper

“No Holds Barred is fresh, practical, and profound–a rarity in contemporary books on prayer. Mark Roberts gently guides us into more sincere prayer, helping us overcome our inhibitions and press into the bold and often shocking prayers of the Psalms. This book will richly reward those who take its truth to heart and who apply the principles Mark Roberts so ably explores.”
–Gary Thomas, author of Sacred Pathways and Sacred Marriage

“If you’re tired of hiding from God, No Holds Barred could be your route to spiritual honesty. One chapter after another explores the well-traveled tributaries of the Psalms, ancient conduits for navigating the wonders, chaos, and tragedies of life.”
–Sally Morgenthaler, author of Worship Evangelism, founder of Sacramentis.com and Digital Glass Productions

“No Holds Barred personalizes the Psalms for me and gives me lots of tools to communicate with God. Mark Roberts shows us not just the actions and words of praying the Psalms, but also the right heart, attitude, and theology behind those actions and words. This book will help you pray through the tough situations of life, and show you how to be utterly honest with God–no matter how you feel.”
–Andy Park, worship leader, songwriter, author of To Know You More

“Mark Roberts gives us not only the permission but also the biblical mandate of wrestling with God in prayer. He writes with no holds barred as he invites us to discover profound theological truths and to participate in the book’s practical exercises. In doing so, he brings us boldly to God’s throne of grace with confidence.”
–Libby Vincent, Presbyterian pastor and adjunct professor, Fuller Theological Seminary

“In No Holds Barred, Mark Roberts brings the unique perspective of pastor and theologian to one of the most pressing concerns of the day: How shall we pray, and specifically, how do the Psalms tell us to pray? As with his previous books, Mark blends the easy accessibility of a sermon with the deep learning of a scholar-theologian to bring every reader closer to the heart of the Psalms and thus to the heart of God.”
–Hugh Hewitt, best-selling author, radio host of the nationally syndicated Hugh Hewitt Show

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook Press (March 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157856705X
• ISBN-13: 978-1578567058
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #357,069 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An invigorating breath of fresh air, April 2, 2005

By	FaithfulReader.com (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

If your prayers feel routine, tired or cliché, get ready for a prayer shift. In NO HOLDS BARRED: Wrestling with God in Prayer, Mark Roberts (DARE TO BE TRUE, JESUS REVEALED) mines the Psalms for ways to move us from perfunctory prayer to an all-out, nothing-held-back conversation with God. "He wants us to come at him with everything we've got," says Roberts.

In each chapter, Roberts explores a different dimension of our communication with God, illustrated from the book of Psalms (asking, remembering, worshiping, thanking, etc.). Exercises are included to apply what is learned from each chapter.

No-holds-barred prayer was initially counter-intuitive for Roberts, who was raised with a traditional Presbyterian example of prayer: Deeply committed prayers? Yes. Gut-wrenching cries for divine help? No. When he tried to discover why he and so many Christians prefer "restrained" prayer, he discovered:

Most of us are taught to talk to God with retinence.

We don't hear other believers pray with abandon.

We're afraid we'll be penalized by God for telling him what we really think.

We have an incomplete or inaccurate image of God (the angry tyrant, the judge, a faithful sidekick).

Our sin interferes with our ability to pray.

He admits that some of his advice on prayer might seem contradictory, but then, so are the Psalms. For example, in one chapter Roberts emphasizes our need for solitude and stillness (Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God.") In the next chapter, Roberts urges us to energetic expression: singing, shouting, raising our hands. "If it's in the Bible...I'll do it!" He advocates both approaching God's throne boldly, and also offering worship with reverence and awe. "God's diverse nature calls forth diverse responses. Our God deserves both intimacy and reverence, both boldness and humility...."

Perhaps one of the most insightful chapters deals with the difficult Psalms of vengeance and hatred. What Christian hasn't stumbled, then quickly skimmed over, Psalms like 58:6-8:

O God, break the teeth in their mouths;
tear out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD!
Let them vanish like water that runs away;
like grass let them be trodden down and wither.
Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime;
Like the untimely birth than never sees the sun.

Not exactly first-grade Sunday School material.

However, Roberts doesn't sidestep or offer platitudes about this and other Psalms. "...If we believe that the whole Bible is God's holy, inspired Word, then we can't just overlook the parts we don't like. In fact, we probably have the most to learn precisely from those passages we find most distressing," he writes (perhaps paraphrasing C.S. Lewis).

It's Psalms like these that remind us we need to be more honest with God. "When we pray who we actually are, vengefulness and all, we stop pretending before God and experience greater transparency before him," writes Roberts.

We also learn to pray in solidarity with those who have experienced injustice, and to pray against God's enemies. We let go of the vengeful desires we have bottled up inside and we open our hearts more fully to God's transforming power, he writes. We all feel hatred, we all desire revenge at some point in our lives. God needs to hear our honest cries from the heart. "Pious pretending doesn't fool God, and it keeps us from experiencing his transforming presence," he writes. When we allow God to see into the ugliest corners of our hearts, we are often able to let go of deep, ugly wounds from the past. "Let God have your heart, all of it, so that he might heal and transform it."

Some Christians may wish Roberts, senior pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church and an adjunct professor at Fuller Seminary, would more specifically comment on some of the benefits of liturgical prayer (although he is clearly a strong advocate of praying in community and, of course, praying the Psalms). Regardless, longtime Christians whose prayer life has gone flat will find Roberts's book an invigorating breath of fresh air, and new Christians will discover solid ideas for implementing the Psalms into their life of prayer.

--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Perceptive and Helpful Guide, September 19, 2005

By	Phillip H. Steiger (Colorado Springs, CO) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is a wonderful and perceptive guide to praying through the Psalms. Through each chapter, Roberts adeptly addresses different issues raised through the Psalms and how to fold them into your prayer life. Among the many things he addresses are prayers of confession, worship, praise, and silence, and each topic is addressed with personal and pastoral sensitivity.

A growing topic of emphasis in evangelical circles in the last decade or so has been personal and corporate spiritual formation. Although this book does not label itself as being in that tradition, I think it can fit very neatly and usefully into anyone's quest for personal spiritual growth. Each chapter concludes with a short suggestion on how to implement the Psalms into a prayer life both corporately and personally, and the final chapter contains several helpful and guiding questions relevant for each section.

I have personally benefited from this work, not just in my quest to deepen my prayer life, but in my appreciation for the Psalms as well. No Holds Barred would make a great resource for personal enrichment as well as a great text for a small group wanting to take this kind of journey together.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How to come to terms with God, August 5, 2005

By	Richard G. Snell (St George, Utah) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I found this book: entertaing amusing educational inspirational worthwhile enlightling AND I liked it!!!