Dangerous Prayers: Because Following Jesus Was Never Meant to Be Safe

In this informative guide, Groeschel (Hope in the Dark), founding and senior pastor of Life.Church in Edmond, Okla., shares his previous struggle of feeling inadequate about his prayer life. Though Groeschel always desired to pray the “right” way, his routine, he writes, had started to feel like a rut. As he studied the prayers of people within the Bible, he noticed that they varied, including personal, practical, and even prayers of angry frustration. Groeschel also grasped their “desperate, fiery, gutsy, and real” quality and learned that prayers only need to be “open and honest.” Clarifying that these heartfelt and simple prayers are not to be confused with “safe,” or simplistic, prayers, he challenges readers with three different types of prayers, which, he argues, can strengthen their faith: “search me,” “break me,” and “send me.” His suggestions correspond to feelings of self-reflection, the desire to overcome limitations, and the hard work of discovering God’s plan for oneself. To reinforce his prayer method, Groeschel includes discussion questions for each section. With plenty of examples of “dangerous prayers” from the Bible, this passionate work will inspire Christians to pray from the heart. (Feb.)