Before Amen: The Power of a Simple Prayer

The concept that there is power in a simple prayer normally wouldn’t take a whole book to convey, but Lucado (You’ll Get Through This), a prolific author with 92 million books in print, succeeds in getting readers to approach communication with God in a whole new way. A self-proclaimed distracted “prayer wimp” (wouldn’t we all like to pray more, better, he asks), Lucado uses humor, imagery, and insights into God’s character to reshape thoughts about prayer, transforming it from a list of needs and wants (with a history that might leave one doubting the effectiveness of prayer) into a heartfelt conversation with God. He offers a ready-made prayer that’s easy to whip out anytime, anywhere. This condensed prayer distills all of the supplications in the Bible into just six sentences. Saying them before uttering “amen” can counteract worry, provide words for situations where no words seem to come, and obtain immediate intercession on behalf of those in need. Agent: Steve Green, Anvil Management. (Oct.)