EXCERPTS

Chapter 1: Position for Prayer
Maintaining Personal Honesty

After building a prayer foundation by understanding God’s sovereignty, we must commit that we will always, always come to Him honestly in our prayer times. He is not interested in pretense or denial. He is searching for honest hearts.

We must be willing to confess we are angry with Him when we are feeling that way. He is able to handle our anger, and He knows when it is there, whether or not we are honest about it.

Some people would tell you not to ask God questions like, “Why?” I am not one of those people. I believe that asking God “Why” indicates that we have the faith to know that He, and only He, has the answer. I believe “Why?” is a question that ultimately shows faith. However, once we ask the question, we must be willing to rest in His timing for the answer. For some situations the answer may come fairly quickly, for others, very slowly, and for some, not until we see Him face-to-face. If we trust in the sovereignty of our God, we wrestle our way to peace in the knowledge that if an answer is for our highest good, the God who loves us will not withhold it.

Honesty in our prayer time is critical. It opens the way for us to hear and respond to our Father in deeper and more profound ways. We must purpose in our heart to be open, honest, and transparent, resting in His sovereignty. Such a foundation for prayer will never leave us disappointed!

Chapter 4: Principles of Prayer
Praying From a Position of Rest

The mature ones . . . are people who pray from a position of rest. They are aware of God being in control of all things, certain that He loves them, and are totally convinced that He always chooses the highest good. This is not a faith that says, “I must have this thing, or that outcome,” but a faith that says, “God loves me and wants to hear my heart, and He loves me so much that He wants me to hear His heart as well.”

So fully are they convinced of His intentions toward them that they are now able to put away all striving. Prayer to them has become a place of rest. They are, however, sensitive to a particular burden for ongoing prayer that the Lord might desire in certain situations. . . . Apart from these special prayer burdens, the mature ones rest in God’s presence. With trusting hearts they leave all with Him, in Him, and to Him. He promised, “Ask, and it will be given to you” (Luke 11:9). They have asked. They will be given.

Our Heavenly Father longs for us to come into maturity . . . the rest of prayer. The longing heart, moving into this rest, will know it has at last come home . . . home to a whole new peace and freedom from the bondage of a begging, pleading prayer life.

Chapter 5: Personal Listening Prayer
Hearing God’s Voice

Listening for God’s voice is not just listening with your ears-it’s listening with your whole being-and it’s not for the faint of heart. Maybe you’ve been burned when you’ve mistaken something else for His voice. Maybe you’ve strained to discern Him for years, but He seems silent to your pleas for intimacy. Or maybe you already know the joy of His voice in your life. As you continue reading this book, you might be hesitant to try the paths I’ve walked in prayer. That’s okay. You have your own unique, blessed journey deeper into the Father’s heart-all that matters is that you stay faithful to the path He has appointed for you.