Review 2025.05.003
Reviewers Note: It is the beginning of 2025 and one of the skills I desire to grow in is that of writing book reviews (having never done this before). I am doing this so I can better hone my writing (and reading) skills as I seek to think more critically about the books I am reading. I am sharing on Goodreads for my own personal development. I know this will be something I am always growing in so if you actually read these, please be patient with me as I develop this skill. I will also receive constructive criticism if you desire to help me become a better writer (and reader). I plan to use this disclaimer for the entire 2025 year.
Praying by J.I. Packer and Carolyn Nystrom
319 Pages
When I saw that J.I. Packer had a book on prayer a few years ago, I had to buy it. Unfortunately it was not in the Kindle format so I ordered a real (physical) book. Shocking, I know! I attempted to read it and didn’t even get through a full chapter before surrendering. I used to love physical books but the Kindle has ruined me. So I had to wait for a few years until the book was added to the Kindle library. Then I waited even longer for the book to go on sale. Thankfully I’m a patient man.
I have read “Knowing God” and “Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God” by J.I. Packer and I loved them both so I was confident I would love this one too. And true to form, it was an excellent book. I have read a lot of books on prayer as it is the primary way I want to grow in my relationship with God. This book had many of the same themes but also presented them in the J.I. Packer way. As an example, there was a chapter on brooding prayer which I had never heard used for meditation before but it definitely fits.
There are plenty of stories about prayer from both J.I. Packer and Carolyn Nystrom. The book is written as if J.I. Packer wrote the whole thing but it was a joint effort as they explain in the beginning. The stories are encouraging and real. When authors share their personal experiences, successes and struggles, it makes the book more authentic.
I had a handful of highlights from the book. One of my favorites was “So before God’s throne we are all beggars, and begging good gifts from God is what petitionary prayer is all about.” When I first read about being beggars before God (I think from E.M. Bounds), I was not shocked by it. It is a hard truth but at the same time we are children of God so it is definitely a dichotomy I wrestle with in my prayers. Father loves His children and wants to give them good gifts but we cannot expect Him to grant them all.
Another quote about waiting and suffering in prayer was timely (still is). “Did Nehemiah and Hannah and Job and Paul suffer in their times of waiting for God as they prayed over and over their troubles in ignorance of what God’s timing for action might be? If we define suffering broadly, to cover all forms of not getting what you like while not liking what you get, the answer is, of course they did. We suffer similarly when our prayers seem to be achieving nothing.” It is hard when I have to wait. I was born in the microwave society like most if not all of you. But Father is not a genie granting wishes, He is our heavenly Father giving us the good gifts when it is time and not a moment sooner.
If you are interested in growing in your prayer life, then I highly recommend this book. It is full of wisdom and grace.