Book Review: A Praying Life

I have friends who are marvelous pray-ers.  I, unfortunately, am not one of them.  I am cynical, easily distracted, and impatient.  Thankfully, Paul Miller’s A Praying Life was written for people like me. 

I have several favorite aspects about this book. 

First, Miller is humble.  I mean, REALLY humble.  He willingly shares his struggles with control and anger.  He shares his suffering about his autistic daughter with great love and acceptance. 

Second, Miller isn’t interested in giving us a plan or program for praying.  His advice is Biblical and encouraging, but it truly comes down to being honest with God.  Pray as if it were an actual relationship.  He gives lots of examples of why our simple, confused, humble prayers are the best sort and an excellent beginning.

Third, Miller is about the story.  I regularly am frustrated with prayer because it seems to have so little effect.  But what I love about this book is Miller’s faith that God always has a story, a poem to our lives.  Often this story plays out for many years.  But it is only through our continual focus on God, recognition of his use of suffering in our lives, and pondering our prayers that we see that there truly is a story.

Finally, a quote:

What do I lose when I have a praying life?  Control.  Independence.  What do I gain?  Friendship with God.  A quiet heart.  The living work of God in the hearts of those I love.  The ability to roll back the tide of evil. Essentially, I lose my kingdom and get his.