Last Updated on October 5, 2021 by ellen
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Before Amen
Author: Max Lucado
ISBN: 9780849948480
Genre: Non Fiction, Religion, Christian Life, Inspirational
Release: September 30, 2014
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
163 Pages
We all pray … some. We pray to stay sober, centered, or solvent. When the lump is deemed malignant. When the money runs out before the month does. When the marriage is falling apart. We pray. But wouldn’t we like to pray more? Better? Stronger? With more fire, faith, and fervency?
We aren’t the first to struggle with prayer. The first followers of Jesus needed prayer guidance too. In fact, prayer is the only tutorial they ever requested. And Jesus gave them a prayer. Not a lecture on prayer. Not the doctrine of prayer. He gave them a quotable, repeatable, portable prayer. Couldn’t we use the same?
In Before Amen, bestselling author Max Lucado joins readers on a journey to the very heart of biblical prayer, offering hope for doubts and confidence even for prayer wimps. Distilling prayers in the Bible down to one pocket-sized prayer, Max reminds readers that prayer is not a privilege for the pious nor the art of a chosen few. Prayer is simply a heartfelt conversation between God and his child. Let the conversation begin.
Before Amen by Max Lucado
I’d like to say that I pray regularly but the truth is I’m sure I don’t pray anywhere near as often as I should. Sure, I pray when the roads are icy and I’m worried about the kids driving. I pray when my son gets in trouble and I just want everything to be OK. I pray when my husband is particularly annoying and I need a little bit more patience. But, I don’t pray regularly – just because.
I’ll admit I’ve always been a bit intimidated by those women with rich prayer lives. They do morning devotionals and prayer retreats and always seem to know what to say and do when they pray. I really felt this sentence from the book speak to me:
Prayer is conversation with God while driving to work or awaiting an appointment or before interacting with a client.
Prayer is conversation with God while driving to work or awaiting an appointment or before interacting with a client ~Max Lucado #ad
— Ellen Christian (@ellenblogs) January 15, 2015
I love that. All you have to do is talk to Him and He listens. That’s really the message that spoke to me the most from this book. He just wants us to talk to Him. We don’t need fancy words or hour long routines.
I have always loved the way Max Lucado writes. He really speaks to me in words that hit home. I can see how they apply to my life. He’s not preaching. He’s not using big words or trying to teach a lesson. He’s just talking to me like a friend would. Before Amen by Max Lucado is definitely a book you need to read if you’re wondering how prayer can fit into your life. It really has inspired me.
Ellen is a mom of a 25-year-old son and 30-year-old daughter. She is Grandma to one adorable toddler. In what little spare time she has, she loves to read, watch movies, and check out the latest toys and games.
My husband wants to read this book. I try praying when I wake and when I go to bed but I need to do it more with the boys.
It’s a really great book. I bet he’d enjoy it!
This sounds like a worthwhile book. I personally think any faith can benefit from regular conversations with their deity. What better way to stay connected right?
Definitely regular conversations help me!
I just moved one of Max’s books, Traveling Light, about Psalm 23, so I would pick it up and read it more. I too love his style of writing. I pray a ton, but I don’t have a family around so I think that the peace and quiet is more conducive to prayer!
It got me thinking though that I don’t say amen at the end of my prayers, but grew up with that in the Lutheran church and the pastors I follow use it often. Bet I would love this book as well.
Come to think of it, I am not sure I end mine with Amen either!
After reading this post, I started following Max Lucado on twitter, and saw yesterday he had a new book. Thomas Nelson lets you sign up with your email to get the first 3 chapters of Max Lucado’s new book: Miracle at the Higher Grounds Café. I signed up and downloaded it yesterday!
Oh that is great to know, Deb!
Yet another benefit of reading this post was finding my Max Lucado study bible (The Devotional Bible). Clearly I need to do some more organizing so I don’t misplace things like that. I have a few study bibles and this one is so beautiful and glad I rediscovered it at the beginning of the year!
I do love his books, Deb. So inspiring!
This is on my to read list! Sounds like a very good book and you can’t go wrong with Max Lucado!
That is so true, Heather!