Praying the Bible

In a world overladen with books on prayer that leave one as overwhelmed as they were before, Dr. Whitney comes in with relief for the weary. This is - by far - the best book on prayer that I've ever read. That is no small compliment, especially in light of excellent books by devotional giants like Andrew Murray, Matthew Henry, and Martin Luther, to name a few. I cannot say enough great things about this book! There are several strengths to "Praying the Bible". Here, though, I will list only a few that come to mind:1. Simplicity. It is the simplest book on prayer that you will ever find. Dr. Whitney is a scholar, but he is a pastor first, and it shows in how simple he lays out his tried and true method for prayer. He leads the dejected and spiritually parched Christian by the hand to an ever-flowing fountain of fresh spring water. My first-grader can follow this book and put it into practice.2. Practicality. I've read some books on prayer that leave me lost in a fog, not knowing what to do. Prayer, above all, is a discipline to practice. It is something the Christian must do. Dr. Whitney gives the reader very concrete instructions and helps to immediately improve their prayer life. The reader leaves knowing exactly what to do and with a very clear plan on how to do it.3. Theocentricity. That's the best word I could use to describe the overall flavor of the book. It points the reader back to his/her God. It drives the one who prays to the word of the One to whom they pray. It exalts the God of Scripture and his holy, inspired, inerrant word. This gives the reader a clear focus on God as they approach him in prayer. This is exactly what every Christian needs. Not just more methods, even simple, practical ones; but a reorientation to the glory of the Bible and the God who reveals himself to us there.4. Brevity. I suppose this goes along with "simplicity" but it deserves its own mentioning. This book is very short. It is surprisingly short. You could pick it up and finish in a few hours, reading at a reasonable pace. However, I'd suggest taking a weekend to prayerfully work through the book. Dr. Whitney offers much profundity in very little space, and this is exactly what weary, prayerless sheep need.Do yourself a favor worth a billion dollars to your soul. Grab your Bible and grab this book. Read every page of this book and do what it says. I did, and my prayer life has not been the same since. Thank you, Dr. Whitney!

*Praying the Bible* by Donald Whitney is a practical and refreshing guide to transforming your prayer life through Scripture. Whitney offers a simple but profound method of prayer: using the Bible itself as a foundation for praying. By praying through specific passages, believers can move beyond repetitive or generic prayers and engage in more meaningful, Scripture-saturated communication with God.Whitney emphasizes how praying the Bible not only deepens one's relationship with God but also helps the believer grow in knowledge and love for Scripture. The method he proposes is easy to implement and suitable for any Christian, regardless of their level of spiritual maturity. His writing is clear and encouraging, providing a helpful framework for prayer that incorporates the richness of God's Word.Overall, *Praying the Bible* is an excellent resource for anyone seeking to enrich their prayer life and develop a deeper, more biblical approach to connecting with God. It’s both practical and spiritually enriching, making it a great tool for personal devotion or group study.

Donald Whitney’s Praying The Bible is a small book about a simple idea to overcome a big problem. The problem: for many believers prayer is hard, sometimes dry, and spending extended periods of time in prayer is an impossible sounding fantasy achieved by super-saints like George Muller. The solution: open your Bible.Whitney’s first chapter presents “The Problem” where he asks the important question, “Since prayer is talking with God, why don’t people pray more? Why don’t people enjoy prayer more?” He has put his finger on an area that resonates with most Christians and is probably a source of discouragement for many of them. Of course praying should be a joy! But it so often isn’t…His solution is simply, “when you pray, pray through a passage of Scripture, particularly a psalm.” This clear-cut technique provides great hope for those who struggle with prayer. It fuels prayer with God’s own words, adds endless variety, causes the Christian to meditate on the Bible, provides the discipline of moving forward through the Psalms in prayer, and on top of that, IT’S BIBLICAL TO PRAY THE PSALMS!In following chapters, Whitney addresses potential problem areas (such as how to handle passages that you don’t understand or imprecatory psalms), fleshes out the nitty-gritty of the method (such as how to choose psalms to pray), and provides practical examples of praying through verses. He continues on by explaining how to pray other sections of Scripture (epistles and narrative) before arriving at what he calls, “The Most Important Part of This Book” where he challenges the reader to put the method into practice RIGHT NOW! This short chapter and challenge serves as a reminder that this is not a magical book. It presents Christians with a simple way to stimulate their prayer lives, but the method has to be implemented. While other chapters follow, this is the pivotal point. Will you choose to let the author’s challenge pass you by as an inspirational, but fleeting, thought? Or will you choose to pick up your Bible, read God’s very words to you, and talk to your Lord?

This is a great book for anyone struggling to pray consistently. It was an easy read. Perfect for small groups or individual growth.