The power of words . . .: Review: Experiencing God's Presence

Friday, October 18, 2013

Review: Experiencing God's Presence

Summary

From the award-winning author of When You Don't Know What to Pray comes a bold and life-transforming book that will help readers develop a vibrant relationship with God. Linda Evans Shepherd tells readers that a fulfilling prayer life is more than just regularly talking to God or checking items off a prayer list. God loves us so much that he wants us to draw close enough not only to talk but also to listen.

Shepherd shows readers how to develop a dialogue with God, continually seeking him out and seeing him at work in our lives. Steeped in Scripture and personal stories of answered prayer, this book also includes sample prayers and action steps for readers to put into practice immediately.

My thoughts

With all that has been written on the subject of prayer and intimacy with God, my first thought was, What else needs to be said? But I am so glad that I took advantage of the opportunity to review this book, because I've discovered another great author when it comes to the spiritual discipline of prayer - an author who is almost unique in her approach. Linda writes in a very down-to-earth, conversational style and her voice is one of passion birthed out of personal experience - and that's a winning combination.

Whether you're a seasoned prayer warrior, a new Christian desiring to learn about prayer, or a committed follower too busy working for the Lord to take time to really know Him, Experiencing God's Presence will speak to you. Linda successfully blends Scripture, insightful telling of some Bible stories, personal accounts, and actual prayers as a guide. Each chapter also has a "listening prayer" exercise and reflective questions.

I liked Linda's idea of conversation starters, such as "prayer ABCs"...
     1) Acknowledge him - Let him know you're thinking about him.
     2) Bring it - Tell him your concerns or needs.
     3) Chat - Tell God whatever is on your mind.

Experiencing God's Presence is packed with powerful quotes, and I like that because they often get to the heart of an issue and people tend to remember them. For example . . .

-- "Building intimacy with God is a choice we make."
-- "When we tempt the devil to tempt us, it's like we've left a ladder next to an open window with a sign that says, 'Come on in.'"
-- "Hope is a choice. It's something you can give up or something you can cling to."
-- "When you behold the risen Lord, or notice that he's with you in the darkest of circumstances, there's no force in the universe that can stop the joy that will flood your heart."

Though we're familiar with God's "be still" command, I suspect most of us struggle to put it into practice, but Experiencing God's Presence encourages growth in that area with practical ideas. I believe this book will increase your desire to listen as your prayer life grows, and I highly recommend it. This book works well for personal use, and discussion questions for a group setting are provided at the end.