Finding Peace through Prayer
How can we seek God when our souls are restless? In Finding Peace through Prayer, Mitch Everingham presents seven practices for praying in hard times.
Everingham begins the book with his personal stories of battling chronic fatigue and the passing of his younger sister. They serve as a backdrop to show that life is filled with very real suffering. Philippians 4:6-7 is the heart behind this book: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Remember the Name of Jesus
Practice One is to remember the name of Jesus. We can pause to remember Christ’s character, describe to him why we are praying to him, and confess our need for him. Practice Two is to lament – “the act of verbalizing our complaints to God and calling on him to act in response.” I was especially moved to see how lament can serve as a way for us to pray for others, and it is something I want to practice in my own prayer life.
Embracing silence comes next, and Everingham challenges us to find a place where we can seek solitude, trusting that the Spirit is interceding for us. The next practice is praying the Scriptures, with a specific focus on the Psalms, the Lord’s Prayer, and God’s promises. I agree with his recommendation to write out your prayers, as I found this to be especially helpful in staying focused and on track. Everingham writes to you as a friend, not as a disciplinarian. This gives the book a feeling of warmth and joy to partner together in prayer.
Develop a Rhythm of Prayer
I found the prayers of passionate release to be most fascinating. These are prayers that acknowledge situations where compassion is needed, and releasing them to God because we cannot hold it all by ourselves. The rationale behind this type of prayer is that we are finite, and God is infinite. There is a peace that comes from trusting that Christ is in control. Practice Six is to give thanks in all circumstances. Interestingly, Everingham connects thanksgiving to lament. I found this challenging and want to incorporate this into my own prayers.
The book ends with the call to develop a rhythm of prayer. Everingham has written a helpful book to strengthen your prayer life. With biblical wisdom and practical advice, this book will bless you through the hard times as you persevere in prayer.
I received a media copy of Finding Peace through Prayer and this is my honest review. Find more of my book reviews and follow Dive In, Dig Deep on Instagram - my account dedicated to Bibles and books to see the beauty of the Bible and the role of reading in the Christian life. To read all of my book reviews and to receive all of the free eBooks I find on the web, subscribe to my free newsletter.