Mark Batterson has become on of my favorite authors. If he writes a book, I read it. I have to admit, out of all the books he has written, this is probably the one I was least looking forward to. Why? It was a book on prayer.

J. Oswald Sanders, in his book Spiritual Leadership, said, “If you want to humble any man, ask him about his prayer life.” That statement always challenges me because if any area of my walk with God is lacking, it’s my prayer life. I’ve never been a “great prayer”. However, it is an area that I am determined to grow in, so I read this book.

It was excellent. Mark really challenged me to recognize the importance and power of prayer. My biggest takeaway is that my prayer life is related to how I view God. If I really believe God is God, why wouldn’t I spend hours pouring out my heart to Him? Too often, I’ve prayed vague prayers and expected God to bless me as I pursue what’s in my heart in my own strength. I am done with living that way. After reading this book, I am determined to take advantage of the incredible gift of prayer. I hope you’ll read this book and do the same.

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Everyday I pray this prayer, and everyday it comes to pass:

God, I open up my heart to you today. I’ll do what you want me to do, say what you want me to say, go where you want me to go. Let the right people come across my path today so I can point them to you and lift them with your word and your love . . .

Smith Wigglesworth would not go to bed unless he had led someone to the Lord that day. That is awesome, and I’m not there yet, but I don’t want to go to bed until I have pointed someone to God. I don’t want to go to bed until I know I’ve been used by God to lift at least one life.

In his brilliant work, “Spiritual Leadership“, J. Oswald Sanders talks about interruptions he would receive during the day:

‘People would walk into my office and say: “Well, I just had two hours to kill here in between trains, and I thought I would come and see you.’ That used to bother me… Then the Lord convinced me that He sends people our way…So now I take interruptions as from the Lord. They belong in my schedule, because the schedule is God’s to arrange at His pleasure.”

Pray this prayer today – view every interaction you have today as an opportunity to point people to God. I promise you, if you’ll do this, you’ll have more opportunities than you can imagine to be a witness.

Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to the people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am, Send me!”