Enter
INTERVIEWS & REVIEWS
  • Home
    • About >
      • Mission Statement
      • FAQ'S
      • Review Us!
    • Contact
  • For Writers
    • Resources
  • Interviews
    • Interview Submissions
  • Reviews
    • Book Submissions
    • Become a Reviewer >
      • Book Reviewer Guidelines
  • Team Members Only
    • Amish Romance
    • Biblical Fiction
    • Bible Study/Devotional
    • Children's Books
    • Christian Living
    • Contemporary Fiction
    • Fantasy/Sci-Fi
    • Historical Fiction
    • Mystery/Suspense
    • Young Adult
  • Book of the Month
    • January Nominations
  • 2022 Book of the Year
    • 2022 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2021 Book of the Year
    • 2021 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2020 Book of the Year
    • 2020 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2019 Book of the Year
  • 2018 Book of the Year
    • 2018 Finalists
  • Our Reviewers
    • Marta Aldrighetti
    • Karen Baney >
      • Anna Bottoms
      • Ezara Boyce-Swann
      • Kassidi Brewer
      • Thomas Brown
      • Carolyn Bryant
    • Laura J. Davis >
      • Joan Dowell
    • Marie Edwards
    • Susan Feaster
    • Kristina Hall >
      • Joy Hannabass
      • Abigail Harder
      • Adriann Harris
      • Charity Henico
      • Mindy Houng
      • Monica Huyser
    • Christy Janes
    • Raechel Kelly >
      • Linda Klager
    • Beverly Laude >
      • Cassandra Lee
      • Tammy Lunsford
    • Kevin Maltsberger >
      • Rebecca Maney
      • Lisa McGuire
      • Jane Mouttet
    • Rick Norris
    • Lori Parrish >
      • Deanne Patterson
      • Susan Poll
      • Mary Polyakov
    • Kathryn Sadakierski >
      • Kimberlee Sams
      • Connie Porter Saunders
      • Rob Seabrook
      • Erin Stevenson
      • Emily Stephens
      • Katelyn Sponaugle
      • Sarah Speck
      • Amy Smelser
      • Paula Shreckhise
      • Nora St. Laurent
    • Laura Thomas >
      • Winnie Thomas
    • Billi Varela >
      • Diana Varela
      • Elisha Varela
      • Juanita Varela
    • Nikita Wells >
      • Sara Beth Williams
      • Tina Williams
      • Conny Withay
      • Cheryl Wood
  • Home
    • About >
      • Mission Statement
      • FAQ'S
      • Review Us!
    • Contact
  • For Writers
    • Resources
  • Interviews
    • Interview Submissions
  • Reviews
    • Book Submissions
    • Become a Reviewer >
      • Book Reviewer Guidelines
  • Team Members Only
    • Amish Romance
    • Biblical Fiction
    • Bible Study/Devotional
    • Children's Books
    • Christian Living
    • Contemporary Fiction
    • Fantasy/Sci-Fi
    • Historical Fiction
    • Mystery/Suspense
    • Young Adult
  • Book of the Month
    • January Nominations
  • 2022 Book of the Year
    • 2022 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2021 Book of the Year
    • 2021 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2020 Book of the Year
    • 2020 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2019 Book of the Year
  • 2018 Book of the Year
    • 2018 Finalists
  • Our Reviewers
    • Marta Aldrighetti
    • Karen Baney >
      • Anna Bottoms
      • Ezara Boyce-Swann
      • Kassidi Brewer
      • Thomas Brown
      • Carolyn Bryant
    • Laura J. Davis >
      • Joan Dowell
    • Marie Edwards
    • Susan Feaster
    • Kristina Hall >
      • Joy Hannabass
      • Abigail Harder
      • Adriann Harris
      • Charity Henico
      • Mindy Houng
      • Monica Huyser
    • Christy Janes
    • Raechel Kelly >
      • Linda Klager
    • Beverly Laude >
      • Cassandra Lee
      • Tammy Lunsford
    • Kevin Maltsberger >
      • Rebecca Maney
      • Lisa McGuire
      • Jane Mouttet
    • Rick Norris
    • Lori Parrish >
      • Deanne Patterson
      • Susan Poll
      • Mary Polyakov
    • Kathryn Sadakierski >
      • Kimberlee Sams
      • Connie Porter Saunders
      • Rob Seabrook
      • Erin Stevenson
      • Emily Stephens
      • Katelyn Sponaugle
      • Sarah Speck
      • Amy Smelser
      • Paula Shreckhise
      • Nora St. Laurent
    • Laura Thomas >
      • Winnie Thomas
    • Billi Varela >
      • Diana Varela
      • Elisha Varela
      • Juanita Varela
    • Nikita Wells >
      • Sara Beth Williams
      • Tina Williams
      • Conny Withay
      • Cheryl Wood

Book Reviews​

5/1/2017

0 Comments

Praying Through the Bible

 
Picture
Author: Markus McDowell
Genre: Devotional


Those of us who pray often feel that our prayers could do better. We might wish we prayed more often, or that the words of our prayers were better (whatever that means to us). Maybe we wonder if we are praying correctly. (We should remember that, since God is our Father, He is pleased if we talk to Him at all—even if it is infrequently or shallow.)

Most of us never had anyone teach us how to pray. We mimicked what we heard from others. So we find 
ourselves saying the same things in the same way. We yearn for a way to enrich our prayers and add variety and depth.

This book can help. Scripture contains hundreds of passages about prayer, with much richness and variety. Studying them is an excellent way to enrich our own prayers.

This volume contains a chapter for each of the 40+ prayers in Genesis through Joshua.

Each chapter includes the text of prayer passage, followed by a study of its background, an exploration of its meaning, and an application of what we learn. The introduction includes an exploration of studying the Bible and an overview of every type of prayer: praise, thanksgiving, petition, intercession, vow, confession, repentance, lament, blessing, and curse.

Picture
Picture
Picture

Picture
Reviewer: Valerie Jackson

This is the book every Christian should acquire in order to enrich their prayer life. Prayer is one of the key ways we communicate with God, yet, as the author rightly notes, most of us never had anyone teach us how to pray. We stumble, we go blank, we mimic others’ prayers... Markus McDowell’s apparent lifelong fascination with prayer has blessed the world with an easy to use devotional that not only describes the various ways prayer is used in the Bible but gives the student suggestions on actually practicing these forms. And that’s the real bonus.

This is a commentary and the author uses exegesis to explain things, but his style is very readable and never preachy or dry. I wasn’t very far into the book before I wanted to get on my knees! Each prayer he covers is discussed in a short section, (as is suitable for a devotional). He tells us about the circumstances surrounding each prayer, gives just enough explanation regarding the type of prayer it is, then gives the reader a chance to try it out.


My only problems with this book are technical and thus easily remedied. First, it could use the fresh eye of an editor to catch sentences that are missing words. It could also use a new cover. Why? Because this is the cover of a boring, theological thesis on prayer, but the book itself is anything but! I hope one day it has the sort of cover that draws every prayer-weary Christian straight to it.

For myself, I plan to read it more slowly my next time, praying my way through. I can’t imagine what the author may have to say in future volumes that haven’t been covered in Volume 1 (Genesis – Joshua), but I certainly look forward collecting the complete set.

Disclosure: I received my copy of this book free through Interviews and Reviews in exchange for rating it for their site. I do not know the author and am not required to write or post a review, positive or otherwise, on any website.


Picture
Reviewer: Jill Jones

Scripture is full of examples of prayers that can add variety to our prayers and enrich our prayer life. Some people have never had anyone teach them how to pray and others desire to improve. God is pleased that we talk to Him and is not looking for perfection or a certain type of prayer. However, our prayers can become less focused on content and more focused on God when we have a prayer plan.

Studying the prayers we find in Scripture can help us in our prayer life. Markus McDowell's "Praying Through the Bible-Vol 1" focuses on the prayers in Genesis through Joshua, and each chapter contains the passage, a study of its background, an exploration of its meaning and an application.

McDowell's book is a great devotional and a great benefit to your time with God. I am looking forward to more volumes covering all of the prayers of the Bible. These will be great resources for my prayer time.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received these books free from Interviews and Reviews in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed


    Categories

    All
    Action/Adventure
    Amish Fiction
    Anthology
    Bible Study
    Biblical Fiction
    Children
    Christian Living
    Christmas
    Church History
    Contemporary Fiction
    Contemporary Romance
    Cookbook
    Devotionals
    Dual Time
    Dual-Time
    Fantasy
    Fiction
    Historical Fiction
    Historical Romance
    Inspirational Fiction
    Marketing
    Marriage
    Memoir
    Missions
    Mystery/Suspense
    Poetry
    Prophecy
    Regency Romance
    Romantic Suspense
    Science Fiction
    Self Help
    Self-Help
    Social Issues
    Spiritual Growth
    Spiritual Warfare
    Theology
    Thriller/Suspense
    Time Travel Romance
    Women's Issues
    Young Adult

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016

    We are listed in The Book Reviewers Directory!

Services

Interviews
​Interview Submissions
Reviews
Our Reviewers
Advertise
For Writers
Book Submissions

Support

Contact


© COPYRIGHT 2016. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Disclaimer
FTC DISCLAIMER: All the books reviewed on this site are given to us for the express purpose of review. They are provided by publishers, publicists, authors and agents. None of our reviewers were required to write positive reviews and none of them were paid monetarily. All opinions are those of each individual reviewer. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”