Recently, I’ve been reading Philip Yancey’s book, Prayer: Does it Make Any Difference? While it took me awhile to get past the first four chapters, the book has started offering me some incredible truths about prayer.
Maybe the greatest lesson I’ve learned is from Yancey’s own feelings of inadequacy. If a man as intellectual as Yancey doesn’t have it figured out (and is not ashamed to admit all his shortcomings and failures involved with prayer), then I don’t have to have it all figured out either.
While I would love to write about everything the book has taught me, I wanted to include a short excerpt from the book. The except is in fact not even from Yancey. The information is from a footnote by David Maims in Yancey’s book. Here’s what it says:
Checklist to Make Sure Prayers are on Target:
- What do I really want? Am I being specific, or am I just rambling about nothing in particular?
- Can God grant this request? Or is it against God’s nature to do so?
- Have I done my part? Or am I praying to lose weight when I haven’t dieted?
- How is my relationship with God? Are we on speaking terms?
- Who will get the credit if my request is granted? Do I have God’s interests in mind?
- Do I really want my prayer answered? What would happen if I actually did get that girlfriend back?
Tags: David Maims, Philip Yancey, Prayer, Prayer Checklist