Draw the Circle: The 40 Day Prayer Challenge
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Draw the Circle
IâÂÂve read all of Mark BattersonâÂÂs previous books and appreciate his writing style. Several months ago I was able to purchase multiple copies of The Circle Maker to make available to some of our leaders here. Draw the Circle is a continuation of that book.
In this offering, Batterson builds on the principles of The Circle Maker, but also includes stories and testimonies he has received from people who have read his book. He designed this book to be a 40 day devotional and it came at a good time for me as I was just finishing up a Bible reading plan.
I have found Batterson to be quite quotable and my Kindle version of the book has a list of highlights from various chapters. While Batterson is a proponent of believers spending time in prayer, he doesnâÂÂt see prayer (or drawing prayer circles) as a way to get God to do what we want Him to do. In one chapter of the book, Batterson writes: âÂÂSometimes the purpose of prayer is to get us out of circumstances, but more often than not, the purpose of prayer is to get us through them.âÂÂ
Just a few pages later, Batterson makes this statement: âÂÂIf weâÂÂre being completely honest, most of our prayers have as their chief objective our own personal comfort rather than GodâÂÂs glory.âÂÂ
Draw the Circle is a good resource for those looking to grow in the discipline of prayer. I found both BattersonâÂÂs words and the stories he shared to be both helpful and challenging.
May 8, 2013
Draw The Circle: The 40 Day Prayer Challenge, written by Mark Batterson, is a book centered around an ideology that was instituted within his previous publishing, The Circle Maker.
Mark teaches his readers that, as they engage in a powerful prayer life, they will receive promises from God. These promises should be encircled until God brings then from concept to conceptualization.
An example that is utilized to demonstrate the Biblical relevance of this ideology is found in Joshua chapter six. In obeying God, the Israelites encircled Jericho each day, believing that GodâÂÂs promise of the walls coming down would occur as He stated on the seventh day.
While some might feel this concept or ideology seems a little hard to accept, it is one that we might consider, at least to a reasonable extent. What is a reasonable extent? That is a question that we must answer ourselves, but we should not try to utilize this ideology to turn God into an answering service for our own personal desires.
To recommend this book or not is a question I will answer. My suggestion is as follows: Take a moment while in your local bookstore to turn a few pages and decide for yourself.
Dr. Jeff Krupinski
April 7, 2013
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DRAW the CIRCLE
I first need to let you know, I received this book free from Booksneeze for the purpose of a review.
I am free to post honest reviews both positive and negative types.
When I first received this book I was suspect. I did not want it to be yet another "40 Day" plan only to come to the conclusion that they are as lasting as the head allows. But, what I discovered is this is an amazing challenge to take seriously the matter of prayer and what you should pray about.
The author writes principles both for praying and action. He shares many of his own stories as well as those of others but he has a deep understanding of the love and power of our MIGHTY GOD who is not locked into our time schedule.
As I complete this, I am challenged to draw my own circles and see what a mighty, loving, kind yet Holy GOD, wants to do in me.
March 30, 2013
A fabulous inspirational tool
I had seen this book mentioned quite a few times so I was eager to snap up a copy of my own. There are times when I'm wanting to "be" or "feel" closer to God, and just reading the bible sometimes doesn't cut it. I wanted to try out a devotional, and learn how to feel like I am accomplishing something when I am praying to God. The first sentence sold me on the book, and the other rave reviews helped seal the deal.
And so my first experience with a 'Prayer Devotional' shall begin with Mark Batterson's Draw the Circle. What I expect from the book is a bit of guidance on getting organized with my prayer requests, and to learn how to formulate a prayer request in my mind without stumbling over my words. Based on the synopsis, I should draw inspiration from 40 stories that will inspire me to be more bold in my prayers.
The book reads swiftly, with mini-anecdotes to illustrate the point of each chapter. Most memorable are when he writes of hitting his knees in the airport, something that I turned into an easy to remember 'stop, drop and pray' mantra. When is it okay to pray? Obviously, whenever, and however you can manage it. It's a reminder that hey, God is everywhere, and He is listening.
Topics covered include persistence in prayer, and having the ability to act on your prayer. Sometimes just waiting for God to answer your prayers isn't good enough, God wants to see you want to work for it, too. And what if you are very persistent, and you are praying, and yet there is nothing fulfilling? Maybe you are looking at it the wrong way. Maybe you need to do it differently.
Think of George Washington Carver, and peanuts, and then UNICEF and peanut based nutrients for the impoverished of the world, as not such a good idea as it is a God-idea. And a seed.. that single seed and how much life it holds in its tiny existence, yet so full of promise: Day 12: Sowing a Seed made me cry. Perhaps you will find a different chapter that will be your spark of recognition for God's love for you, but this book will help you find some solace. And it will bring new meaning to your prayers, when you pray and how you feel about it.
March 4, 2013
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