Max Lucado with Jennifer K. Hale in their new book Pocket Prayers For Teachers published by Thomas Nelson gives us 40 Simple Prayers That Bring Peace and Renewal.

From the back cover: Teachers

From coloring inside the lines to calculus, they give us the tools to thrive. Where would we be without them?

But a teachers job is often a difficult one. Sometimes anxiety and exhaustion become the norm.

For those in need of refreshment these forty simple prayers point to the Teacher who gave inspiration and restand still offers peace and renewal.

Max Lucado tells us, Prayer is not a privilege of the pious, not the art of a chosen few. Prayer is simply a heartfelt conversation between God and his child. My friend, he wants to talk with you. Even now, as you read these words, he taps at the door. Open it. Welcome him in. Let the conversation begin. Pocket Prayers For Teachers gives us a devotional, by day, for forty days that are divided into meaningful categories. Lets face it our teachers face a lot of challenges and stress. This book was written especially for teachers to focus on the issues that concern them. Each day has a Bible verse and a short prayer to re-focus their attention on God to put the issues that come up in His hands and draw closer to Him. This is one book you will be returning to over and over again. It is also a great gift to give to friends and family to help them with their days. I recommend this book highly.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from Litfuse Publicity Group for this 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 Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

"Hello, my name is Max. I'm a recovering prayer wimp. I doze off when I pray. My thoughts zig, then zag, then zig again. Distractions swarm like gnats on a summer night. If attention deficit disorder applies to prayer, I am afflicted. When I pray, I think of a thousand things I need to do. I forget the one thing I set out to do: pray.

Some people excel in prayer. They inhale heaven and exhale God. They are the SEAL Team Six of intercession. They would rather pray than sleep. Why is it that I sleep when I pray? They belong to the PGA: Prayer Giants Association. I am a card carrying member of the PWA: Prayer Wimps Association. Can you relate? It's not that we don't pray at all. We all pray some.

On tear-stained pillows we pray.

In grand liturgies we pray.

At the sight of geese in flight we pray.

Quoting ancient devotions, we pray.

We pray to stay sober, centered or solvent. We pray when the lump is deemed malignant. When the money runs out before the month does. When the unborn baby hasn't kicked in a while. We all pray...some. But wouldn't we all like to pray....

More?

Better?

Deeper?

Stronger?

With more fire, faith, or fervency? Yet we have kids to feed, bills to pay, deadlines to meet. The calendar pounces on our good intentions like a tiger on a rabbit. We want to pray, but when? We want to pray, but why? We might as well admit it. Prayer is odd, peculiar. Speaking into space. Lifting words into the sky. We can't even get the cable company to answer us, yet God will? The doctor is too busy, but God isn't? We have our doubts about prayer.

Prayer is not a privilege of the pious, not the art of a chosen few. Prayer is simply a heartfelt conversation between God and his child. My friend, he wants to talk with you. Even now, as you read these words, he taps at the door. Open it. Welcome him in. Let the conversation begin. " (Pg 5-7, 12)

In typical easy reading fashion, Max Lucado introduces readers to Pocket Prayers, 6 uniquely designed books to help Dads, Moms, Friends, Grads, Military, and Teachers with 40 specific prayers designed to help inspire and encourage your prayer life. They will bring joy and serenity in Pocket Prayer for Friends with Max and Betsy St. Amant. They bring peace and rest to Pocket Prayers for Moms with Max and Andrea Lucado. In Pocket Prayers for Dads, 40 simple prayers help bring strength and faith to our men with Max and Mark Mynheir. Pocket Prayers for Grads promises 40 simple prayers that bring hope and direction in the life ahead of them with Max and Andrea Lucado. 40 simple prayers that bring faith and courage can be uncovered in Pocket Prayers for the Military Life, with Max and Mark Myheir, to anyone serving in our military. Finally 40 simple prayers that bring peace and renewal in Pocket Prayers for Teachers, with Max and Jennifer K. Hale.

These simple but encouraging books provide just the right kinds of prayer in every single life of a believer in just the way they need it. I gifted Pocket Prayers for Dads, to my own father, who is just beginning to discover his life as a believer in Christ, to encourage him in his own prayer life. I have gifted Pocket Prayers for Military Life to a close friend who just made the decision to enlist in the army to help him realize that no matter how far from home he is, God will always be right there for him. Pocket Prayers for Graduates is given to my 17-year-old daughter who is graduating in June to help her always realize that when she faces uncertainty in her future, she can always trust God for the right path in her life. I have given Pocket Prayers for Moms to my own mother, because she has always inspired me that prayer is the one thing we always have any time day or night no matter what we are enduring. Finally Pocket Prayers for Teachers I have gifted to our Youth Pastor who's responsibility it is to help lead the next generation to trust and have faith in God.

I received Pocket Prayers by Max Lucado compliments of Thomas Nelson and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from these free books, in exchange for my honest and personal opinions. The one thing I love about any of Max Lucado's books is the down to earth feel you get when reading them. It's not like reading a book, but having a heart to heart conversation with a close friend. He meets you right where you are, and you feel like you're on the same page with him. For me, I struggle a lot in my own prayer life, first doing it and then staying focused when I do. These unique hard covered books are perfect for that person in your life that needs the inspiration and encouragement in their prayer life and that is why I give these a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

"...points...to the certain Source of hope and direction for whatever lies ahead." (back cover)

Max Lucado & company put together a series of Pocket Prayers, published by Thomas Nelson, designed specifically for 6 types of roles. A Pocket Prayer for moms, dads, graduates, the military life, teachers and friends. With 40 prayers in each book, each with a corresponding Bible verse, we are brought back to focus on the One that can give us hope, direction and ultimately peace in our daily lives. As mentioned, each is tailored to a specific role, and though I don't fit into some of these roles, reading through them gives me a glimpse of what burdens this person may have. Furthermore, this insight also softens my heart as compassion and understanding grows. Since I am reviewing the series as a whole, I appreciate each of these pocket sized Pocket Prayers, because I understand that they each serve a purpose for their specific target audience. With that said, these will make great gifts. Give it as a set, for the recipient to share, or gift the specific one you're thinking of. I can also see how perfect it would be included in a gift basket.

This review first appeared on Just Commonly blog.

NOTE: I received a complimentary copy of this book through Litfuse Publicity Tours for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. For my review policy, please see my Disclosure page.