Thursday, February 20, 2020

Praying Women : How to Pray When You Don't Know What to Say

GIVEAWAY



WALSH, SHEILA
PRAYING WOMEN : HOW TO PRAY WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY

Praying women change the world!

Prayer is one of the most powerful, life-changing things we will ever do. Yet we often struggle. It's hard to find the time. It's repetitive. We get distracted and sometimes, even bored. And the answers often feel few and far between.

In Pray Women, bestselling author Sheila Walsh shares practical helps directly from God's Words, showing you have to:

know what to say when you pray
understand how to use prayer as a weapon when you are in the midst of a struggle
pray as joy-filled warrors, not anxious worriers
let go of the past and stand on God's promises for you now

Prayer changes you and it changes the world. You may have tried before, but if you're ready to start again in your relationship with God, let Sheila Walsh show you how to become a strong praying woman.

My Review:

"Prayer activates the power of God." (p 27)

I'm a fiction lover at heart. I learn and grow by feeling my way through a story which is why I read Christian Fiction almost exclusively. I'm very selective about the non-fiction books I read and even then, I need a storytelling approach to capture and hold my attention. Just the way my brain is wired, I guess. But  this title intrigued me...especially the "how to pray when you don't know what to say' part so I decided to be brave and wander into the pages of another non-fiction selection. And am I ever glad I did!

I've been living with Praying Women for a couple of weeks -- admittedly not reading it cover to cover but randomly discovering sections on whim -- or, dare I say, divine guidance? It has become a part of my morning bible study and even though I've read the whole book through in my higgedly-piggedly fashion, I'm not ready to put it aside. I know I can go deeper if I let Walsh's words really settle and take hold.

So -- what this fiction aficionado loves about this -- gasp -- non-fiction book:

First  and foremost, Sheila Walsh is a storyteller. Praying Women reads like she's sitting across from me at my kitchen table. She's authentic. Honest. Real. Vulnerable. And she's created a safe place for her readers to be too. I found myself having imaginary conversations with her, stripping away some of my hurts and daring to be real right back. Very cathartic -- even if the only one listening is God...which is kinda the point of the book. :-)

And I so appreciate how she validates my worries and fears. I'm broken. I have a messy past. Experienced a lot of pain. Sometimes I've failed more than I've triumphed. Walsh reminds me that I'm not alone. That my struggles are real. That it's okay to be so overwhelmed that you can't find words to pray.

"Whatever your challenge is, let me remind you that God is not looking for perfect words or perfect people. He just wants our hearts." (p 15)

I love the way each chapters has a graphic depicting a powerful prayer statement in bold cursive in-your-face-not-to-be-ignored audacity. Like "Praying Women trust God in the silence and not knowing" and "Praying Women know that the greatest breakthrough is in their own hearts." I can't tell you how many times I've flipped through the book looking for these reminders. Enough so that I've printed them on index cards and plastered them all over my house!

I love the easy flow of Walsh's writing style. The way she weaves in and out from personal story to scripture and back again.

I love the prayer reminders at the end of each chapter -- simple starting points that help me focus on my relationship with God.

And for those times when I can't dredge up a single thought or know where to begin praying, she has included a simple prayer at the end of each chapter. A starting off point, maybe? Or a place to mediate from. I found such a release when I read some of them. Knots of tension and strain snapping free with every word I couldn't have found on my own.

My copy of  Praying Women has a place right next to my bible and my devotional as I will continue reading from it daily.

This book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy which releases March 20 2020.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Praying Women, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 22 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!


23 comments:

  1. I'm intrigued by the prayer at the end of each chapter.
    turtle6422 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's so well laid out that this book will appeal to all types of readers. I'm really impressed. Good luck, Jana.

      Delete
  2. In the past, I read non-fiction almost exclusively. In the last 5 or so years, it's been the reverse. I think that's why I really appreciate when you share your non-fiction selections. I've made a habit of checking most of them out and have been happily surprised when a few of them have become regular devotional stalwarts (ie. Gracelaced by Ruth Chou Simons.) In fact, I've purchased many gift copies of Simons book. Thank you for sharing.
    tlhcoupon(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow -- I can't imagine reading non-fiction exclusively! My brain doesn't absorb facts well -- unless it's in story form. Then I have a chance of it sticking. Especially if there's a swoony hero involved. lol

      Gracelaced! I haven't looked at that one in a while. I think it's time to revisit that beautiful book. Glad it was a hit with you too.

      Good luck, Terrill!

      Delete
    2. Fiction has definitely taken precedent now. Maybe that's why I now appreciate strong and thoughtful faith threads in fiction.

      Delete
    3. BTW, Ruth Chou Simons has a newer release with a similar format to Gracelaced.

      Delete
  3. OH MY GOODNESS. Thank you so much for your being willing to review this and share with us. I have written this book down. I do so want to be a prayer warrior. I feel like I have started. But this sounds like it will take me the next few steps.
    quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a really encouraging book and addresses things that we don't talk about a lot. Very candid. Good luck, Lori.

      Delete
  4. I have to agree with Terrill, I know when you recommend a non-fiction book, I ought to sit up and take notice. This year, I've really been drawn to pray more and not just surface ones. The deep, abiding ones that feel like you're in the very throne room of God. I mean, I know He hears all our prayers, but I think when we really dig in to prayer, there's a deeper sense of fellowship and oneness with the Lord. If that makes sense.

    I think I need this book to read, meditate on and feel like I too am sitting down with the author having a conversation. Thanks for going outside your normal reading to feature a book we all need in our lives!

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well said, Trixi. I'm finding this book really inspiring. I'm very guilty of caging my prayers around what I want not necessarily what I need. My goal this year is to spend more time listening than shooting my mouth off telling God exactly what he needs to do for me. lol Good luck, Trixi!

      Delete
  5. I would love the opportunity to read "PRAYING WOMEN : HOW TO PRAY WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY".

    Think we all, if honest with ourselves, have difficulty praying at times. It'w those times that we need it the most.

    Thank you for the chance to own my own copy!
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so glad you said that, Kay. I agree -- and that's what I love about this book. It's real. No putting on a churchy face and saying the right thing but honestly talking about when it's hard. Good luck, Kay.

      Delete
  6. I have Sheila’s Five Minutes With Jesus devotions which I’ve really enjoyed so I know I would like her latest book as well. She’s so authentic and down to earth. Thanks for your review! I need to add this one to my library!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ohhhh -- I did not know about that devotion! I've just read one other book by Sheila -- It's Okay Not to Be Okay and I loved that one too. Good luck, Pam!

      Delete
  7. Sounds great. Thanks.

    POSITIVE dot IDEAS dot 4YOU at GMAIL dot COM

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sounds like a must have book. Thank you for sharing.
    leliamae54(At)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a great book! I firmly believe in the power of prayer. We could all benefit from reading this one.
    mauback55 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Looks like a neat book
    Good luck to those who would love to win it

    ReplyDelete
  11. I really enjoy reading books by Sheila Walsh, and from your review it sounds like I won’t be disappointed in her new book. Thanks for the chance!

    harnessrose(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  12. According to Stanford Medical, It is really the ONLY reason this country's women live 10 years longer and weigh an average of 19 KG lighter than we do.

    (And realistically, it is not about genetics or some secret exercise and really, EVERYTHING around "how" they eat.)

    BTW, I said "HOW", and not "WHAT"...

    CLICK on this link to uncover if this quick quiz can help you discover your real weight loss possibilities

    ReplyDelete