Prayer is hard. Let’s just be honest about it. For me, prayer continues to be the most difficult of all the spiritual disciplines.
Maybe it’s hard for you, too, and you’re thinking, “I don’t like to talk about this, but prayer is awkward, and I don’t know what to say. I don’t know how to do it.”
When it comes to prayer, we’re all beginners, walking with Christ and saying, “Teach us to pray.”
God intends for prayer to be as natural as breathing. If you don’t breathe, you won’t live. And no one gets gold medals or awards for breathing. There’s no such thing as an expert breather.
God is not looking for expert pray-ers, either. He’s looking for people who do it!
Rachel Britton has set for herself the task of making prayer a natural part of the believing woman’s life. Dipping directly into scripture’s story arc, she highlights key characters and examines their prayer life through their journey of faith.
I especially appreciated Britton’s repeated use of the phrase “practicing prayer,” because I definitely need to view prayer as a daily discipline that requires practice. Her work normalizes the truth that when it comes to prayer, we are always amateurs and we never “arrive.”
God is not looking for expert pray-ers. He’s looking for people who do it!
Tweet
Britton’s definition of prayer is rightly focused on relationship: “God wants you to talk with him and trust in him.” God’s listening ear comes to us as a joyful surprise. He is a trustworthy recipient of our words, and Pray Naturally provides evidence for this from the sacred text.
Each devotional and prayer in the book adds to the reader’s support structure of trust and the magnetic pull of desire. Each story confirms the reader’s hope that God wants to be actively involved in her life. If Eve’s disobedience, Sarah’s impatience, Miriam’s audacity, or Rahab’s resume didn’t hinder God’s active participation in their lives, there’s hope that I, too, can become more confident in my praying response to God’s persistent love.
What Other Reviewers Are Saying
If you want to pray more effectively, read this book. Pray Naturally is filled with rich teaching and thought-provoking journal prompts that will move you to a new level in your intimacy with God. Rachel Britton skillfully brings the compelling stories of biblical women to life as she helps us to learn how to connect with our heavenly Father honestly, confidently, and personally. — Carol Kent, founder and executive director, Speak Up Ministries; speaker and author, He Holds My Hand
In Praying Naturally, Rachel Britton thoughtfully explores the prayer lives of fifteen different women from Scripture to help us present our petitions to God in ways uniquely suited to our personalities. If you’re a woman who longs to have a more intimate, robust prayer life, this is just the devotionally rich resource you need. — Maggie Wallem Rowe, author, This Life We Share: 52 Reflections on Journeying Well with God and Others
Holding You in the Light,
Each devotional in #PrayNaturally adds to the reader’s support structure of trust and the magnetic pull of desire. Each story confirms the reader’s hope that God wants to be actively involved in her life. @racheljbritton
Tweet
Free Encouragement in Your Inbox!
On the third Thursday of every month, I send a newsletter with biblical encouragement straight to my subscribers’ email inboxes. Frequently, I share free resources, and the newsletter is where everything lands first.
CLICK HERE to read my most recent newsletter where you’ll be given the opportunity to subscribe. I’m committed to the truth that women can become confident followers of God and students of his Word, and I want to help you along that path.
Looking for Challenging Devotional Reading that Encourages You to Seek Intimacy with God Every Day?
As you know, I’m committed to the truth that women can become confident followers of God and students of his Word, and it’s my goal to help you along that path. At Living Our Days, I provide biblical content and resources to encourage biblical literacy and faithful living, and now I’m sharing devotional content on the YouVersion app. Visit my profile page to get free access to the reading plans!
I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees. If you should decide to purchase any of the books or products I’ve shared, simply click on the book title, and you’ll be taken directly to the seller. If you decide to buy, I’ll receive a few pennies at no extra cost to you.
Many thanks to Daily Bread Publishing for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which is, of course, offered freely and with honesty.
Living Our Days 
Added this to my TBR thanks for sharing
LikeLike
Yes indeed, we’re practicing prayer! Just as we never come to the end of learning from the Bible, never do we come to the end of learning about prayer. There’s joy in continual progress that brings us closer to excellence. Thank you Michele for introducing us to this book!
LikeLike
Prayer is all about relationship, Michele.
LikeLike
Absolutely! May union with Christ be our greatest goal!
LikeLike