Review of Prayer by Phillip Yancy

Prayer – Does It Make Any Difference?

By Phillip Yancey

Reviewed by Pat Beaty

            In the beginning of this treatise, the author states that “prayer is universal because it speaks to some basic human need.” He says that “Christians in developing countries spend less time pondering the effectiveness of prayer and more time actually praying.”  He says, however, that those in modern Christian societies find little time for prayer in their stressful lives.  “Prayer is to the skeptic a delusion, a waste of time.” “If God knows everything, what’s the point of prayer?”  The author ends this cryptic section with an admission: “ I daily forget.  I keep reversing roles, thinking of ways in which God should server me, rather than vice-versa.” Later he says prayer is the act of seeing reality from God’s point of view.

            Throughout this fine work, the writer refers to his own experiences with prayer, and he cites noted people who have written or spoken about this necessary part of daily life.

Mr. Yancey states that the arguments used against God are included in such Biblical books at Habakkuk, the Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, and Job.  These seem to be against a God who seems not to care or even exist.  He says, “most important, these accusations contained in the Bible itself are framed as prayers.”

            The writer stresses that “prayer that is based on relationships and not on transactions may be the most freedom-enhancing way of connecting to a God whose vantage point we can never achieve and can hardly imagine.”

            The author discussed Jesus’ prayers and pointed out that God cares about the everyday, not just he peak experiences.

            In later sections of this treatise, Yancey discussed why we should pray, wrestling with God in prayer, our partnership with God in prayer, and he made a most thought-provoking remark: “the opposite of love is indifference.”

            The chapter on written and spoken prayers caught the reviewer’s attention, and it will certainly catch yours.

            Finally, the author believes that one of the most compelling reasons we should pray is that Jesus prayed.  That is my belief also.