Draw the Circle the 40 Day Prayer Challenge Used
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I am sad to study that this wasn't the instance for me. I did like it. Information technology had some interesting and inspiring stories, some bully quotes and reminders, and some expert suggestions. Information technology was but missing one thing: structure.
What I had expected, needed, a
I wanted to similar this book. No, that's not true. I wanted to beloved this book. Before requesting a copy to review, I had read several other reviews first, and saw many people talk about how life-changing it was. How it had revolutionized their prayer life.I am pitiful to study that this wasn't the instance for me. I did like it. It had some interesting and inspiring stories, some corking quotes and reminders, and some good suggestions. It was just missing one thing: construction.
What I had expected, needed, and was hoping for was a linear arroyo, for desire of a amend term. To be truly useful to me, and for me to recommend it to others, a volume like this needs to take a staircase approach. Each solar day's reading, story, theme, etc. should build on the 24-hour interval before. Ideally, a set of sub-themes would be great for a book like this (i.e. 24-hour interval 1 - 10 "Press into God", Twenty-four hours xi-20 "Centering Your Circle on His Will", Twenty-four hours 21-30 "An Expectant Circle", Day 31-xl "Looking Across the Possible"���or something like that).
Unfortunately, each 24-hour interval seemed random. At that place was no follow-through in theme (beyond "pray, expect an answer, trust God", which was woven through most of information technology), and no momentum from one 24-hour interval to the adjacent. Every bit a result, I didn't experience similar I really got anywhere, in role because the book didn't feel like information technology was going anywhere.
Having voiced that criticism, there is some other criticism--even rebuke--that Marking Batterson and Draw the Circle take received that I need to address. Some have connected the "circle drawing" to witchcraft, while others have insisted that Batterson is promoting a "health and wealth" or a "name it and claim it" theology and arroyo to prayer.
Both of these criticisms are patently absurd. No 1 could legitimately read this book and so charge the author with either of these.
Are circles used in some rituals in witchcraft? Yes. They're also used in geometry, gymnastics, roller coasters, and cooking. Are all of these to exist avoided considering they're obviously connected to witchcraft? (If you said "yes," please stop reading now--there'south nothing else I tin say to you.) The circle imagery used in this book has no more connection to witchcraft than any of these others do. Batterson uses it to make a point, and to help provide a somewhat tangible visual for the reader. To me, it did so effectively.
As for the other claim, that he is promoting a "health and wealth" or "name it and claim it" theology and approach to prayer, this is again untrue. As just one case of many, Batterson writes, "God is non your genie in a canteen, and your wish is not His command. His command better exist your wish." This is and so far from the charge of "wellness and wealth," etc. that they're not fifty-fifty in the aforementioned ballpark.
If y'all're concerned about either of these possibilities (witchcraft or a prosperity-gospel), consider your fears assuaged. If you're looking for a book that will revolutionize your prayer life, this may exist it. Information technology wasn't for me, but if you're non concerned nearly the scattershot approach, or if it works for you, and then you may find Depict the Circle worthwhile. If nothing else, read it and describe some inspiration from some amazing quotes (like the i I shared above) that may help alter your perspective (in a skilful manner) or provided much-needed reminders.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this volume at no accuse, but all opinions are my own.
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This book is astonishing; it will change your human relationship with God, challenge your prayer habits and aid shape new patterns for both prayer and devotional time. In the Introduction Mark states "If you lot want God to do something new in yous, you lot cannot keep doing the aforementioned sometime thing. You have to do something different. And if you do, God will create new capacities within you. There will be new gifts and new revelations. Only you've got to pray the price. You'll exit of this what you put into it." And then on 24-hour interval 26 he states: "If you lot desire God to practice something new in your life, you cannot go on doing the same onetime thing. My communication is uncomplicated: do something unlike. And y'all'll see what a departure information technology makes!" And again on 24-hour interval 28 "If you desire God to do something new, y'all cannot go on doing the same erstwhile matter." This book will aid break you lot from the habit of aforementioned old aforementioned sometime. The Psalmist in Psalm 51:12 declares: "Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." This volume will rekindle your prayer life! Give it a endeavor - you have zilch to lose and a whole lot to proceeds.
"In a moment of revelation, the circle maker realized that praying is planting. Each prayer is like a seed that gets planted in the footing. It disappears for a season, but information technology eventually bears fruit that blesses time to come generations. In fact, our prayers bear fruit forever."
So selection upwards this volume and pray through the forty days. Plant new seeds and keep pray hard and thinking long!
Read the review and with links to other reviews of books by the author on my blog Book Reviews and More.
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I wished for more stories of answered praye
Writer Marker Batterson uses the metaphor of Drawing a Circle to teach several fundamental lessons about prayer: Circumvoluted back and praying for the same affair repeatedly, committing to staying in a literal or figurative circle before God to expect for his answers, physically drawing a circle around written prayer requests that still need prayer, etc. While the metaphor is a rich i, and well adult in Batterson'southward work, I was hoping for more depth in other ways.I wished for more than stories of answered prayer. Having read the 1890's classic Touching Incidents and Remarkable Answers to Prayer several years ago, and having been driven to prayer past its overwhelming flood of story upon story, I was expecting something in the same vein.
Besides, as the book is promoted as a 40-Day Prayer Claiming, I was expecting it to exist more of a tool. Other than being divided into xl chapters (one for each day), the book didn't require its reader to utilise it in whatever applied ways. It was more than of a 40 Days of Chicken Soup for the Prayer Warrior's Soul. To be more functional, additions like questions at the cease of each affiliate with space to periodical, and actual assignments to reach each solar day could accept taken the book to the next level.
The material presented in
Draw the Circle is expert. Just the book as it is risks being a experience-good read with little lasting touch. Fact is, I'g a lazy reader. I'll skim. I'll chuckle if something'southward funny. I'll go "hmmm" if it'southward deep. Simply at the end of the twenty-four hours, I'll probably forget most of it, unless I immediately practise something with it. Brand it "stick to my ribs" by demanding that I apply the material on a daily basis, or you'll probably lose me.I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I take expressed are my own.
--Jen
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Maybe my review would exist different if I finished it, just this cruel by the wayside for me. Mayhap I
DNF - Although I picked upwards a helpful tip or two, this volume simply wasn't for me. Rather than praying for something to happen or something to change. I try to focus my prayers on praise and thanksgiving. My requests are generally for the well being of the people around me. In that, I do non challenge God to make something happen, rather, I pray that God'southward good and perfect will exist washed in their lives.Perhaps my review would be different if I finished it, merely this fell by the wayside for me. Maybe I will effort over again one day.
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Every bit a fellow-Christian and double-ly as a fellow 5 pt Calvinist, I wish I could say I believe the teachings of Mark Batterson are biblical. I read many statements about God'south sovereignty and God's glory that my middle delighted over. Nonetheless, in decision, I must agree with other reviewers that this book is absolutely promoting "prosperity gospel" and sadly, it is wrapped in the nearly clever, carefully-worded mask that I have EVER seen. This is non the hands visible greedy "prosperity gospel" of the "Word Faith" or "Give-and-take of Faith" cult. This is "prosperity gospel" advisedly masked between beautiful statements of how we are to live our lives trusting in a sovereign God and living to glorify God! How "crafty" was the snake/Satan in the garden. Do not fall for his advisedly disguised lies.
For every sentence, ask yourself "Practice these teachings match the Bible?"
"In Luke xi[:5-10], Jesus tells a story almost a man who won't have no for an reply. He keeps knocking on his friend'southward door until he gets what he came for. It's a parable nigh prevailing in prayer. And Jesus honors his assuming determination: "... yet because of your shameless brazenness he will surely become up and give yous equally much equally yous demand." I love this depiction of prayer. There are times when you need to do whatever information technology takes. You need to grab hold of the horns of the chantry and not let become. You lot demand to cartel demonic forces to a duel. You need to do something crazy, something risky, something unlike." Marker Batterson. Depict the Circle (Kindle Locations 496-510).
John Calvin says this verse means, "Believers ought not be discouraged, if they do non immediately obtain their desires, ... we take no reason to dubiety that God will heed to us, if we persevere constantly in prayer..." Nonetheless, notice how the alarm bells go off in your caput when you read Batterson apply this to life by calculation "at that place are times when you need to do WHATEVER Information technology TAKES." "Yous need to dare demonic forces to a duel." Is this biblical? Although some modernistic day Pentecostals believe nosotros are to "become to battle with demons", the bible does not teach this. Batterson follows with this case extracted from the Jewish Talmud Scriptures (which Christians very much reject, every bit the Talmud is written by rabbis hostile towards Jesus) of "doing whatever it takes":
"The epitome of shameless brazenness is the circle maker himself. When a astringent drought threatened to destroy a generation of Jews, Honi drew a circle in the sand, dropped to his knees, and said, "Lord of the universe, I swear before Your slap-up name that I will not move from this circle until Y'all have shown mercy upon Your children." It was a risky proffer. Honi could accept been in that circle a long time! Simply God honored that assuming prayer because that bold prayer honored Him. And even when God answered that prayer for rain, Honi had the shameless brazenness to ask for a specific type of rain. "Not for such rain accept I prayed, but for rain of Your favor, blessing, and graciousness." Mark Batterson. Draw the Circle (Kindle Locations 496-510). Zondervan.
Kickoff, this is a story from the Jewish Talmud, which includes some bizarre stories and portrays Jesus every bit a false prophet. We exercise not affirm annihilation in the Talmud to be a truthful account on its own ground. So we practice non know that God honored any such prayer/demands from anyone named Honi. Batterson has dangerously gone into the Jewish Talmud and ripped a story out and is using it equally a footing for teaching Christian prayer.
"The moral of this parable is to prevail in prayer, but information technology also reveals the grapheme of Him who answers prayer. The request is not granted simply because of repeated requests. Prayer is answered to preserve God's proficient proper name. After all, it's not our reputation that is on the line; it'due south His reputation. And so God doesn't answer prayer simply to give us what nosotros want; God answers prayer to bring glory to His name." Marking Batterson. Draw the Circumvolve (Kindle Locations 496-510). Zondervan.
I tin just see a dozen professing Christians demanding God grant their prayers "or else God volition have a bad proper noun." Or going before unbelievers and declaring "God will heal your mother or else He will have a bad name!" This is a very dangerous merits and I do not believe that Batterson accurately portrays prayer "for God'due south celebrity" as "according to God's will" and "co-ordinate to God'due south foreordained purpose that is set from the foundation of the world" is nearly e'er left out of the context.
"Go home. Lock yourself in your room. Kneel down in the middle of the floor, and with a piece of chalk draw a circumvolve around yourself. There, on your knees, pray fervently and brokenly that God would start a revival inside that chalk circle."
Depict a chalk circumvolve around yourself and demand that God grant your prayers or yous will not leave your trivial chalk circumvolve [Batterson teaches the "don't go out" in his The Circle Maker" book]? How unbiblical and disrespectful and dishonoring of God. How self-focused and self-centered. Is this how Jesus taught u.s. to pray? What happened to praying according to the Begetter's will?
Dozens of farmers showed up to pray [for pelting]. Well-nigh of them wore their traditional overalls, simply one of them wore waders! ...Why not dress for the miracle? I beloved the simple, artless organized religion of that sometime, seasoned farmer. He but said, "I don't want to walk habitation wet." And he didn't. But everyone else did. ...... I tin can't help but wonder if that act of organized religion is what sealed the miracle. I don't know for sure, simply this I do know: God is honored when we act every bit if He is going to answer our prayers! And acting equally if ways acting on our prayers. After striking our knees, nosotros need to take a small footstep of faith. And those minor steps of religion oft turn into giant leaps. Like Noah, who kept building an ark day after solar day, we keep hammering away at the dream God has given us. Like the Israelites, who kept circling Jericho for seven days, we keep circling God's promises. Similar Elijah,10 who kept sending his retainer dorsum to look for a rain cloud, we actively and expectantly look for God's answer. ...... Don't simply pray nigh your dream; human action on information technology. Deed as if God is going to deliver on His promise. Maybe it's time to put on waders and act as if God is going to answer. Marker Batterson. Draw the Circle (Kindle Locations 539-559). Zondervan.
Exactly like the "Word of Organized religion" cult that is the primary promoter of the "prosperity gospel", Batterson starts encouraging believers to "take a footstep in faith." This is the same false teaching referred to as "seed faith" by the "name-it-claim-it" grouping. Biblical "trusting organized religion" is trusting in God to exercise the best affair for y'all whichever fashion He decides to answer your prayer. It is not "acting as if God were going to grant your prayer in the way you want it to" as if this "voodo" "mind over affair" could fool God into granting that prayer just as you wish Him to. This is completely unbiblical.
Especially, have note of Batterson'south faux claim: "I can't assist but wonder if that deed of organized religion is what sealed the miracle." Your "acting as if God were going to give you lot your desires" is NOT organized religion and information technology does Not "seal" or "grant" or "cause God to motility" in any such way. This is the unbiblical teaching of "seed faith", "faith-ing-information technology" or "mind over matter" or "mind over God". It is using your "behavior" to "fool God/prompt God" to give you lot what you desire.
Immediately adjacent, Batterson makes the bold proclamation: "this I do know: God is honored when we act as if He is going to respond our prayers" This is completely faux! First, God ALWAYS answers our prayers. Sometimes it'southward a "yeah", "no", "later on" but He ALWAYS answers them. And then "acting as if He were going to reply "yeah"" every bit if this little "behavior" were to twist God into answering a "yes" is completely false. Why non act as if God were to answer "no"? Same logic. This is completely unbiblical.
Like the chief of deception himself, Batterson and then cleverly slips in "we keep hammering away at the dream God has given us" [as the Israelites and Elijah did]. Notice that Israel and Elijah were given commands directly from God. "Our dreams" "wants" "desires" are not something God told us to pursue through a prophet. In fact, they are oft worldly and contrary to the desires of God. This is why often God'southward answers to our prayers is a "no" because our Male parent knows these "wants" are not for our own good.
The number of passages in this volume that teach an unbiblical view of prayer are astounding. This volume is entirely "prosperity gospel" masked in low-Calvinism. And even then, the low-Calvinism promoted by Batterson is very tainted with a "human can influence God through clever tricks" theology.
My disclaimer - I received this book from the publisher but I am not required to give a positive review. I always give brutally honest reviews and effort to critically point out parts of the volume that may not agree with the Bible and and so not appeal to others. I desire you readers to exist able to confidently choose a book based on the stars I give it, because I know you have limited money, fourth dimension and energy to read. So let's make the most of our lives and discern and choose the very best books wisely.
If you disagree with any point in any of my reviews, please in a loving, edifying and respectful fashion, write me "as you wish someone would correct yous" in item pointing out exactly what you think I missed. I long to be sharpened. God bless.
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3.five stars -- I love the idea of a 40-day prayer challenge; information technology's merely the kind of thing I needed to do during the Lenten season. But similar a lot of other reviewers, I was expecting more of a "pray about this topic today," "pray about that topic today," then the structure of the book threw me off a little. Only information technology'southward non fair to guess a book based on my expectations.
It is definitely encouraging to read stories of God showing up for
It is weird to rate your pastor'south volume, but I'm going to do it anyway:3.five stars -- I dear the idea of a twoscore-day prayer challenge; it's just the kind of thing I needed to exercise during the Lenten season. But similar a lot of other reviewers, I was expecting more of a "pray near this topic today," "pray virtually that topic today," so the structure of the book threw me off a niggling. But it's not fair to approximate a book based on my expectations.
It is definitely encouraging to read stories of God showing up for other people. That attribute of the volume, without a doubt, increased my faith. And I found myself praying for things that I wouldn't have idea to pray for otherwise. And so, information technology's definitely a great book in that regard. But the lack of structure didn't really practice it for me.
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The more I read this book, the more I believe in the power of prayer. When we pray, God will open doors according to His will. Actually, He answers in ways we can never imagine. Pray through and God will break through!
It will bless you. It's worth every penny! Invest in your prayer life and fight for what you want. Matthew vii:seven all effectually. Ask, Seek, and Knock!!!! Keep on pressing for it!!!!
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