A Call to Spiritual Reformation-Chapter 1

Chapter 1-Lessons from the School of Prayer
In talking of being examples as parents he says, "But with great gratitude to God, I testify that my parents were not hypocrites. That is the worst possible heritage to leave with children: high spiritual pretensions and low performance.
p.29 All of us would be wiser if we would resolve never to put people down, except on our prayer list.
p.31 we must remember that the Bible simultaneously pictures God as utterly sovereign, and as a prayer-hearing and prayer-answering God.
Carson says: Mingle praise, confession, and intercession; but when you intercede, try to tie as many requests as possible to Scripture.
p.31 we must remember that the Bible simultaneously pictures God as utterly sovereign, and as a prayer-hearing and prayer-answering God.
Christian prayer is marked decisively by petition, because this from of prayer discloses the true state of affairs. It reminds the believer that God is the source of all good, and that human beings are utterly dependent and stand in need of everything.
p. 33 one of the most important elements in intercession is to think through, in the light of Scripture, what it is God wants us to ask for.
Carson says, "Pray until you pray".
p.36 What they meant is that Christians should pray long enough and honestly enough, at a single session, to get past the feeling of formalism and unreality that attends not a little praying...If we "pray until we pray," eventually we come to delight in God's presence, to rest in his love, to cherish his will.

I picked up this book this year because one of the areas I am weak in is prayer. I do pray with the kids. I pray each morning before my feet hit the ground for help that day. Before I open the word in the morning I ask for help and that I might be changed by what I read. Otherwise it will go in one ear and out the other. I pray as the Lord brings people to mind. And often at night, when I can't fall asleep, I pray for the kids. But, there is much I don't pray for. I have pretty much never prayed and lost track of time. I still ponder and worry more than I pray. I think of solutions for problems more than I pray about them. I don't pray enough for others and my prayers can be biblically uninformed. I want to change this. I am trying to incorporate into my quiet time a designated length of time to pray. I hope I fall in love with Jesus more as a result. I hope I love the lost more as a result and I hope I'm a better mom, wife, daughter, sister and friend as a result. So far, I'm loving this book.