Bill Hybels clearly enjoys straight talking and this book is certainly direct and blunt. He argues throughout that poor prayer lives are marked by a lack of routine, and therefore result in an unwillingness to make that commitment to pray.

A lot of Christian literature focuses on specific groups of people, such as couples, ministers or particular professions, but this book is for everyone, from the new Christian to the experienced, from the old to the indifferent, not least because the syndrome of insufficient prayer afflicts us all. It is biblically based and provides a balanced read; the first half covers motives to pray, the latter section concerns the practicalities.

Hybels launches off by reminding us of the various aspects of God's character and ability: that he is prepared to listen, is sovereign and is supremely able. Key misunderstandings in communicating with God are neatly disarmed, such as the expectation of instant answers, or asking for something inappropriate. An example of a reason he gives for unanswered prayer is that simply we do not pray about it! He offers a logical rebuttal of common excuses to avoid prayer, yet provides practical advice on how to beat these mistakes. The author's own experience features heavily, particularly in the encounters he has had with others falling into traps, and a lot of it is illustrated using stories from the Old and New Testaments, which illustrate his points succinctly.

Nearer the end of the book, he talks in detail about the Holy Spirit's 'leadings', which he states that we are to experience as Christians. This section appeared somewhat detached from the rest of the book's clear progression. Whilst the book is littered with verses from all over Scripture, in these chapters the references were used more to support the points made, rather than the other way round. I thought the last chapter, expanded in more detail, might have been better included at the beginning, as it gives a brief summary of the basis of prayer, and would have further emphasised the importance of talking to God in our lives.

The book's title suggests that it is a brief synopsis of prayer, and in fact it gets through the material in double time! However, I still found it immensely useful and was kept wanting more. In addition, you are unlikely to be able to walk away indifferent about prayer; instead it leads us to consider all the more the privilege of our undeserved relationship with God.

Reviewed by:
Gavin Ling
Clinical student
St George's Hospital Medical School
London