THE PRAYER PRINCIPLE
Getting through to God
By Michael Baughen. Christian Focus. 190 pages. £6.99
ISBN 978-1-84550-273-7
Michael Baughen’s book aims to provide ‘answers to the most often asked questions about prayer’ and to ‘revitalise our prayer life’. It is an ideal book for a young Christian, one who knows that they should pray but wonders how they should pray, as well as older Christians who want to take stock of their prayer life.
The writer begins by going back to basics and reminds the reader that our praying should be God-centred above all else; he encourages us to seek God’s kingdom, to trust his ways of doing things, and look to his promises revealed in Scripture.
He writes several chapters on devotional prayer, and some of his points were personally challenging, most notably on preparing for corporate worship. In his chapter entitled ‘Approaching God: with Praise and Thanks-giving’, Michael teaches simply what it means to ‘…always and for everything give thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God’, addressing the oft asked questions such as ‘should I thank God for a person going blind?’ Here, as well as throughout the book, he dispels misconceptions held by many Christians.
The last section of the book, ‘Intercessory prayer’, would be especially helpful for those wondering what they should pray for unbelieving friends or for full-time Christian workers, for example. It questions our priorities in prayer, suggests practices that will encourage perseverance in prayer, and gives guidance on how to pray for sick friends.
This book does what it sets out to do, except that it is does not answer the question of why we can pray: it isn’t devotional, and I’m sorry he hasn’t mentioned much of Christ’s role as our High Priest. However it is hugely practical, full of anecdotes that illustrate his points, and will help many readers.
Richard Peskett,
pastor of Downe Baptist Church, Kent
