Moving Mountains: Praying with Passion, Confidence, and Authority

When was the last time you prayed with passion, confidence, and authority? I mean, really prayed, not so much out of desperation as out of conviction that praying in the name of Jesus actually makes a difference?Over the course of nearly 250 easy-to-read (but not shallow) pages, Eldredge describes prayer that works – prayer that moves mountains. It is, without a doubt, the most helpful, practical, and downright useful book on prayer I’ve ever read. Eldredge begins with a simple premise, one that all of us who have been Christians for any length of time know too well: some prayers work, and some prayers don’t. What is it that makes the difference? Eldredge writes: “The problem is, sometimes God comes through, often he doesn’t, and we have no idea for the rhyme or reason why. We lose heart, and abandon prayer.” Isn’t that true? Haven’t you been there?Eldredge suggests that many of us are operating from a naïve understanding of prayer that goes something like this: “God is loving and powerful. We need his help. So we ask for help, as best we know how. The rest is up to him. After all – he’s God. He can do anything.” Eldredge suggests this understanding of prayer is incomplete – “dangerously incomplete,” he says. Through a combination of biblical examples and true stories from contemporary life, Eldredge unpacks deeper dimensions of prayer. “If you are interested in prayer at all, you are interested in prayer that works.” You want your marriage to be better. You want healing for your cancer-stricken loved one. You want your adult child (or adult parent!) to be making different choices with their life. You want to be free from the shame and guilt of what you did, or what happened, long ago. You’ve prayed about all of this – and you haven’t seen any significant results. So you think your prayers aren’t working, or that God isn’t listening, or that God doesn’t care.Eldredge says, too often, our prayers are like “hitting the beach at Normandy not with a battalion of marines, but with Mrs. Simpson’s third-grade class,” or like “a hobbit with a handkerchief going to slay a dragon.” If we want our prayers to make a difference, we need to pray with a more mature understanding of what prayer is all about and how it actually affects things in the spiritual realm. There’s the cry of the heart, the prayer of intervention, prayers of consecration, daily prayer, prayers for guidance – Eldredge covers all of these, in detail, and more. Towards the end of the book he moves into more difficult territory: prayers for inner healing, prayers for physical healing, and – yes – prayers for spiritual warfare, when you or someone you love is battling demons. Some Christians don’t want to go there; we think we’re too “enlightened” for that; we neglect the consistent witness of the New Testament, stubbornly refusing to believe that there are spiritual powers of darkness at work in the cosmos. But, if we’re brave enough to keep reading, Eldredge gives us practical, concrete steps to help in each of those situations, along with suggestions of other books that will help us go even deeper.Finally, in a concluding chapter, Eldredge deals with the question of unanswered prayer. “We tried it; we went out on a limb; we put our hopes in God” – and it didn’t work. “Now what do we do?” Eldredge gives some practical suggestions of things to do – and things to not do – when it seems like God hasn’t come through. But don’t jump to that chapter first. Work your way through the rest of the book before you read that one. There’s a tremendous amount of depth in the first 16 chapters that is worth gold; I need to go back and read the whole book a second time (taking copious notes!) so I start making my prayers more effective and powerful.If you read only one book to help you grow in your spiritual life this year … make it this one. Honest: it’s that good.

Before getting into my review, I want to say that I am super glad I did NOT read Tim Challies' 1-star review of this title until after I'd finished reading "Moving Mountains" cover to cover. Had I seen that review first, I would have thought twice about purchasing this book. That would have been a BIG mistake! Reading what Challies wrote caused me to wonder if he and I actually read the same book. It also gave me pause to wonder what his axe to grind with Eldredge might be.I am no John Eldredge groupie. There was a time when I followed and supported his ministry. But that was quite awhile ago now. So, I was surprised when Amazon recommended his latest book to me. I'm glad they did. The author's gift of words -- his voice -- shines through every page brilliantly!Eldredge makes it clear prayer is not a quickie wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am two minute sort of thing. He uses the word "intentionality" to relate this idea. The book is excellently balanced with supporting Bible passages and resources for further study. I found I'd already read a number of the books by other authors he recommends.He uses the phrase "there is a way things work" as an overall theme to connect the dots. I enjoyed this little creation to reveal that I was about to partake in one of those deep mysteries he'd uncovered. I sometimes need someone waving a caution flag that says "slow down... don't rush through this part."Another thing I like is Eldredge's use of his own experiences in prayer. He describes them and then provides the prayer words he uses. I find that immensely helpful, akin to standing on his shoulders, rather than having to flounder away on my own. Prayers he's developed are printed in full at the end of the book. I get the feeling he really does want his readers to delve into this prayer adventure.One thing I wish he had developed further was the idea of provision. One of the resources John offers is Dr. Ed Murphy's "The Handbook For Spiritual Warfare." It's one of those I mentioned earlier that I've read. Appendix B in the back of that book is a prayer that I think might be one of the inspirations to Eldrede's "Daily Prayer." There are several parts to it emphasizing God's provision which are only slightly implied in "Moving Mountains." I'd prefer he plumb the amazing provision of God deeper.John Eldredge has sold millions of copies of his bestseller, "Wild At Heart." This book is on that level and I hope he sells millions of "Moving Mountains," too. My recommendation is that you read the entire book cover to cover first. That way you'll have the 30,000 foot view... the big picture. Then go back and take it slowly, applying..... no, PRAYING.... what John Eldredge has revealed.As I said in the headline, based on what I've gleaned from this book, if I had been told I was terminally ill, I'd want John Eldredge praying for me. "Moving Mountains: Praying with Passion" holds my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!

John is unaware that I had adopted him as my spiritual big brother (I would say father, but he's not nearly old enough for that) months into my new walk with Christ because finding men here in my neck of the woods to disciple me has been a very disheartening journey. With that said, I am often reading something or listening something from the Ransomed Heart team to hear something that challenges and lifts me. It was right before Christmas that I received this book as an uncorrected proof text and was so pleasantly surprised and excited to read it! I can say that I was not disappointed in the least, and it couldn't have come at a better time for me.I had started getting up early in the morning before work to devote some quality time to God before I started my day, but quickly found that my prayers were becoming rote and mechanical. I know in my head that what He desires more than anything from us is a relationship, but I often find myself slipping into patterns with my prayer life, rather than keeping things real. That's where the true strength of this book comes through.As John always writes his books, this one is not simply a checklist of how to pray and walk with God. It's full of stories that help us to see how to put particular prayers to use in a given situation and he does a great job of relating to all of us out here that haven't reached his level of maturity yet. I don't know about any of you out there, but for me, it helps tremendously to have someone that's been walking with Jesus for some time to point out the pitfalls and promise; he has a way of giving me hope and making me feel like I'm right where I should be.John, if you ever read this, thank you again for a most-needed example of how to live out the Christian life!

great reading

Lovely way to talk about such a deep and important topic: prayer. I loved Eldredge’s poetic pen.

Great study guide. Lots of strong practical guidance to making prakre effective you need the dvd to go with this. I would also recommend purchasing book to read at the same time.

If you think „not another book about prayer - again“ I can assure you: It‘s unique.Typical for John Eldredge full of hope, beauty & meaning.Life changing & a must have book!For everyone!

I enjoyed this one very much. It definitely revives my prayer life. Don't expect to read this on a weekend and just put it aside - it's an invitation to go deeper in your relationship with God.