A Review of Max Lucado’s Book
While at the library, I recently came across Max Lucado’s book Start with Prayer: 250 Prayers for Hope and Strength. From the title, I had initially anticipated a comprehensive guide with instructional content, followed by 250 modeled prayers. However, the book primarily comprised a brief introduction to the importance of prayer, followed by 250 short prayers without additional text. Despite this unexpected lack of instruction and tips, the book can prove valuable for individuals already familiar with prayer who are seeking to revitalize their prayer life.
Max Lucado organizes the book into 19 prayer topics, each accompanied by a relevant Bible passage. The prayers, while generic, allow readers to connect with their personal situations and serve as a solid foundation for additional personalization. Lucado appears to have adopted the ACTS method—Adoration, Confession, Thankfulness, and Supplication—and encourages readers to engage with each prayer on a deeper level.
The ACTS Method of Prayer
This is also the method that I encourage in most of my Memory Verse blog posts:
ACTS method: Adoration, Confession, Thankfulness, Supplication
- Adoration: Praise God. Does this verse bring any specific characteristics of God to mind?
- Confession: Tell God that you are sorry for specific sins. Does this verse bring any specific sins to mind?
- Thankfulness: Show gratitude towards God. Does anything from this verse inspire gratitude?
- Supplication: Make requests for yourself and for others. Does anything from this verse inspire a prayer?
If helpful, you can use one of my prayer journal templates.
An Example from Max Lucado’s Book
Taking the third prayer in the book as an example, Lucado guides readers through 1 Chronicles 28:20.
Then David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished.
1 Chronicles 28:20 (ESV) (This is the ESV version, but Lucado uses the NIV version in his text.)
He skillfully employs the ACTS method, beginning with Adoration, where he praises God for His omnipotence. Readers can choose to follow Lucado’s prayer or enhance it with their own adorations.
Heavenly Father, you are the Lord of all, the almighty God, and the everlasting one.
Excerpt from page 19 of Lucado’s book.
The Confession section allows for personalization, as Lucado confesses a general need for God’s presence during times of change. Readers can then add specific confessions relevant to their lives.
Be near to me when I face change. When nothing feels steady, it is hard on me…
Excerpt from page 19 of Lucado’s book.
After Lucado finishes a general confession, a reader can add something specific that is relevant to their own life.
Moving to Supplication, Lucado seeks guidance in seeing God’s leading. Readers can build on this supplication or include their own requests.
Allow me to see you leading the way…
Excerpt from page 19 of Lucado’s book.
The reader can finish reading this part of the prayer and then add further supplication, either for themselves or for other.
The Thanksgiving part concludes this prayer, expressing gratitude for God’s stability amidst life’s uncertainties. Readers can append their own thanksgivings, making the prayer a personalized and meaningful experience.
I am so grateful that even when everything around me feels unstable, you are there…
Excerpt from page 19 of Lucado’s book.
Now, the reader can add their own thanksgivings. This prayer showed the basic framework of the ACTS method, if in a slightly different order, and allowed the reader to simply pray the prayer as written, or to truly make it their own.
Lucado consistently applies this framework throughout the book, presenting a variety of openings, closings, and content. The structured yet adaptable approach can prove helpful for individuals who are learning to create personalized prayers from any scripture verse. If you are struggling to overcome the struggle of daily Bible reading, or are seeking to learn how to pray through the scriptures, Max Lucado’s book Start with Prayer could be a valuable resource!
Respond
If you have read Start with Prayer: 250 Prayers for Hope and Strength, by Max Lucado, I invite you to share your thoughts in the comments below. Let’s engage in a meaningful discussion about this book and its impact on your prayer life.
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this post and wish to receive more Christian content, feel free to subscribe to my newsletters!
More from Joyful Moments in Christ
Keep reading Joyful Moments in Christ! Here are some more Book Reviews that you might find interesting:
English Standard Version (ESV): Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are taken from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.
Joyful Moments in Christ 