Crafted Prayer: The Joy of Always Getting Your Prayers Answered by Graham Cooke (2003-05-04)

Reading this book has affirmed my prayer journey with God. It is a blessing to see the truths that have become the fabric of my life written in a format that is easily understood and easily applied. It has been my life's work to deposit the Word of God, The Bible, into my memory bank. While I have not "crafted" written prayers I have used the Word of God in the manner presented by the author. It works. To know God, what He supports, defends, approves, to understand the desires of HIS heart and to pray in agreement; this is relationship, fellowship with God. This book would work well for an individual or book club wishing to utilize the worksheets in the appendix. This book is suitable for every person desiring a deeper walk with God in their prayer life, weather you know how to pray or not.

Very insiteful book on the subject of prayer. Graham Cooke is English and I love his candor, transparency. Much to learn and practice.

This is a great book... I love all of Graham Cooke's teachings and books. This book will really touch your heart and help you understand God's heart toward you. Great book and God anointed Author. Brenda from MD.

This book would be the most helpful and practical book on prayer that I have read in a very long while. Cooke writes from experience, and takes us back to prayer as it was in the Bible. We often pray or go to prayer meetings bombarding heaven with requests, but seldom do we still ourselves to listen to God before we pray. Crafted prayers is not praying for an answer, but is praying with an answer (pg. 70). Hence, the subtitle is "The Joy of Always Getting Your Prayers Answered." Together in this book are 6 appendixes which helps you in your prayer life. Appendix 1 is on "Steps to Crafted Prayer" where it talks about general preparation for the person entering into a time of prayer, and guidelines and steps for individuals and groups. Appendix 1 alone is worth the price of the book, helping any person or group deepen their prayer life. Appendix 2 & 3 are worksheets for groups and individuals. Appendix 4 is a "Stillness exercise" to help us be still before God so that we can learn to tune out all the stuff that goes on in our heads, and tune into God. "Stillness is... about stilling those voices in our heads." (pg. 20) Appendix 5 are "Inheritance Words" that we are to look out for, and appendix 6 shows some crafted prayers in the Bible. Below are some other great statements that Cooke makes in this book: - Real warfare in the Kingdom of God is always concerned with the battle for intimacy (pg. 11). - Gratitude is the bedrock of our life and worship (pg. 19). - Rest is our best weapon against the enemy, because rest allows us to hide in our secret place in God (pg. 22). - Prayer, in its simplest form, is finding out what God wants to do and then asking Him to do it (pg. 25).

Crafted prayer by Graham Cooke is part of the author's Being With God series. This book uses a journal type format, specificly in the appendices, exercises, worksheets and meditations. The reader is encouraged to work through the book and chart a progression in a journey of waiting on and being with God, intimately. In this biblical genre, the author's intent is to teach the reader how to make serious prayer a significant part of their life. Though Crafter Prayer may be new to some readers, it really is a book about ancient biblical principles applied by many of God's faithful servants, resulting in miracles of biblical proportions (Moses and the 10 plagues of Egypt in Exod 7-12 and the parting of the Red Sea in Exodus 14:21-31). Personally, I found the beginning text enlighting but the appendices slightly confining. The mobile world of the 21st century demands all of our time, talent and energy. But by putting in the effort of stillness and crafted prayer to know God, readers will come to a joy of always getting prayers answered. Shelley Beck