Running with Jesus

The prayers included in "Running with Jesus: The Prayers of Malcolm Boyd" are written in a contemporary style with 20th century langauge. Boyd hits on real life situations when a person can be in their darkest moments. It shows how prayer can be expressed in the depths of despair as an open dialog with God. He touches on several different aspects of life sincerely and honestly. His prayers show the importance of communicating your true feelings regardless if you are going through unpleasant times or the mondane. I found myself in his writings. This book showed me how prayer can improve your attitude. He wrote things that I have felt but was too ashamed to express to anyone let alone myself. He also showed me the importance of letting God in during these times. It was refreshing to read prayers written in the darkest of times that were still respectful and praiseworthy.

Boyd is a prayer genius. Contemporary, real, dynamic, heartfelt words capture the day to day dilemmas and situations we all face. In each prayer he speaks to Jesus, inviting Him into the situation, the difficulty, the uncertainty, the worldly problem. With a forward written by Lutheran historian, Martin E. Marty and an afterword by Lutheran Bishop, Paul Wennes of Southern California, who both give this prayer book high praise for addressing real conflicts, doubts, fightings and fears, I can not recommend this book strongly enough. "It's bumper to bumper, and the traffic is stalled" is my favorite prayer (page 10) or try "I am seated inside a theater" (page 50). What a powerful gift God has given us in the words of Malcolm Boyd who is still running with Jesus.