Too Busy Not to Pray: Slowing Down to Be with God

I'm loving it great reading must have book

Super helpful and encouraging! A must read for anyone!

This was my first experience reading Bill Hybel's work and it won't be my last. While his writing style is not as engaging to me as that of a Max Lucado or Frederick Buechner, I think that Hybel's instruction and guidance made it one of the best Christian books that I've read. It covers many questions that people have about how to pray, as well as, how people can get off track with their understanding of prayer and it's purpose for our lives. Power Chapter: "In my head I have always believed in God's omnipotence...But too often this belief hasn't registered where it really counts--in my heart (p. 31)." In chapter 3, Hybels shares his findings from studying God's power and omnipotence. He broke it down into "God's Power over Nature," "God's Power over Circumstances," "God's Power over Hearts," and "The Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever." After going into depth about God's power, he closes by reminding us that God, like a good father, doesn't want us to think we have to flog ourselves, begging for hours to get Him to pay attention; instead, God is "listening very closely, hoping" to hear our voices...that God actually takes great pleasure in meeting our needs. Another strong aspect of Hybel's book is the way he approaches misconceptions in how we think about responding to the Spirit's promptings that come through a more disciplined prayer life. I think this part of the book is especially helpful because it addresses not just how to talk to God, but also how to hear and know better when it is God speaking in our lives. My favorite line in the whole book: "It never fails--in late January or early February when the Midwest goes into the deep freeze, I feel a strange but compelling calling to start a church in Honolulu." Me too, Brother. Me too;). I highly recommend this book to new believers and those who consider themselves mature in faith but want to develop deeper more powerful prayer lives.

I loved this book because it gives you a step by step guide to slowing down and learning to give God the thanks He so richly deserves. The author gives examples and I especially like the part where he breaks down the prayer into A.C.T.S. I lent my book to a friend and never saw it again, I assume he has been blessed and doesn't want to let it go? I will purchase another copy, it is definitely worth the money.

The numbers of people attending church on Sunday is dwindling year after year. "Too Busy Not to Pray" urges Christians around the globe to reconsider this act of cutting God's time when their own world is too busy. "Too Busy Not to Pray" also offers insightful advice on how to squeeze time into one's life to pray once more, enhancing one's relationship with God and finding one's own happiness in the process. Now in a special revised and enhanced twentieth anniversary edition, "Too Busy Not to Pray" is highly recommended for community library Christianity collections.

This straightforward volume revolutionized my prayer life when I first read it ten years ago. I have read a number of Hybel's works, and I must say this one is the best yet. His points are simple yet profound as he makes his case for the necessity of a strong and systematic prayer life. This tenth anniversary edition reinforces and elaborates upon the truths Hybels illustrated previously.In the first portion of his book, Hybels focuses upon God and his willingness to answer prayer. He then moves to the role we play, describing various challenges and obstacles to effective, life-changing prayer. The best part of this work is the third portion, in which he emphasizes the importance of listening to God, responding to His leadings, and living in His presence.There are many books available on prayer, a large number of which I have read. I cannot think of one other single volume however, that describes the vital nature of prayer, and offers practical tools for prayer, than this book.Get it, read it, then see for yourself the difference God makes in your own prayer life!

13 chapters and a group of study questions to provoke thought and/or discussion leads the reader thru the author's own discoveries regarding prayer. Hybels, by his own admission, acknowledged what many of us don't: that "praying on the run" does not properly develop or nurture a relationship with God. In a fast-paced, super sophisticated world where we can barely escape work and a host of other stresses because of today's technology, we suffer from "ultra-business". Barely having out enough time to brush our teeth or eat properly, prayer for many of us, is a "back-burner activity". The discoveries Bill Hybels made can help all of us examine our own habits, and enrich our prayer life with God, such as "how to slow down to pray", "how to listen to God" and "how to overcome barriers". Readers must approach this book with honesty and a willingness to examine their own thoughts and habits. It would do all of us well to consider that even Jesus took time to slow down and be with God, alone. Jesus, tempted by all as we are, was Himself perfect, and yet found in Himself a need and desire to seek the Father's face. When His life became public, and His ministry active, many clamored for His attention. In the midst of that hectic activity, Jesus took time out to spend with the Father. In that we are imperfect, and do fall into temptation, how much more do we need to seek the Father? This eye-opening book offers insightful answers to those questions.