The Essential Guide To Prayer by Dutch Sheets

The Essential Guide To Prayer: How To Pray With Power And Effectiveness by Dutch Sheets is mostly a book of testimonies about various purposes and types of intercessory prayers. I found the subtitle to be slightly misleading. While there is a suggested prayer and study questions at the end of each chapter, this book is focused more on examples than instructions, as the "how to" heading would imply.

While Dutch does provide both personal and second-hand testimonies to support each of his points about effective prayer, you have to be the type of person that can learn from examples and replicate the experience of others within your own life in order to really make a lot of personal progress here.

As a book used to enlighten and encourage you on the prospect of intercessory prayer, I'd give this book 4 stars. However, it is lacking in personal suggestions aside from the testimonies, and Dutch spends a large portion of the book sharing second-hand stories that he's heard or read elsewhere. For me, this made it seem more like a college thesis than a book meant for personal growth in your relationship with God. 3/5 stars.

*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary print copy of this book from Bethany House for the purpose of this honest review. All opinions are my own.*

About The Author (copied from back cover):

Dutch Sheets is an internationally recognized author, teacher, and speaker. Based in Colorado, he travels extensively, empowering believers for passionate prayer and societal transformation. He has pastored, taught, and served on the board of directors of numerous organizations. Learn more at www.dutchsheets.org.

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