Moving Mountains: Praying with Passion, Confidence, and Authority

When was the last time you prayed with passion, confidence, and authority? I mean, really prayed, not so much out of desperation as out of conviction that praying in the name of Jesus actually makes a difference? Over the course of nearly 250 easy-to-read (but not shallow) pages, Eldredge describes prayer that works – prayer that moves mountains. It is, without a doubt, the most helpful, practical, and downright useful book on prayer I’ve ever read. Eldredge begins with a simple premise, one that all of us who have been Christians for any length of time know too well: some prayers work, and some prayers don’t. What is it that makes the difference? Eldredge writes: “The problem is, sometimes God comes through, often he doesn’t, and we have no idea for the rhyme or reason why. We lose heart, and abandon prayer.” Isn’t that true? Haven’t you been there? Eldredge suggests that many of us are operating from a naïve understanding of prayer that goes something like this: “God is loving and powerful. We need his help. So we ask for help, as best we know how. The rest is up to him. After all – he’s God. He can do anything.” Eldredge suggests this understanding of prayer is incomplete – “dangerously incomplete,” he says. Through a combination of biblical examples and true stories from contemporary life, Eldredge unpacks deeper dimensions of prayer. “If you are interested in prayer at all, you are interested in prayer that works.” You want your marriage to be better. You want healing for your cancer-stricken loved one. You want your adult child (or adult parent!) to be making different choices with their life. You want to be free from the shame and guilt of what you did, or what happened, long ago. You’ve prayed about all of this – and you haven’t seen any significant results. So you think your prayers aren’t working, or that God isn’t listening, or that God doesn’t care. Eldredge says, too often, our prayers are like “hitting the beach at Normandy not with a battalion of marines, but with Mrs. Simpson’s third-grade class,” or like “a hobbit with a handkerchief going to slay a dragon.” If we want our prayers to make a difference, we need to pray with a more mature understanding of what prayer is all about and how it actually affects things in the spiritual realm. There’s the cry of the heart, the prayer of intervention, prayers of consecration, daily prayer, prayers for guidance – Eldredge covers all of these, in detail, and more. Towards the end of the book he moves into more difficult territory: prayers for inner healing, prayers for physical healing, and – yes – prayers for spiritual warfare, when you or someone you love is battling demons. Some Christians don’t want to go there; we think we’re too “enlightened” for that; we neglect the consistent witness of the New Testament, stubbornly refusing to believe that there are spiritual powers of darkness at work in the cosmos. But, if we’re brave enough to keep reading, Eldredge gives us practical, concrete steps to help in each of those situations, along with suggestions of other books that will help us go even deeper. Finally, in a concluding chapter, Eldredge deals with the question of unanswered prayer. “We tried it; we went out on a limb; we put our hopes in God” – and it didn’t work. “Now what do we do?” Eldredge gives some practical suggestions of things to do – and things to not do – when it seems like God hasn’t come through. But don’t jump to that chapter first. Work your way through the rest of the book before you read that one. There’s a tremendous amount of depth in the first 16 chapters that is worth gold; I need to go back and read the whole book a second time (taking copious notes!) so I start making my prayers more effective and powerful. If you read only one book to help you grow in your spiritual life this year … make it this one. Honest: it’s that good.

My son thanked me. Wonderful book

Before getting into my review, I want to say that I am super glad I did NOT read Tim Challies' 1-star review of this title until after I'd finished reading "Moving Mountains" cover to cover. Had I seen that review first, I would have thought twice about purchasing this book. That would have been a BIG mistake! Reading what Challies wrote caused me to wonder if he and I actually read the same book. It also gave me pause to wonder what his axe to grind with Eldredge might be. I am no John Eldredge groupie. There was a time when I followed and supported his ministry. But that was quite awhile ago now. So, I was surprised when Amazon recommended his latest book to me. I'm glad they did. The author's gift of words -- his voice -- shines through every page brilliantly! Eldredge makes it clear prayer is not a quickie wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am two minute sort of thing. He uses the word "intentionality" to relate this idea. The book is excellently balanced with supporting Bible passages and resources for further study. I found I'd already read a number of the books by other authors he recommends. He uses the phrase "there is a way things work" as an overall theme to connect the dots. I enjoyed this little creation to reveal that I was about to partake in one of those deep mysteries he'd uncovered. I sometimes need someone waving a caution flag that says "slow down... don't rush through this part." Another thing I like is Eldredge's use of his own experiences in prayer. He describes them and then provides the prayer words he uses. I find that immensely helpful, akin to standing on his shoulders, rather than having to flounder away on my own. Prayers he's developed are printed in full at the end of the book. I get the feeling he really does want his readers to delve into this prayer adventure. One thing I wish he had developed further was the idea of provision. One of the resources John offers is Dr. Ed Murphy's "The Handbook For Spiritual Warfare." It's one of those I mentioned earlier that I've read. Appendix B in the back of that book is a prayer that I think might be one of the inspirations to Eldrede's "Daily Prayer." There are several parts to it emphasizing God's provision which are only slightly implied in "Moving Mountains." I'd prefer he plumb the amazing provision of God deeper. John Eldredge has sold millions of copies of his bestseller, "Wild At Heart." This book is on that level and I hope he sells millions of "Moving Mountains," too. My recommendation is that you read the entire book cover to cover first. That way you'll have the 30,000 foot view... the big picture. Then go back and take it slowly, applying..... no, PRAYING.... what John Eldredge has revealed. As I said in the headline, based on what I've gleaned from this book, if I had been told I was terminally ill, I'd want John Eldredge praying for me. "Moving Mountains: Praying with Passion" holds my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!

If you like books about prayer that go deeper into the subject this is an excellent choice. It takes the subject seriously and Biblically, but also evokes questions. It offers a lot to ponder. It takes time to explore the book as it explains various types of prayers, so it can be read or studied by groups as well.

Let's face it, prayer can be confusing. Over the years I have heard so many different perspectives on prayer that it become hard to reconcile these differing views. To make it more confusing, sometimes we pray and God answers our prayers and other times He seems silent. If you are looking for a book that will challenge your perspective on prayer in a healthy way and give you some insights into how prayer works this book would be a good recommendation for you. I personally feel Eldredge presents a balanced perspective on prayer in this book. One of the things I like about Eldredge's prayer book is he tackles head-on some of the common questions about prayer. Not many books on prayer focus on the spiritual realm and how prayer intersects with it. This is something we need to be reminded of, because it is a lost reality for many. Eldredge reminds us that "We are at war." Throughout the book Eldredge reinforces this understanding in various ways. Eldredge focuses throughout the book on informing the reader how to pray in a way that is more effective than just throwing prayers up into the air and hoping they get answered. "Most people don’t even try to learn the ways of the kingdom; they just go about their days with a practical agnosticism, hoping things work out, tossing up prayers like they hope to score on a Jesus lottery ticket" Eldredge reminds us who God is with a proper perspective on the many qualities of God including His grandeur and love, "You are talking to an immensely powerful, creative, generous, and intimate Person when you talk to God." "Oh, how it helps me to remind myself, I am praying to the One who gave his life for me." Eldredge presents to the reader that in prayer, we are partnering with God. I love this perspective because it fits so much better how prayer works than other concepts I have read and heard. Eldredge reminds us of the "present" yet not "fully here" Kingdom of God with a perspective on Jesus' power in this Kingdom. "Let that sink in; the relief of it will lift a mighty weight off your shoulders. All authority in the “heavens”—the spiritual realms— and all authority on this planet has been handed over to Jesus Christ!" Eldredge also integrates prayers of his own throughout the book to illustrate how to pray in various situations with bold authority. I have always been bothered by statements like: "prayer moves the hand of God." This just doesn't seem to align with the way I have seen prayer work in my own life. I was relieved to see that I am not the only one who has this perspective. Eldredge takes a chapter addressing fallacies like this one.

This book is anointed by the Lord, deep but easy to comprehend and apply to your prayer life. Absolutely transformative for your prayer life!

I've prayed many of John Eldredge's scripted prayers over the years as he's made them available on the RH website and I've found them to be of tremendous benefit in deepening my relationship with the Lord. One of the great benefits of this book is he explains the background behind each of the prayers which has provided further clarity and understanding in my prayer walk. "There's a way things work" is a key principle that undergirds Eldredge's prayer life and hence his counsel in this marvellous book on prayer. That same principle is relevant in the natural and accordingly he has found with his experience applies in the supernatural. Accordingly, the book outlines key elements to furthering one's conversation with the Lord. There is a formality of structure that I appreciate but perhaps others would resist, however, there is also the repeated acknowledgement of asking the Holy Spirit to enter into each situation that one is about to pray about that ensures prayer continues to be conversational dialogue and not just a series of ritualistic requests. There is additional material that comes with this book including the various prayers, e.g., Daily Prayer, Healing Prayer, etc being included in the appendix. In addition, there is a separate study guide that I've worked through that I found a really useful aid to adding the principles outlined in the book in one's prayer life. There is a further set of DVDs that I haven't purchased that enables the study guide to also be used within a group. The best way to learn more about prayer is to do it and Moving Mountains certainly has me praying more focused Scripture-based prayers. Highly recommended.

This has been the most helpful book I have read by John, and that says a lot as so many of his books have led me into true transformation in my life and the lives of so many around me. There are so many books on prayer, many good for sure, but many are gimmicky and don't get the root of the questions so many of us face. In this book John presents the context for prayer taking you through the reality of the spiritual world we live in and our own maturing process that God is onto with us. Without that type of context prayer and what transpires with it (or not) doesn't always make sense. Then he takes us through such helpful, real, practical and scripturally supported approaches to the way we can pray, and engage with God in what He is doing. This isn't coming from someone sitting in an office dreaming this stuff up either, this comes from a man who lives this around many others who do and who truly walks with God. It is rare and for that reason alone it is worth a serious read. And then read it again!