Book Review: A Praying Life by Paul E. Miller

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Just wanted to say our small church participated in a Christmas program here in a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri.
We organized a trio of Piano, Bass, and Drums and competed with our local Community Band performing 5 selections from A Jazz-Inspired Christmas. Many reported our trio was the hightlight of the evening. I am the musical director and pianist/organist of the church and perform many of your arrangements regularly. Our congregation love them and I constantly give praise to your talent and direction. I now own all of your current books and enjoy the challenge of performing them. One of my strengths is improvising and I am constantly learning new techniques and at the same time reinforcing old ones thanks to your arrangements. Please keep up the inspiring work, it keeps me on the edge of my seat. God Bless, Craig Curry!

Ron said on January 8 about

Thank You Cyber Monday Shoppers!

Thanks Donna! Your comment was helpful to me as I’m right now in the middle of all those “upcoming” projects from May!

One thing at a time and use the hours God’s given for His glory… very good advice. Sounds a lot like Matthew 6:33-34: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Thanks again. Continuing to pray for you…

Craig Curry said on July 15 about

Birthday Reflections

Craig, you have said all this so well. First, I am impressed that you are so goal oriented, but you get a lot done that way. Indeed, our worth is not connected to our productivity as God loves us just the way we are. I find each day challenging. I was just saying to myself about an hour ago, I have too much to do today. Then, reading this blog I realized that I just have to do one thing at a time and use the hours given me for His glory. You are a treasure, to God, and to my family!

Donna Williams said on July 14 about

Birthday Reflections

Get 2 new mp3s free!

Enjoy Craig playing 2 pieces from "A Jazz-Inspired Christmas".

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by: Craig Curry

posted in: Reviews

Sunday, June 13, 2010

I received Paul E. Miller’s A Praying Life last month as a birthday present, and to be honest, my first reaction was almost a groan. Inwardly I sighed and thought, “Does the world need another book on prayer? Here we go: more fluffy prose from the Christian book industry.”

I couldn’t have been more wrong. Since this book was from one of my closest friends, I decided to give it a chance, and started reading a chapter each morning as an addition to my daily scripture reading and prayer time. Shortly, I’m going to be reading it a second time, taking notes and pulling quotes I find particularly insightful.

A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World image

This may be one of the most useful books on prayer ever written. Miller does a wonderful job of answering those questions most of us have asked ourselves at one time or another related to prayer, “Does it do any good?” “Why should I pray?” “What do I do when nothing changes?”

But I think the real strength of the book is that many of Miller’s insights were hard-won over the course of many years, honed in the messy, everyday world of parenting. His willingness to share his own prayer struggles and the lessons he has learned often through family crises and challenges give the book a real credibility and authenticity.

I especially like some of the opening material on coming to God as a child. I felt so much freer to really express what I want to God after reading that chapter. I tend to jump ahead to the “not my will, but Yours” without ever really owning the “let this cup pass from me” part in my prayers.

God spoke to many issues for my life in this book, which is why I want to go through it a second time to better reflect on what He’s saying. My prayers are changing; I’m praying more and praying more honestly. Those prayers may be the best compliment I can give the author and the best evidence of how “life-changing” this book can be.

Tags: prayer, paul miller

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