Praying Like Jesus: The Lord's Prayer in a Culture of Prosperity

Features

• Cover Type: Hard Cover with 144 pages
• Published by: HarperOne
• Edition: 1st Edition September 18, 2001
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0060011564
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0060011567
• Book Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Weighs: 9.3 ounces

Product Review
In a time when spiritual seekers seem to be looking for a magic formula for prosperity, blessing, and protection through prayer, theologian James Mulholland offers a different perspective in Praying Like Jesus: The Lord's Prayer in a Culture of Prosperity. "Our Father who art in heaven" Using Jesus's classic prayer from the New Testament as a framework, Mulholland offers a critique of the multimillion-selling book, The Prayer of Jabez and suggests looking to Jesus, rather than Jabez, for instruction on how to pray. In a conversational, almost pastoral tone peppered with personal anecdotes, Mulholland outlines a simple way to talk to God, focusing on self-denial, commitment, compassion, and gratitude. The point of prayer is not to get what you want, he writes, but rather to receive what you need. There's no pat formula for prayer here--just a call to revolutionize your prayer life through renouncing selfishness and committing to a new way of living. Those who find "name it and claim it" books about prayer alarming will be challenged by this satisfying, alternative take on the subject. --Cindy Crosby

From Publishers Weekly
rayer is clearly a hot topic these days, and publishers' reactions to the success of "the Bible's Little Big Man" Jabez have been swift and decisive. While many books have sought to emulate Jabez's successful formula with various knockoffs and rip-offs, others offer an entirely different view. In Praying Like Jesus: The Lord's Prayer in a Culture of Prosperity, James Mulholland challenges the Wilkinsonian view that prayer exists to change an individual's personal fortunes. Rather, he argues, prayer is about communicating with God the way Jesus did hence the book's structure around the phrasing and themes of the Lord's Prayer as found in the New Testament. Far more than a "sour grapes" approach to Jabez's phenomenal success, this important corrective offers strong, thoughtful theology in its own right.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Reader Reviews
Jim Mulholland seems to have his head on straight when it comes to talking with the Lord. Unlike other prayer books that are being offered he makes us look at the real reason we should pray in the first place. Most of us wait until we are in some predicament before falling to our knees which in itself is a selfish reason, but Jim has pointed out what it means to have a real relationship with God, not just a convenient one. His real-life experiences show that he is not a pulpit-banger but a goeth-forth-and-doeth type of minister that the everyday person can relate too. Too many of our "intellectual" minister/writers are merely sending forth the flock while they stay behind and shepard, but Jim seems to know the feel of blisters on his hands and sweat on his brow by sharing the workload with those less fortunate. His attitude of prayer makes us all take stock of ourselves when he points out the necessity of gratitude, compassion and forgiveness in our own lives before we can expect God to bestow the same on us. I was particularly touched by his pointing out that Jesus prayed to "Our Father" and not just to his father. This should remind us all that no one sect or religion has a monopoly on God. He is the God of all, for all and in all. I hope Jim Mulholland continues to write books like this to teach and inspire us all.