1장
When Prayer Moves Mountains
The first time I heard about John Eldredge's "Moving Mountains," I was sitting across from a firefighter who had witnessed the impossible. "There's no scientific explanation," he told me, voice still trembling with awe. "The Waldo Canyon Fire was consuming everything in its path-100-foot walls of flame driven by 65-mph winds-until it reached this one property line and just... stopped." The stark contrast remains visible today: blackened stumps on one side, living trees on the other. This wasn't just a lucky break; friends had reported seeing what appeared to be an angelic presence spreading wings against the inferno. The book quickly became required reading among spiritual leaders across denominations, with pastors from Rick Warren to Francis Chan citing its transformative approach to prayer. Even outside religious circles, the book's practical wisdom on overcoming obstacles has found its way into corporate leadership retreats and therapeutic settings. Eldredge's premise is both disruptive and hopeful: some prayers work, and some don't-and understanding the difference can change everything.
2장
The Battlefield of Prayer: Understanding Our True Context
The sanitized Christmas story we've inherited masks a brutal reality: God's omnipotence could have obliterated Herod, yet Jesus fled as a refugee. This paradox reveals our true situation in prayer. We're essentially third-graders storming Normandy Beach, hobbits with handkerchiefs facing dragons. Most Christians operate with a dangerously incomplete understanding of prayer, leaving out essential elements: mankind's rebellion, the evil one's influence, and the cosmic war we're caught in.
Daniel's experience illuminates this reality perfectly: God answered his prayer immediately, but demonic forces delayed the response for three weeks until angelic reinforcements arrived. Scripture repeatedly sounds the alarm that we're caught in a collision of kingdoms-God's advancing against darkness that currently holds most of the world captive.
Christ's advent accelerated this global war, as Revelation 12 graphically portrays: the dragon standing before the woman in childbirth, war in heaven, and Satan's fury unleashed on earth against Jesus' followers. The brutal executions by extremist groups only confirm this reality-we're at war whether we acknowledge it or not.
This warfare context explains why simple "Jesus be with us" prayers prove so inadequate. When Jesus said "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves," he wasn't just speaking to early disciples. Prayer isn't merely asking God to do things-it's learning to wield our most essential weapon in this cosmic battle.
Simultaneously, God is growing us up through this conflict. Like beloved mentors in great stories who send those they love into genuine danger-Aslan with children in Narnia, Gandalf with comfort-loving Bilbo-God is committed to our maturity. He delights in our early attempts at prayer like a parent cherishes a toddler's first steps, but he's absolutely determined to grow us up.
Understanding these twin realities-our spiritual development and the cosmic war-should make us approach prayer with the urgency of a soldier learning his weapon or a smoke jumper mastering survival skills.
3장
The Heart's Cry: Emotional Honesty in Prayer
Some prayers require no training-they simply erupt from our souls in moments of crisis. When my friend's van hit black ice and began spinning toward catastrophe, all I could pray was "Jesus!" These spontaneous heart-cries rise unbidden from our depths, always welcome to God's ears.
The Psalms overflow with raw emotional prayers-from David's apocalyptic cries for vengeance to his shouts of joy. This unfiltered honesty authenticates Scripture; David "sails the seven seas of human emotion" without embarrassment. Though modern churches might send him to therapy, God made him king and canonized his prayers as our primer.
Jesus followed this tradition, offering "prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears." In Gethsemane, he fell face-down in anguish so intense his sweat was like blood. This contrasts sharply with our careful, formal prayers that sound more like corporate memos than heart-cries.
The Cry of the Heart requires no religious language or posturing-just permission to let your heart speak. It includes both anguish and joy, shouts and tears. But beware: don't let honest emotion become agreement with despair. David poured out his pain but refused to stay there, reminding himself of God's faithfulness. "I feel forsaken" differs greatly from "I am forsaken."
While beautiful, this emotional prayer is just the beginning. Since David's time, the incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection have transformed our prayer posture, opening the way to more intentional prayers of intervention. Have you ever noticed how often we stop at emotional expression without moving into the authority Christ has given us?
4장
Shifting Our Gaze: From Problems to Possibilities
To pray effectively, we must shift our gaze from our circumstances to Jesus himself. When facing crises like a friend's battle with cancer, we naturally fix our eyes on the suffering rather than "upon the resources of the living God"-and what a difference this makes in our prayer.
Like Bain in "The Battle of the Five Armies" who needed to look away from the terrifying dragon and toward his father's face, we must turn from our fears to see God. Jesus demonstrated this repeatedly-looking up to heaven before multiplying loaves and fishes or raising Lazarus. He wasn't trying to remember something, but orienting himself to what was most true in the world: his Father's loving presence and unlimited resources.
Consider who God truly is: creator of everything we love-waterfalls, mountains, wild places, rivers, forests, sunshine, the night sky, beauty, goodness, and truth. He is immensely powerful, creative, generous, and intimate. Just consider the eye-utterly astounding in its ability to see, elegant and exquisitely made. Or the sun-that celestial nuclear device with surface temperatures of 5,500 Celsius, providing energy for all life, with more than a million earths able to fit inside it. God created approximately four hundred billion billion suns across the universe. His resources are unlimited.
And who are we in relation to this God? Many conceive their relationship with God as that of an orphan passing notes under a door to a busy father who never responds. But tectonic shifts have occurred in the universe since the Psalms were written. We are no longer slaves or orphans but sons and daughters with "full rights of sons." We have the Spirit who calls out "Abba, Father."
Just as my own sons come home and freely enjoy my abundance-pillaging the refrigerator, receiving gifts, taking my best possessions with my blessing-we get to approach God with the confidence of beloved children. "You are my son-everything I have is yours. Plunder as you will."
Beyond being sons and daughters, we are also friends and allies of God. Dallas Willard suggested viewing our relationship with God as a partnership rather than approaching as needy supplicants. Jesus confirmed this: "I no longer call you servants... Instead, I have called you friends." We are God's confidants and allies in his work on earth.
5장
Wielding Authority: The Secret to Effective Prayer
Prayer operates on authority-the secret to the kingdom of God and effective prayer. Jesus was astonished by the centurion who understood this principle, recognizing that just as he commanded soldiers under his authority, Jesus could command healing from a distance. The spiritual realm functions according to authority structures just as the physical world operates according to natural laws.
God originally gave authority over the earth to Adam and Eve, but they forfeited it through disobedience, allowing Satan to become "the prince of this world." This explains how Satan could offer Jesus the kingdoms of the world during the wilderness temptation-they were his to give because humanity surrendered them at the Fall.
Jesus came to reclaim this lost authority. Through his perfect obedience and atoning death, Christ "disarmed the powers and authorities." The cross caught the enemy off guard, undermining his claims and stripping his right to rule. As a result, "All authority in heaven and on earth" was given to Jesus, who now holds supreme authority over every realm.
Though Jesus has won the ultimate victory, his kingdom hasn't fully come on earth. This explains why Jesus taught us to pray "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." This isn't about his future return but about invoking his kingdom authority into our present circumstances.
Not everything that happens is God's will. People make meaningful choices that have real consequences. God grants humans and angels "the dignity of causation"-the ability to make things happen. This understanding liberates us from the crippling belief that every tragedy is God's will.
Having overthrown the kingdom of darkness, Jesus now shares his authority with us: "I have given you authority to overcome all the power of the enemy." We're not orphans begging at the door but sons and daughters wielding royal authority. Like Peter and John who commanded healing "in the name of Jesus," we're called to exercise this delegated power.
This partnership prepares us for our eternal destiny to reign with Christ. As Daniel prophesied, "the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever." God places us in situations requiring prayer and authority-wielding as preparation for this future responsibility-we're being educated to rule.
6장
The Prayer of Intervention: Bringing Heaven to Earth
The Prayer of Intervention is powerfully illustrated through a story from the early church. After Jesus ascended and Pentecost occurred, the young church faced persecution when King Herod killed James and imprisoned Peter. While the church prayed "very earnestly" for Peter-the same Greek word used to describe Jesus' anguished prayer in Gethsemane-an angel miraculously freed him from prison. This dramatic intervention demonstrates the power of strenuous, united prayer that calls upon all the resources of heaven.
Many Christians mistakenly believe that if God is almighty and sovereign, He will act quickly with a "bam" or "zap." This perspective often relieves us from strenuous prayer. But biblical accounts show otherwise: the church prayed all night for Peter, Elijah prayed seven times for rain, Daniel's prayer took three weeks for breakthrough. Even with salvation, God doesn't simply "zap" everyone-He delegates the task to us. Effective prayer requires time, focus, and persistence.
The church in Acts 12 understood their authority, having been taught by Jesus himself about the kingdom of God for years. Between his resurrection and ascension, Jesus spent forty days teaching his disciples specifically about the kingdom of God. His gospel wasn't merely about salvation but repeatedly referred to as "the gospel of the kingdom."
The prayers at Mary's home likely involved proclaiming God's sovereignty, invoking Jesus' authority, calling on the Holy Spirit, declaring Peter's freedom, binding Satan, and enforcing the kingdom over Peter's situation. This pattern of "proclaiming, invoking, and enforcing" follows what Jesus taught them.
When Peter miraculously appeared, they were so surprised they didn't believe it was him-a very human touch that adds credibility to the account. Have you ever prayed earnestly for something and then been shocked when it actually happened? We're not alone in this paradoxical response.
7장
Consecration: The Essential First Step
Consecration is the essential first step before God's protection and provision can flow-the act of deliberately dedicating something to Jesus and bringing it under his rule. Christians often pray frantically and chaotically without first aligning with Jesus, like soldiers firing blindly or musicians playing without waiting for the conductor. This might be the number one error made by earnest believers.
Agnes Sanford compared consecration to electrical wiring-while the world is full of electricity, only what flows through proper wiring makes appliances work. Similarly, the universe is filled with God's creative energy, but only what flows through consecrated channels works for us. Before God's power can flow, we must repair the connection by dedicating ourselves, our homes, relationships, jobs, or whatever needs grace to Jesus, bringing it fully under his rule.
The Scriptures emphasize consecration's importance. Before God appeared at Mount Sinai, he instructed Moses to have the people consecrate themselves. Before crossing the Jordan River, Joshua told the people to consecrate themselves for the amazing things God would do. In the New Testament, Paul and Barnabas were consecrated before their world-changing missionary journeys.
Though believers have eternal security in Christ, we can wander from intimate connection with him through sin, neglect, or false beliefs. Jesus repeatedly urged us to "remain in him" precisely because he knew our tendency to wander. While our salvation remains secure, our fruitfulness and breakthrough depend on maintaining that vital connection. Consecration helps restore this connection when it weakens.
Consecration applies to many situations, including homes, healing, and personal dedication. For healing prayer, we must present our bodies to God as living sacrifices, specifically consecrating affected body parts. For homes, we take authority over the property, renounce previous ungodly influences, cleanse it with Christ's blood, and invite the Holy Spirit to establish God's kingdom there.
We should also consecrate hotel rooms, pulpits, artistic endeavors, jobs, finances, vacations, and gatherings-bringing everything under God's kingdom regularly. Consecration is particularly powerful at the beginning of new endeavors, including ministry ventures, business partnerships, marriages, and the new year.
Consecration involves both aligning ourselves with Jesus and enforcing his rule. The alignment part comes first, but enforcement often requires more spiritual force, particularly through proclamation. Like Ananias with Saul and Paul confronting the sorcerer Elymas, we enforce God's kingdom by proclaiming truth over situations.
8장
Listening Prayer: The Revolutionary Practice
I sensed our prayers weren't working as we gathered to pray for a repeatedly ill friend. Following an inner prompting, I quietly asked Jesus what was happening. His reply was direct: "Ask him how he feels about his body." When I posed this question, our friend cynically admitted, "I hate my body." This revealed the root issue-you can't bring blessing to a body while its owner is cursing it. After breaking those agreements with self-hatred, our prayers became effective.
This experience taught me the single most revolutionary practice in my prayer life: asking Jesus what I should pray. This simple yet transformative approach aligns with God's promise in 1 John 5:14-15 that when we pray according to his will, we know we have what we ask.
Our fellowship has witnessed numerous breakthroughs over thirty years-physical and psychological healings, deliverances, rescued marriages and lives, even weather changes as James promised. Yet despite these victories, I never presume to know what each new prayer need requires. When someone asks me to pray for specific outcomes like parental reconciliation, I don't automatically comply. God may indeed want reconciliation, but He might first need to address character issues poisoning the relationship.
As God's intimate ally, I ask what He wants me to pray, making my prayers more effective by aligning with His current work in the situation. This approach requires discipline because needs often pull on our heartstrings. As Oswald Chambers warned, we must be careful not to simply pray our sympathies for the person-doing so breaks our vital connection with God.
Jesus repeatedly emphasizes that his sheep hear his voice. This intimate, conversational relationship with God is meant to be normal for Christians. As the Good Shepherd, Jesus warns that we live in dangerous country with wolves and false shepherds. Our only hope for safety is staying close and listening for his voice.
To hear God's voice, begin with simple questions, not desperate or high-pressure ones. I find it nearly impossible to hear when caught in drama or stress. Start with small matters where little is at stake, which allows for an open heart. Quiet yourself, find a private space, and repeat your question to stay focused. Listen for His gentle voice within-not audible, but internal, where Jesus dwells.
Crucially, maintain true surrender and openness to any answer. This practice forms unreserved obedience, deepening holiness and intimacy with God. If struggling to discern His voice, try "trying on" different answers: "Are you saying yes, Jesus?" then pause, "Or are you saying no?" Often our spirit can feel the Holy Spirit's confirmation or reservation.
9장
Warfare Prayer: Confronting the Opposition
Warfare prayer often brings the most dramatic and immediate results by banishing the enemy. Though simple and effective, many avoid it either through disbelief in spiritual warfare or intimidation. The enemy always tries to prevent this prayer because once learned, his influence diminishes.
Scripture shows this pattern clearly: Paul commanded a spirit to leave a fortune-telling slave girl "in the name of Jesus Christ," and it left immediately-no dramatics needed. This connects to our authority in Christ, who has overthrown the kingdom of darkness and called us into the fight.
Jesus modeled simple, authoritative warfare prayer that brought immediate results. In Luke 4, he rebuked and banished a demon with just a few words, and it had to obey. His disciples experienced the same power, returning with joy saying, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."
When a young woman called for prayer about nighttime torment from fear and anxiety, the approach was straightforward. First came discernment-asking Jesus what they were dealing with and how the fear gained entry. In this case, fear was both a family battle "inherited" from her mother and enabled by the woman's perfectionism.
The prayer began by declaring her belonging to Christ: "We declare and proclaim that Cammie belongs to Jesus Christ. She has been bought with the blood of Christ." Next, she renounced the ways she had given fear a claim-her perfectionism and family's agreement with fear. Finally, they bound and banished the spirit using Scripture: "We bring the cross and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ against all fear and anxiety... By the authority of Jesus Christ we command all fear and anxiety bound and banished."
Demons are rebellious by nature and fight to maintain their oppression. You must be specific with them. Jesus demonstrated this need for specificity when dealing with the man in the tombs. Despite commanding the evil spirit to leave (past tense), Jesus had to ask its name-"Legion"-before successfully banishing them.
The enemy's presence, however illegitimate, always has some basis. Sin opens doors to demonic attack-when praying against lust, one must renounce all lustful behavior including pornography use. Bringing these sins under Christ's blood breaks the enemy's power. But other things give footholds too, including unresolved emotional issues: "In your anger do not sin... do not give the devil a foothold" (Ephesians 4:26-27).
Effective warfare prayer employs three actions: proclaiming the truth (the sword of the Spirit); invoking Christ's authority over the specific need (bringing Jesus' rule back); and enforcing Christ's work directly against the oppressors (making the enemy leave).
10장
Holding the Heart Through Every Outcome
Several months ago my wife and I traveled to Hawaii hoping to recreate a perfect day we'd experienced two years earlier-swimming with dolphins and whales in crystal azure waters, one of the best days of our lives. Despite our prayers, this return trip brought storms, gale-force winds, and spiritual warfare instead of paradise. Our hopes were deferred, making our hearts sick as Scripture says.
During our disappointing Hawaiian trip, I remained acutely aware of unanswered prayers all around us-a dear friend battling cancer in a hospital bed, a friend's daughter living on the streets, a young man struggling with mental illness, our adopted daughter facing another year alone. These are the moments Scripture urges us to "guard our hearts, for it is the wellspring of life."
We must be very careful how we interpret unanswered prayer when our hearts are vulnerable. The conclusions rush in-God isn't listening, he doesn't care, prayer doesn't work. Catch yourself! Don't let your heart go there! Ask Jesus to help interpret what's happening. The disappointment is real-deferred hope makes the heart sick-but we must invite God's love into our disappointment.
Jesus told the parable of the sower where only one in four seeds bears fruit. Even Jesus, who performed countless miracles, saw his efforts prevail only some of the time. We must come to terms with the partial nature of this life. Our longing for life drives us to pray, and when we glimpse what's possible as God's kingdom invades, hope surges within us. But when life begins to come together, something whispers, "Maybe it can always be like this." This Eden-longing is beautiful but premature.
The goal of our maturity isn't a life free from affliction-not yet. There's something higher God has for us. My friend in the hospital, wracked with pain and convulsive shivering, would whisper between episodes, "I love you, Jesus. I worship you." His wife later wrote that their hospital room became "the Holy of Holies," feeling honored God chose them for this fight. Another friend, paralyzed for thirty years, texted me on his accident's anniversary: "No regrets."
The goal of human existence is union with God-to say with David, "Your love is better than life," and with Paul, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." This holiness is shaped through affliction. Joy soothes and strengthens, but it doesn't transform character like suffering does.
After the Waldo Canyon Fire, I walked the devastated hills behind our house, my shoes blackened with ash. The landscape was dead, rocks cracked from the furnace-heat. But returning reluctantly the next summer, I was stopped in my tracks by an explosion of life-lavender asters, joyful sunflowers, blood-red Indian paintbrush, purple penstemon blooming everywhere in greater abundance than ever before. This is what we've staked everything on-that life wins. Sometimes now, especially if we pray. But life wins fully, and very soon.
