Pray Circles Around Your Greatest Dreams and Biggest Fears
Prayer can sometimes be a frightening thing--how do you approach the maker of the world, and what exactly can you pray for? In this student adaptation of The Circle Maker, Pastor Mark Batterson uses the true legend of Honi the circle maker, a first-century Jewish sage whose bold prayer saved a generation, to uncover the boldness God asks of us at times, and what powerful prayer can mean in your life. Drawing inspiration from his own experiences as a circle maker, as well as sharing stories of young people who have experienced God's blessings, Batterson explores how you can approach God in a new way by drawing prayer circles around your dreams, your problems, and, most importantly, God's promises. In the process, you'll discover this simple yet life-changing truth:
God honors bold prayers; bold prayers honor God. And you're never too young for God to use you for amazing things.
From Booklist
This edition of Batterson's adult book of the same name calls upon young people to take a look at their lives, and encourages them to dream big, pray hard, and think long. Drawing on the example of a Talmudic holy man, Honi, whose story incorporates the image of a prayer circle, Batterson (with input from his son) uses this theme throughout as he invites readers to think of ways to enrich their lives and the lives of others through prayer. This also sounds, in some places, like a prosperity gospel, as readers are encouraged to ask for and expect miracles. Batterson shares his story and that of his ministry, and while the stories are not always relevant to his audience (which he admits), his sincerity comes through. And unlike some other books of this ilk, this title does not so much make fanciful promises as it encourages readers to really consider their lives and what they need rather than what they want, and it shows them paths to peace and happiness. There are workbooklike activities at the end of each chapter, and because of the relatability of the message, kids may be moved to try them. Grades 8-12. --Cooper, Ilene
About the Author
Mark Batterson serves as the lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C. Recognized as "one of America's 25 most innovative churches," NCC is one church with seven locations. Mark's blog (www.markbatterson.com) and webcast (www.theaterchurch.com) also reach a virtual congregation around the world. Mark is the author of several bestselling books, including New York Times bestsellers The Circle Maker and In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day. He and his wife, Lora, live on Capitol Hill with their three children. You can follow Mark on Twitter: @markbatterson