2024 Book Review #20: Fervent

 

I've been a small group Bible study leader through my church since 2010.  I've enjoyed almost every book or study we've done (I usually have between 6-10 ladies) and my husband and I have co-led 3 groups for the last 2 years all of which were awesome.  This book though, for a ladies book group, is probably my top fave right behind What's So Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancey.  If you haven't read either of these books...or done the study in a small group, I highly suggest you do.  These books will change your prayer life and your walk in the world! I also did Priscilla's book Breathe one year (A GOOD one!) and last summer there were 4 of us who read and discussed Discerning the Voice of God. (a powerful look at how to hear the Lord's voice in our lives)  I have loved each study but this one, Fervent, really changed my prayer life. 

STUDY SUMMARY

This study is basically a "battle plan" for specific, serious and strategic prayer. Priscilla's opening (like a forward) is titled This Means War.  She tells us that we are at battle with Satan....he tries all kinds of ways to get us to NOT pray...to not get close to Christ. But we don't need him to win anymore!!  We can arm ourselves with not only the Word of God (the Scriptures) but with fervent prayer. 

There are 10  chapters in this study and my group met for 10 continuous weeks. We started in January and went until the beginning of April. 

The chapter titles include the word Strategy because each chapter centers or focuses on a specific prayer strategy we can use in our daily prayer time. I won't be typing out the complete title for all ten but you'll get the idea: 

1. Strategy 1:  Your Passion....Getting it When It's Gone. 
2. Your Focus.....Fighting the Real Enemy
3. Your Identity....Remembering Who You Are
4. Your Family....Fortifying the Lives of Those You Love
5. Your Past....Ending the Reign of Guilt, Shame, and Regret
6. Your Fears.....Confronting Your Worries, Claiming Your Calling
7. Your Purity...Staying Strong in Your Most Susceptible Places
8. Your Pressures....Reclaiming Peace, Rest, and Contentment
9. Your Hurts....Turning Bitterness into Forgiveness 
10. Your Relationships....Uniting in a Common Cause

After the chapters, there is an Amen section which is basically Priscilla's personal words to us.  It's powerful! There are note pages where you can take notes (I used a notebook but will go back through this book to the chapters that meant the most to me, and put some new notes in those pages). 

The very end of the book contains tear out prayer cards on heavy stock paper.  Each week we were supposed to formulate a prayer based on the specific strategy for that week.  We did sometimes share these but most weeks, we left this private. I attached all of my cards into a little booklet and will pray through those often!

The chapters that really impacted me the most were the ones on Relationships, Fears, Family, and Focus. 

MY THOUGHTS

This is a fantastic study for women (or men!) who are beyond the "seeker" (exploring Christ)  or "beginning in Christ" step.  This is definitely geared for the "close to Christ"  or the  Christ-centered Believer. However, there are things in here that a new Christian will benefit from as long as they come alongside someone a bit more seasoned. (my opinion). 

If you are unfamiliar with the MOVE process, click here to read a summary my church website has put together regarding the MOVE process. 

Priscilla writes from her heart.  She is so much like her dad, Tony Evans! 

This book is a fantastic look at just how meaningful and specific our prayers can become when we use some simple strategies to keep Satan away from us....to stop him from distracting us...to stop him from causing disunity, etc. 

This book has many Scriptures at the end of each chapter and she teaches us how to incorporate Scriptures into our specific, strategic prayers. 

My whole approach to praying daily for physical healings for people, emotional strength, and for relationships that are difficult, has changed.  I feel as though I've been given a toolbox to fight the enemy!  

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 17 and older. 

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 10.