//published 2009//
Sometimes you read a book that you don’t really want to read, because you know reading it is good for you. Wrestling Prayer was that kind of experience for me. I honestly was scared to read this book, because I knew that it was going to challenge me on a level I wasn’t really sure I wanted to be challenged on.
This book is a brutally honest look at what Christianity should look like, and why so many of us are willing to settle for a lesser version. (Hint: getting the real deal means making some real sacrifices.) While a lot of so-called Christian leaders out there pander to our selfish whims by reassuring us that we all need “me time”, the Ludys stand firm on a pattern of Scripture that shows that God isn’t particularly interested in part-time followers.
Wrestling Prayer is about way more than prayer – it’s about getting serious about following Jesus, about recognizing what that really means, and living a life that reflects it. This book is about confronting the fleshly weaknesses in your life and ousting them. It’s about claiming the promises of God for yourself in the way that they were meant to be claimed.
I really liked how accessible this book was. It’s not written in a dry, academic kind of way. Instead, it’s completely full of practical, useful information – which can make it all the more difficult to swallow! The Ludys never come across as holier-than-thou – they never write from the mountaintop. They don’t claim to have all the answers, and they are very clear about the differences between the “prosperity gospel” (“Of course God wants you to have the convertible you’ve always wanted – give us all your money and He will make it happen!”) and genuine, Christ-centered prayer that brings real results.
I don’t really see this as a book that would appeal to non-Christians. It’s pretty clearly written for those who have already taken the first step. But even if you are not a follower of Christ, reading this book about how it should look may be intriguing for you.
Honestly, I’m not ready to jump on board with the Ludys yet, but it’s not because I think they’re wrong. It’s because I think they’re right, and I’m just not quite ready to make the sacrifices in my personal life that I know need to be made – kind of the same way that I know I would be able to loose weight if I’d stop eating a bowl of ice cream every day, but I’m just not quite to the point where I’m ready to take that kind of plunge!
4.5 for some brilliant writing – and the half-star off is actually just because Eric Ludy kept saying, “with boyish (and girlish) faith” like a zillion times and it was driving me crazy. Just say “child-like” already!
All in all, Wrestling Prayer gave me so much to think about – more, really, than I want to think about. It’s a dangerous book. Highly recommended.
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