Book Review: Pray About Everything

Earlier this year the church where I serve as associate pastor began holding monthly prayer services. Each time I have participated, I have been blessed. The unfortunate reality is many do not get to experience this blessing because a concentrated time of corporate prayer is all too rare. Sure, Christians emphasize the priority of personal prayer, as they should. Most books on prayer reflect this importance. What lacks is an intentionality on corporate and congregational prayer. That is why I am thankful for my senior pastor’s initiative to begin a prayer service, and it is why I am excited to share with you Pray About Everything: Cultivating God-Dependency by Paul Tautges. This book teaches all Christians how to pray biblically and equips Christian leaders on how to lead their congregations in prayer.

The book is divided up into three parts. In part 1, Paul Tautges lays the foundation for cultivating God-dependency by pointing the reader to how God uses prayer in the life of His people (chapter 1) and by showing the reader how to pray according to the will of God as revealed in Word of God (chapter 2). In part 2, he builds on the foundation, equipping the reader, particularly with Christian leaders and pastors in mind. He devotes seven chapters to seven potential prayer meeting messages. The message themes include: praying in Jesus’ name (John 14:13-14), praying for unbelievers (John 16:8-11), praying for governmental leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-4), praying with a forgiving heart (Matthew 6:12-15), calling for your elders (James 5:13-18), how husbands get their prayers answered (1 Peter 3:7), and when the Holy Spirit prays (Romans 8:26-27). The last third of the book continues to equip the Christian leader on how to encourage prayer among the congregation and equip them for their own times of prayer.

Pray About Everything is a go-to resource for pastors and Christians who desire to pray biblically according to the will of God and to pray corporately with the people of God. While I wish Pastor Tautges would have devoted a chapter to praying for workers, based on Matthew 9:35-38, I am aware there is only so much space one has in a book. Yet, with a title like Pray About Everything a chapter on praying for workers would have fit nicely alongside the chapter on praying for unbelievers (chapter 4). Minor critique aside, what may be the most valuable section of the book for the Christian seeking to improve their prayer life is the appendices. The appendices can nicely be implemented into the life of the Christian and into the life of a church. Not too many books encourage both but this one does. I gladly recommend Paul Tautge’s Pray About Everything: Cultivating God-Dependency to every church member and church leader who desires to be a contributing part of a praying church.

I received this book for free from Shepherd Press via Cross Focused Reviews for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own and are my honest review of the book.