Many books have been written on prayer. However, few unlock the secret of prayer like “Pray Big: Learn to Pray Like an Apostle” by Alistair Begg. This book is outstanding and worth reading if you want to explore a Spirit-inspired model of prayer.
Begg is senior pastor of the 5000 strong Cleveland's Parkside Church. His church has grown through his powerful preaching and prayer ministry. This book is a product of this ministry. His goal was to search the Scriptures for the Spirit inspired model for prayer.
However, Begg is firm to explain prayer is not a technique or mantra, but the result of a deep connection with God. He explains, "Prayer is not a formula or a technique, but a relationship. It is a conversation with a living God who loves us and wants to hear from us. It is a way of drawing closer to God and experiencing his presence and power in our lives."
Specifically, he focuses on the Apostle Paul’s prayer to the church in Ephesus (Ephesians chapter 1 verses 15-23 and chapter 3 verses 14-21). These God inspired Bible based prayers, he explains, set us an example of the relationship that underpins prayer.
Practical tips
A blessing of Begg’s book is the practical tips to help us develop a more meaningful and powerful prayer life. He does not shy away from the difficult questions about prayer, such as why some prayers are not answered, but he also provides concrete steps we can take to improve our prayer life.
"We must pray with expectancy, believing that God is able and willing to answer our prayers according to his will. We must also pray with submission, recognizing that God's ways are higher than our ways, and that his will is always best, even when it is not what we would choose."
Bigger, bolder, deeper prayers, Begg argues, are founded on Scripture. And this is its distinctive: it uses Paul’s model of prayer to help us with practical prayers that have a deeper spiritual weight. Many people pray however, as Begg challenges us, few go to that next level by moving from our self-centred prayers for physical needs to our greatest spiritual needs.
Learn to pray like an Apostle
For example, many prayer ministries today and personal prayers see physical healing as the ultimate test of success. Begg challenges us to go bigger. He explains the Apostle Paul rarely prayed for the physical needs that our modern culture craves. Instead, the Apostle Paul prayed that people will grow in their love of God and that the Spirit will bring joy to people based on Jesus’ resurrection.
Begg challenges us to think differently about our prayer life. Small, self-centred prayers such as asking God to “be with” a person can go bigger. This means praying God-centred prayers that align with the will of God. And His will is expressed in Paul’s prayers in the Bible.
As he explains, "The kind of prayer that God delights in is prayer that is humble, persistent, and full of faith. It is prayer that acknowledges our weakness and God's strength, that asks for what we need with boldness and persistence, and that trusts in God's goodness and power to answer."
Overall, "Pray Big: Learn to Pray Like an Apostle" is an outstanding resource for anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of prayer and cultivate a more vibrant prayer life. As Begg explains, "The apostles understood that prayer was not just a duty or a discipline, but a delight. They saw prayer as a privilege and a joy.” This is a brilliant book to anyone who is looking to take their prayer life, and relationship with God, to the next level.